International Sustainability Coordinator Manager

Role Purpose & Context

Role Summary

The International Sustainability Coordinator Manager leads our global sustainability team, making sure we're on track with all our environmental and social commitments. You'll be the one translating big-picture ESG goals into practical, day-to-day tasks for your team and our global operations. This means overseeing everything from collecting utility bills from our factories in Asia to ensuring our annual sustainability report stands up to external scrutiny. Your work directly impacts our reputation, our ability to secure investment, and frankly, our long-term survival in a world that cares more and more about responsible business. When you do this job well, we're seen as a leader, our investors are happy, and we avoid hefty fines or public backlash. Get it wrong, and we could face accusations of 'greenwashing,' lose investor confidence, or even get hit with regulatory penalties that cost us millions. Honestly, the trickiest part is balancing ambitious sustainability targets with the operational realities and budget constraints of a global business. You'll often feel like you're pushing water uphill, trying to get different departments to prioritise sustainability alongside their core duties. But the reward? You get to build a high-performing team, drive real, tangible change across a huge organisation, and genuinely help shape a more sustainable future for our company and the planet. That's pretty cool, if you ask me.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Director of Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety
• Direct reports: Roughly 5-10 direct reports, including some Senior International Sustainability Coordinators.
• Matrix relationships: Head of Sustainability Operations, ESG Programme Manager, Sustainability Lead, Global Compliance,

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

• SVP of Global Operations
• Head of Procurement
• Finance Director (especially for ESG-related investments)
• Legal & Risk Department
• Marketing & Communications Team
• Regional Plant Managers

External:

• External ESG Auditors (e.g., Big Four firms)
• ESG Rating Agencies (MSCI, Sustainalytics, CDP)
• Investors and Shareholder Relations
• Industry Bodies and Associations
• Regulators (e.g., environmental agencies, financial authorities for CSRD)

Organisational Impact

Scope: This role is absolutely central to our company's licence to operate and grow. You're not just ticking boxes; you're safeguarding our reputation, influencing investor decisions, and helping us meet increasingly stringent global regulations. Your team's work directly informs strategic decisions on supply chain, product development, and operational efficiency. Get it right, and we're a trusted, sustainable business. Get it wrong, and we face significant financial and reputational damage.

Performance Metrics

Quantitative Metrics

1. Metric: ESG Rating Improvement
2. Desc: How our company's ESG performance is perceived by external rating agencies.
3. Target: Improve our Sustainalytics score to place in the top 10% of our industry peer group within 18 months.
4. Freq: Annually, following agency updates.
5. Example: Moving from a 'Medium Risk' to 'Low Risk' category with Sustainalytics, or improving our CDP Climate Change score from a B to an A-.
6. Metric: Data Assurance Score
7. Desc: The accuracy and completeness of our reported sustainability data, as verified by third-party auditors.
8. Target: Achieve >95% verification rate for all material ESG data points during the annual external assurance process.
9. Freq: Annually, post-audit.
10. Example: Out of 100 key data points audited, only 3 minor discrepancies were found, resulting in a 97% verification rate.
11. Metric: Key Programme Delivery & Impact
12. Desc: The successful implementation and measurable impact of strategic sustainability programmes under your leadership.
13. Target: Successfully launch and demonstrate a 5% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions across our top 5 emitting sites within the next financial year.
14. Freq: Quarterly progress reviews, annual impact assessment.
15. Example: Overseeing the installation of smart metering and LED lighting projects at three major sites, leading to a verified 6% energy reduction and £150K in annual savings.
16. Metric: Team Engagement & Development
17. Desc: The health, motivation, and growth of your direct reports.
18. Target: Achieve an average team engagement score of >80% in internal surveys and ensure at least 2 team members complete a significant professional development programme annually.
19. Freq: Bi-annual engagement surveys, quarterly 1-on-1s, annual performance reviews.
20. Example: Your team's average engagement score is 85%, and two Senior Coordinators are enrolled in an IEMA Practitioner course, with one being promoted to a Lead role.

Qualitative Metrics

1. Metric: Strategic Influence & Collaboration
2. Desc: How effectively you engage with and influence senior internal stakeholders to embed sustainability into their departmental strategies.
3. Evidence: You're proactively invited to strategic planning meetings by other department heads (e.g., Procurement, Operations). Your recommendations on ESG risks and opportunities are regularly incorporated into business unit plans. You're seen as a trusted advisor, not just a data requestor.
4. Metric: Reputational Enhancement
5. Desc: The positive impact of our sustainability communications and disclosures on our external brand and stakeholder perception.
6. Evidence: Positive feedback from investors on our annual sustainability report. Favourable mentions in industry publications or analyst reports. Absence of 'greenwashing' accusations or negative press related to our ESG claims. You're confident in defending our data and narrative publicly.
7. Metric: Risk Mitigation & Compliance
8. Desc: How well you anticipate and address emerging ESG risks and regulatory changes.
9. Evidence: No material non-compliance issues related to environmental or social regulations. Proactive identification of new reporting requirements (e.g., CSRD, TNFD) and a clear plan for addressing them before deadlines. Your team consistently flags potential risks to the Legal and Risk departments.
10. Metric: Process Optimisation & Efficiency
11. Desc: Your ability to streamline sustainability data collection, reporting, and programme management processes.
12. Evidence: Demonstrable reduction in the time taken for annual data collection cycles. Successful implementation of new technologies (e.g., EHS software modules) that improve data quality and reduce manual effort. Your team spends less time on 'data janitor' tasks and more on analysis and impact.

Primary Traits

• Trait: Strategic Navigator
• Manifestation: You can take a vague, high-level goal like 'become a more sustainable company' and break it down into a clear, actionable roadmap for your team. You anticipate potential roadblocks—like a new regulation or a tricky operational constraint—and plan around them. You're always thinking two or three steps ahead, not just reacting to the latest urgent request. You can see how one small data point connects to a much larger business objective.
• Benefit: Without this, we'd just be collecting data without a clear purpose. This role needs someone who can define the 'why' behind the 'what,' ensuring our sustainability efforts are aligned with business strategy and actually move the needle. You're the one making sure we're climbing the right mountain, not just a random hill.
• Trait: Empathetic Leader & Developer
• Manifestation: You genuinely care about your team's growth and well-being. You know when someone needs a bit of extra support, and when to give them space to figure things out. You're great at delegating, but you're also ready to roll up your sleeves and help unstick a junior analyst if they're struggling with a complex data set. You give clear feedback, celebrate successes, and create an environment where people feel safe to make mistakes and learn from them.
• Benefit: Your team is the engine of our sustainability programme. If they're not motivated, well-trained, and supported, our entire programme suffers. This isn't just about managing tasks; it's about building a capable, resilient team that can tackle complex global challenges. You're responsible for their careers, not just their output.
• Trait: Resilient Pragmatist
• Manifestation: You'll get told 'no' a lot. Budgets will get cut. Operational teams will push back on your data requests. You'll build a brilliant plan, only for a new regulation to change everything. A resilient pragmatist doesn't get discouraged; they find the next best solution. You're able to accept that perfection isn't always possible and focus on making meaningful progress, even if it's incremental. You can celebrate small wins and keep the team motivated through the inevitable frustrations.
• Benefit: Sustainability work in a large, global company is rarely a straight line. There are always trade-offs, unexpected challenges, and competing priorities. If you need everything to be smooth and easy, you'll burn out quickly. We need someone who can navigate the messiness, find practical ways forward, and keep the momentum going, even when things get tough.

Supporting Traits

• Trait: Diplomatic & Culturally Aware
• Desc: You understand that getting data from a factory in Germany requires a different approach than from one in Brazil or Japan. You're sensitive to local customs and ways of working, ensuring your requests are well-received and effective. You can bridge cultural gaps within your international team and with external partners.
• Trait: Analytical Rigour
• Desc: You have a natural inclination to dig into the numbers, question assumptions, and ensure the data tells an accurate story. You're not afraid of complex spreadsheets or statistical analysis, and you can spot a dodgy data point a mile off. You're the one who catches the £50K formula error before it hits the client.
• Trait: Organisational Savvy
• Desc: You understand how large organisations work—the informal networks, the political currents, and how to get things done when you don't have direct authority. You know who to talk to, when to push, and when to compromise to achieve your goals.
• Trait: Ethical Judgement
• Desc: You have an unwavering commitment to doing the right thing, even when it's difficult or unpopular. You're comfortable pushing back against 'greenwashing' attempts and ensuring our public claims are always backed by solid data. You're the guardian of our integrity.

Primary Motivators

1. Motivator: Making a Tangible Impact
2. Daily: You'll get a real buzz from seeing our emissions figures drop, knowing your team's efforts directly contributed. You'll feel a sense of accomplishment when a complex sustainability programme you designed actually gets implemented across multiple sites and starts delivering results. You're driven by the 'so what?' of the data.
3. Motivator: Solving Complex, Global Problems
4. Daily: You thrive on the intellectual challenge of figuring out how to standardise data from dozens of countries, navigate conflicting regulations, or build a robust Scope 3 emissions model. The messier the problem, the more engaged you are in finding a solution. You enjoy the puzzle of it all.
5. Motivator: Building & Developing a High-Performing Team
6. Daily: You'll find deep satisfaction in coaching your team members, watching them grow, and seeing them take on bigger challenges. You're motivated by creating a supportive environment where people can excel and make their own mark. Their success is your success.

Potential Demotivators

Honestly, this role isn't for everyone. You'll spend a fair bit of time dealing with the political realities of a large organisation. You'll champion projects that get delayed or deprioritised due to budget shifts or other 'urgent' business needs. You'll have to push back on Marketing for claims that aren't quite true, and you'll be the one telling senior leaders that a target was missed, even if it wasn't your fault. You'll inherit legacy systems and processes that are clunky and frustrating, and you'll need to figure out how to work with them or painstakingly improve them. If you need constant, immediate gratification or a perfectly smooth, conflict-free environment, you'll struggle here.

Common Frustrations

1. Resource constraints: Always wanting to do more but having limited budget or headcount.
2. Slow pace of change: The sheer inertia of a large, global company can be frustrating.
3. Conflicting priorities: Other departments viewing sustainability as a 'nice to have' rather than essential.
4. Data quality battles: The endless task of chasing, cleaning, and standardising inconsistent data from disparate sources.
5. Accountability without full authority: Being responsible for outcomes you don't fully control (e.g., emissions reductions).
6. The 'ratings rat race': The constant demands of different ESG rating agencies, each with their own methodology and data requests.

What Role Doesn't Offer

1. A quiet, solitary analytical role – you're leading a team and influencing many stakeholders.
2. Complete control over all sustainability initiatives – you'll need to collaborate and compromise.
3. A 'hero' role where you single-handedly solve all environmental problems – it's about systemic change.
4. A static, predictable environment – regulations, technologies, and business priorities are always shifting.

ADHD Positives

1. The varied nature of the work, moving between team management, strategic planning, data oversight, and stakeholder engagement, can be highly stimulating and prevent boredom.
2. The need for creative problem-solving in complex, ambiguous situations can be a strong suit.
3. The drive to make a tangible impact and lead change can align well with a high-energy, action-oriented approach.

ADHD Challenges and Accommodations

1. Managing multiple ongoing projects and ensuring consistent follow-through across a team can be demanding; using robust project management tools (e.g., Asana, Jira) and delegating effectively is key.
2. The 'data janitor' aspects of sustainability (chasing and cleaning data) can be tedious; focusing on process improvement and delegating these to team members is important.
3. Dealing with bureaucracy and slow corporate change might be frustrating; setting clear expectations and focusing on achievable, incremental progress helps.

Dyslexia Positives

1. Strong spatial reasoning and big-picture thinking are highly valuable for understanding complex systems, designing sustainability programmes, and visualising data trends.
2. Excellent verbal communication skills, often found in individuals with dyslexia, are crucial for influencing stakeholders and leading a team.
3. The ability to identify patterns and connections others miss can be a superpower in sustainability data analysis and risk identification.

Dyslexia Challenges and Accommodations

1. Extensive report writing and detailed data entry can be challenging; using AI-powered writing tools, leveraging team members for first drafts, and having access to proofreading support is helpful.
2. Navigating complex regulatory documents might require extra time; using text-to-speech software and breaking down information into digestible summaries can assist.
3. Organisational tools that rely heavily on visual cues and clear structure (e.g., Trello, Miro boards) can support planning and task management.

Autism Positives

1. A deep, focused interest in sustainability topics and data integrity can lead to unparalleled expertise and dedication.
2. The preference for logical, systematic approaches is excellent for designing robust data collection processes, reporting frameworks, and audit protocols.
3. Exceptional attention to detail can ensure the highest quality in data validation and compliance with intricate reporting standards.

Autism Challenges and Accommodations

1. The extensive need for nuanced stakeholder engagement and navigating corporate politics might be taxing; clear communication guidelines and support in understanding unspoken social cues can be beneficial.
2. Unexpected changes in priorities or regulatory shifts could be unsettling; providing advance notice and clear rationale for changes helps manage this.
3. A quiet workspace with minimal distractions, clear meeting agendas, and opportunities for written communication over impromptu discussions can create a more comfortable environment.

Key Responsibilities

Experience Levels Responsibilities

1. Level: International Sustainability Coordinator Manager (L5)
2. Responsibilities: Lead and manage the International Sustainability team (roughly 5-10 direct reports), providing regular coaching, performance feedback, and career development support. This means weekly 1-on-1s, setting clear objectives, and helping them unstick tricky problems.
3. Develop and implement the annual sustainability strategy and roadmap for the Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety department, aligning it with broader corporate ESG goals and emerging regulatory requirements (e.g., CSRD, TNFD). You're the architect of the plan.
4. Oversee the end-to-end process for all global ESG data collection, validation, and reporting, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to frameworks like GRI, SASB, TCFD, and the GHG Protocol. This includes managing external data assurance processes.
5. Manage the departmental sustainability budget (typically £500K-£1M annually), making decisions on software investments, external consultants, and team training. You'll be accountable for how that money is spent and the ROI.
6. Act as the primary internal and external representative for sustainability matters for the Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety function. This involves presenting to senior leadership, engaging with investors, and responding to ESG rating agencies.
7. Drive the integration of ESG considerations into core business operations and decision-making processes, working closely with departments like Procurement (sustainable sourcing), Operations (emissions reductions), and Product (LCA for new products). You'll be the champion for change.
8. Identify and assess emerging ESG risks and opportunities, developing mitigation strategies and advising senior leadership on their potential impact. This means staying ahead of the curve on regulations and market trends.
9. Supervision: You'll report directly to the Director of Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety, with monthly strategic alignment meetings and quarterly objective reviews. For the most part, you'll be autonomous in your day-to-day operations and team management. You're expected to set your own priorities and manage your team's workload.
10. Decision: You have full decision-making authority for the sustainability function, including budget allocation up to £1M, hiring and firing decisions for your team, and selection of sustainability software vendors (up to £200K contract value). Strategic shifts in the overall corporate ESG direction require consultation with the Director and relevant C-suite members. Major external commitments or public statements on behalf of the company will need C-suite alignment.
11. Success: Success looks like a highly motivated, effective sustainability team consistently delivering accurate, timely ESG reports that improve our external ratings. You'll have successfully integrated sustainability into key business processes, demonstrating tangible environmental and social improvements, and you'll be seen as a trusted, strategic partner by senior leaders across the organisation.

Decision-Making Authority

• Type: Team Hiring & Performance
• Entry: No authority; provides input on candidate fit.
• Mid: Recommends candidates; provides performance feedback to manager.
• Senior: Interviews, provides strong recommendations, manages performance reviews for mentees.
• Type: Budget Allocation (within Sustainability)
• Entry: None; follows budget guidelines.
• Mid: Suggests minor expenditure for specific project tasks.
• Senior: Recommends project-level budget needs (up to £5K) to manager.
• Type: Sustainability Programme Design
• Entry: Executes tasks within pre-defined programmes.
• Mid: Proposes improvements to existing programme components.
• Senior: Designs and implements complete workstreams or smaller programmes.
• Type: External Reporting & Disclosures
• Entry: Collects and validates data for specific sections.
• Mid: Prepares drafts of specific report sections; ensures data accuracy.
• Senior: Leads the end-to-end preparation of a full report (e.g., GRI report), manages assurance process.

Competency Requirements

Foundation Skills (Transferable)

These are the core 'human' skills that underpin everything you do in this leadership role. You'll need to be a master communicator, a strategic thinker, and a resilient leader.

• Category: Leadership & Team Development
• Skills: Coaching & Mentoring: Guiding your team members to grow their skills and careers, providing constructive feedback.
• Performance Management: Setting clear expectations, evaluating performance, and addressing challenges within your team.
• Delegation & Empowerment: Effectively assigning tasks and trusting your team to deliver, knowing when to step in and when to let them learn.
• Conflict Resolution: Mediating disagreements within your team or with other departments to find constructive solutions.
• Change Leadership: Inspiring and guiding your team and other stakeholders through new initiatives or shifting priorities.
• Category: Strategic Communication & Influence
• Skills: Executive Presentation: Clearly and concisely presenting complex sustainability data and strategies to C-suite and board members.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Building strong relationships with diverse internal (Operations, Procurement, Legal) and external (investors, auditors) groups.
• Negotiation & Persuasion: Convincing other departments to allocate resources or change processes for sustainability initiatives.
• Cross-Cultural Communication: Adapting your communication style to effectively work with global teams and partners.
• Crisis Communication: Managing sensitive ESG-related issues and communicating transparently during challenging times.
• Category: Complex Problem Solving & Decision Making
• Skills: Strategic Analysis: Breaking down complex, ambiguous sustainability challenges into actionable plans and identifying root causes.
• Risk Assessment: Identifying and evaluating environmental, social, and governance risks to the business and developing mitigation strategies.
• Trade-off Analysis: Making difficult decisions where sustainability goals conflict with other business priorities (e.g., cost, speed).
• Systems Thinking: Understanding how different parts of the organisation and external environment interact and influence sustainability outcomes.
• Innovation & Creativity: Developing novel solutions to persistent sustainability challenges, often with limited resources.
• Category: Organisational Agility & Adaptability
• Skills: Navigating Ambiguity: Thriving in situations where information is incomplete or goals are still evolving.
• Prioritisation & Resource Allocation: Effectively managing your team's workload and allocating resources across multiple, often competing, projects.
• Resilience & Persistence: Bouncing back from setbacks and maintaining momentum despite resistance or slow progress.
• Continuous Learning: Staying updated on rapidly evolving sustainability science, regulations, and best practices.
• Process Optimisation: Constantly looking for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sustainability workflows.

Functional Skills (Role-Specific Technical)

These are the specific technical and domain skills you'll need to lead the sustainability function. You won't necessarily be doing all the hands-on work, but you'll need to understand it deeply to guide your team and make informed decisions.

Technical Competencies

• Skill: Sustainability Reporting Frameworks (GRI, SASB, TCFD, CSRD)
• Desc: You'll need a deep, strategic understanding of these global standards. This isn't just about knowing what they are, but how to strategically apply them to our business, interpret complex requirements (like double materiality for CSRD), and ensure our disclosures meet the highest standards. You'll be accountable for the overall reporting strategy.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol & Carbon Accounting
• Desc: You'll be the ultimate authority on our carbon footprint. This means mastery of Scope 1, 2, and the notoriously tricky Scope 3 emissions, including setting and validating Science-Based Targets (SBTi). You'll need to understand the methodologies well enough to challenge your team and external consultants, and to present our carbon strategy to the C-suite.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Methodology
• Desc: You should understand the principles of ISO 14040/14044 and how LCA insights can inform product design, procurement, and overall business strategy. You'll be guiding the application of LCA within the company, selecting appropriate tools and databases, and interpreting results for strategic decision-making.
• Level: Architect
• Skill: Materiality Assessment (including Double Materiality)
• Desc: You'll own the process of identifying and prioritising ESG topics that are most significant to the business and its stakeholders. This includes leading the complex 'double materiality' assessment required by CSRD, involving extensive stakeholder engagement and strategic analysis. You're defining what we focus on.
• Level: Expert
• Skill: Environmental & Safety Management Systems (ISO 14001, ISO 45001)
• Desc: Expertise in the implementation, auditing, and continuous improvement of these management systems across a global enterprise. You'll be responsible for ensuring our sites maintain certification and that these systems are genuinely effective in driving performance, not just paper exercises.
• Level: Advanced
• Skill: Stakeholder Engagement & Mapping
• Desc: You'll need to design and lead a structured approach to identifying, prioritising, and engaging with a wide range of internal (employees, management) and external (investors, NGOs, communities, regulators) stakeholders. This is about understanding their expectations, managing relationships, and building consensus around our sustainability agenda.
• Level: Expert

Digital Tools

• Tool: EHS & Sustainability Data Management (e.g., Enablon, Cority, Intelex, Sphera)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: You'll lead the selection, implementation, and strategic oversight of our enterprise-wide sustainability data platform. This means designing the data architecture, ensuring integration with other business systems (like SAP), and using the platform to drive strategic insights and reporting.
• Tool: Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Software (e.g., SimaPro, GaBi, OpenLCA)
• Level: Architect
• Usage: You'll set the organisational LCA strategy, guide your team in building and interpreting complex models, and ensure LCA insights are effectively used to inform product development and corporate strategy. You're defining the 'how' and 'why' of our LCA work.
• Tool: ESG Reporting & GRC Platforms (e.g., Workiva, OneTrust, Diligent ESG, ServiceNow GRC)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: You'll own the relationship with the platform vendor, design the overall ESG control environment, and oversee your team's use of the platform for board-level reporting and external assurance. This is about ensuring data integrity and efficient reporting at scale.
• Tool: Data Analysis & Visualization (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: You'll define the key ESG KPIs for the entire enterprise and oversee the creation of executive-level dashboards. You'll need to interpret complex data visualisations to make strategic decisions and communicate insights effectively to senior leaders.
• Tool: Supply Chain Sustainability Platforms (e.g., EcoVadis, Sedex, Sourcemap)
• Level: Strategic
• Usage: You'll design and implement our global sustainable procurement policy, integrating supplier ESG performance into overall sourcing decisions and contracts. This involves using these platforms to drive supply chain transparency and risk management at a strategic level.

Industry Knowledge

• Area: Circular Economy Principles
• Desc: Beyond waste management, understanding how to design products and processes for longevity, reuse, and recycling to minimise resource depletion and waste generation throughout the value chain.
• Area: Climate Science & Tipping Points
• Desc: A solid grasp of the scientific basis for climate change, its impacts, and the urgency of emissions reductions, informing our climate strategy and target setting.
• Area: Social Equity & Human Rights in Supply Chains
• Desc: Understanding the complexities of labour practices, fair wages, and human rights due diligence in global supply chains, particularly in high-risk sectors.
• Area: Sustainable Finance & ESG Investing
• Desc: Knowledge of how investors use ESG data to make decisions, including green bonds, impact investing, and the role of ESG ratings in capital markets.
• Area: Water Stewardship & Biodiversity Conservation
• Desc: Understanding the importance of responsible water use, local water stress, and the impact of business operations on biodiversity and natural ecosystems.

Regulatory Compliance Regulations

• Reg: EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
• Usage: You'll be responsible for ensuring our company's full compliance with CSRD, including leading the double materiality assessment, overseeing the preparation of the management report, and ensuring external assurance. This is a huge piece of work.
• Reg: Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
• Usage: You'll ensure our climate-related disclosures are fully aligned with TCFD's four pillars (Governance, Strategy, Risk Management, Metrics & Targets), including scenario analysis and integration into financial reporting.
• Reg: Modern Slavery Act (UK & Australia)
• Usage: You'll oversee our due diligence processes in the supply chain to identify and mitigate modern slavery risks, ensuring our annual statements are robust and compliant.
• Reg: EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities
• Usage: You'll guide the assessment of our economic activities against the EU Taxonomy's environmental objectives, ensuring accurate disclosure of our taxonomy-aligned revenues and CapEx.
• Reg: International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions
• Usage: You'll ensure our social policies and supply chain audits consider core ILO conventions related to labour rights, freedom of association, and non-discrimination.

Essential Prerequisites

• Extensive experience (12+ years) in sustainability, ESG, or environmental management within a large, international organisation.
• Proven track record of leading and managing a team of sustainability professionals, including coaching and performance development.
• Demonstrable experience in designing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive ESG reporting programmes (e.g., GRI, SASB, TCFD).
• Deep understanding of GHG accounting (Scopes 1, 2, 3) and experience with setting Science-Based Targets (SBTi).
• Strong project and programme management skills, capable of managing multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with a proven ability to engage and present to senior executive stakeholders and external audiences.
• Experience managing significant budgets and making strategic investment decisions related to sustainability initiatives or technology.

Career Pathway Context

We're looking for someone who isn't just a technical expert, but a proven leader capable of driving strategic change. You'll have built your career by consistently delivering high-quality sustainability work and, crucially, by developing others. You'll have moved beyond individual contribution to shaping an entire function.

Qualifications & Credentials

Emerging Foundation Skills

• Skill: Integrated ESG Risk Modelling
• Why: Traditional risk management often separates financial and non-financial risks. However, climate change, social inequality, and governance failures are increasingly recognised as material financial risks. We need to integrate these into our core risk models to truly understand our exposure and opportunities.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Scenario analysis (e.g., IPCC pathways for climate', 'description': 'Scenario analysis (e.g., IPCC pathways for climate risk)'}, {'concept_name': 'Quantitative modelling of physical and transition ', 'description': 'Quantitative modelling of physical and transition risks'}, {'concept_name': 'Integration of ESG factors into financial valuatio', 'description': 'Integration of ESG factors into financial valuation (e.g., cost of capital)'}, {'concept_name': 'Understanding interdependencies between different ', 'description': 'Understanding interdependencies between different ESG risks'}, {'concept_name': 'Translating ESG risks into tangible business impac', 'description': 'Translating ESG risks into tangible business impacts'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Attend a workshop or webinar on climate-related financial risk assessment.
• Next 6 months: Work with our Finance and Risk teams to understand their current risk modelling approaches and identify integration points.
• Next 12 months: Lead a pilot project to integrate one key ESG risk (e.g., water scarcity) into a business unit's financial risk assessment.
• Ongoing: Read reports from the Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
• QuickWin: Start by mapping our existing ESG risks against our enterprise risk register and identifying any gaps or areas where the financial impact isn't yet quantified.
• Skill: Circular Economy Strategy Design
• Why: Moving beyond simply 'reducing waste' to fundamentally redesigning our products, processes, and business models to keep materials in use for longer. Regulators and customers are increasingly demanding this systemic shift.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Product-as-a-service models', 'description': 'Product-as-a-service models'}, {'concept_name': 'Design for disassembly and repair', 'description': 'Design for disassembly and repair'}, {'concept_name': 'Reverse logistics and take-back schemes', 'description': 'Reverse logistics and take-back schemes'}, {'concept_name': 'Industrial symbiosis and material loops', 'description': 'Industrial symbiosis and material loops'}, {'concept_name': 'Life cycle thinking in product development', 'description': 'Life cycle thinking in product development'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Read 'Circular Economy for Dummies' (yes, really!) or similar introductory texts.
• Next 6 months: Identify one product line or operational process where circularity principles could be applied (e.g., packaging, uniforms).
• Next 12 months: Develop a business case for a pilot circular economy initiative, working with Product and Operations.
• Ongoing: Engage with industry consortia focused on circularity in our sector.
• QuickWin: Review our current waste streams and identify high-volume materials that could potentially be reused or recycled internally or through new partnerships.
• Skill: Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)
• Why: Following TCFD for climate, TNFD is rapidly becoming the standard for disclosing nature-related risks and opportunities. This goes beyond carbon to biodiversity, water, land use, and ecosystem services. It's the next big wave in ESG reporting.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'LEAP approach (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare)', 'description': 'LEAP approach (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, Prepare)'}, {'concept_name': 'Nature-related dependencies and impacts', 'description': 'Nature-related dependencies and impacts'}, {'concept_name': 'Biodiversity footprints and metrics', 'description': 'Biodiversity footprints and metrics'}, {'concept_name': 'Ecosystem services valuation', 'description': 'Ecosystem services valuation'}, {'concept_name': 'Integration with existing environmental management', 'description': 'Integration with existing environmental management systems'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Familiarise yourself with the TNFD framework and its recommendations.
• Next 6 months: Conduct a preliminary 'Locate' assessment for our key operational sites or supply chain hotspots.
• Next 12 months: Work with your team to identify key nature-related dependencies and impacts for our core business activities.
• Ongoing: Monitor regulatory developments and peer company disclosures related to TNFD.
• QuickWin: Start by identifying which of our operational sites are in biodiversity-sensitive areas or high-water stress regions.

Advancing Technical Skills

• Skill: Advanced AI/ML for Predictive Sustainability
• Why: Beyond basic automation, AI/ML can predict environmental impacts, forecast resource consumption, identify compliance risks, and optimise operational efficiency in ways traditional methods can't. This allows for proactive rather than reactive management.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Machine learning for emissions forecasting', 'description': 'Machine learning for emissions forecasting'}, {'concept_name': 'AI-driven anomaly detection in environmental data ', 'description': 'AI-driven anomaly detection in environmental data streams'}, {'concept_name': 'Natural Language Processing (NLP) for regulatory s', 'description': 'Natural Language Processing (NLP) for regulatory scanning and sentiment analysis'}, {'concept_name': 'Optimisation algorithms for resource allocation (e', 'description': 'Optimisation algorithms for resource allocation (energy, water, waste)'}, {'concept_name': 'Ethical considerations and bias in AI for ESG', 'description': 'Ethical considerations and bias in AI for ESG'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Read introductory articles on AI/ML applications in sustainability.
• Next 6 months: Task a team member to research and pilot one AI tool for a specific sustainability challenge (e.g., predictive maintenance for energy efficiency).
• Next 12 months: Develop a roadmap for integrating AI/ML into our core sustainability data management and reporting processes.
• Ongoing: Engage with AI vendors and academic research to stay informed on new capabilities.
• QuickWin: Encourage your team to experiment with generative AI for drafting report narratives or summarising research papers to see immediate productivity gains.
• Skill: Blockchain for Supply Chain Traceability & Transparency
• Why: Blockchain offers immutable, verifiable records for tracking products and materials through complex supply chains, enhancing transparency, proving ethical sourcing, and preventing 'greenwashing'. It's a game-changer for verifying claims.
• Concepts: [{'concept_name': 'Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)', 'description': 'Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)'}, {'concept_name': 'Smart contracts for sustainability commitments', 'description': 'Smart contracts for sustainability commitments'}, {'concept_name': 'Traceability of raw materials (e.g., conflict mine', 'description': 'Traceability of raw materials (e.g., conflict minerals, sustainable timber)'}, {'concept_name': 'Verification of environmental and social claims', 'description': 'Verification of environmental and social claims'}, {'concept_name': 'Interoperability with existing supply chain system', 'description': 'Interoperability with existing supply chain systems'}]
• Prepare: This quarter: Understand the basics of blockchain technology and its potential for supply chain transparency.
• Next 6 months: Identify a high-risk or high-value supply chain where blockchain could add significant value (e.g., a specific raw material).
• Next 12 months: Explore partnerships with blockchain solution providers and assess feasibility for a pilot project.
• Ongoing: Monitor industry initiatives and consortiums using blockchain for sustainability.
• QuickWin: Discuss with your Procurement team where they currently struggle with supply chain visibility and if blockchain could be a future solution.

Education Requirements

• Level: Minimum
• Req: A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Business Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Alts: We're flexible; significant professional experience (15+ years) demonstrating a deep understanding of sustainability principles and management, coupled with relevant certifications, can absolutely be considered in lieu of a degree.
• Level: Preferred
• Req: A Master's degree in a relevant field such as Environmental Management, Sustainable Development, or an MBA with an ESG specialisation.
• Alts: This isn't a deal-breaker, but it often shows a deeper academic grounding and commitment to the field. If you've got the experience and the track record, that's what truly counts.

Experience Requirements

You'll need roughly 12-16 years of progressive experience in sustainability, ESG, or environmental health and safety roles, with a significant portion (at least 5-7 years) spent in a leadership or managerial capacity. This isn't an entry-level management role; you'll have already proven your ability to lead teams, manage complex programmes, and influence senior stakeholders in a global context. We're looking for someone who has genuinely 'been there, done that' when it comes to delivering large-scale sustainability initiatives.

Preferred Certifications

• Cert: IEMA Practitioner or Fellow (PIEMA/FIEMA)
• Prod: Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment
• Usage: Demonstrates a high level of competence and commitment to environmental and sustainability management, with a focus on professional development and ethical practice. It's a recognised mark of seniority in the UK.
• Cert: GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
• Prod: Global Reporting Initiative
• Usage: Shows deep expertise in applying the world's most widely used sustainability reporting standards, which is critical for this role's reporting responsibilities.
• Cert: Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or similar
• Prod: Association of Energy Engineers (AEE)
• Usage: Useful for understanding and driving energy efficiency initiatives, which are a major component of emissions reduction strategies.
• Cert: Lead Auditor ISO 14001 or ISO 45001
• Prod: Various (e.g., BSI, LRQA)
• Usage: Demonstrates a strong understanding of environmental and occupational health & safety management systems, which are foundational in our Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety department.

Recommended Activities

• Actively participate in industry working groups or associations (e.g., WBCSD, B Corp movement, local Chambers of Commerce sustainability committees).
• Attend key sustainability conferences and seminars (e.g., GreenBiz, Ethical Corporation, Responsible Business Summit) to stay abreast of trends and network.
• Pursue leadership training programmes focused on change management, cross-cultural leadership, or executive influence.
• Engage in continuous learning around emerging regulations (e.g., CSRD updates, TNFD framework) and new technologies (e.g., AI in ESG).
• Mentor junior professionals within the sustainability field, either formally or informally, to hone your leadership skills.

Career Progression Pathways

Entry Paths to This Role

• Path: Senior International Sustainability Coordinator (L3) or Lead Sustainability Strategist (L4)
• Time: 3-5 years in a senior individual contributor or lead role.
• Path: Sustainability Programme Manager (from another large organisation)
• Time: 5-8 years in a similar role, managing large-scale, cross-functional programmes.
• Path: Consultant (Sustainability / ESG)
• Time: 8-10 years in sustainability consulting, working with diverse clients.

Career Progression From This Role

• Pathway: Director of Sustainability & ESG (L6)
• Time: 3-5 years in the Manager role.
• Pathway: Head of Compliance & Risk (within Compliance_Quality_Health_Safety)
• Time: 4-6 years in the Manager role, potentially with additional training.

Long Term Vision Potential Roles

• Title: Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
• Time: 8-12+ years from this role.
• Title: VP of Corporate Responsibility / ESG
• Time: 6-10+ years from this role.
• Title: Head of ESG Investing / Sustainable Finance (if moving to finance sector)
• Time: 7-12+ years from this role.

How Zavmo Delivers This Role's Development

DISCOVER Phase: Skills Gap Analysis

Zavmo maps your current competencies against all requirements in this job description through conversational assessment. We evaluate your foundation skills (communication, strategic thinking), functional skills (CRM expertise, negotiation), and readiness for career progression.

Output: Personalised skills gap heat map showing strengths and priorities, estimated time to competency, neurodiversity accommodations.

DISCUSS Phase: Personalised Learning Pathway

Based on your DISCOVER results, Zavmo creates a personalised learning plan prioritised by impact: foundation skills first, then functional skills. We adapt to your learning style, pace, and neurodiversity needs (ADHD, dyslexia, autism).

Output: Week-by-week schedule, each module linked to specific job responsibilities, checkpoints and milestones.

DELIVER Phase: Conversational Learning

Learn through conversation, not boring modules. Zavmo uses 10 conversation types (Socratic dialogue, role-play, coaching, case studies) to build competence. Practice difficult QBR presentations, negotiate tough renewals, and handle churn conversations in a safe AI environment before facing real clients.

Example: "For 'Stakeholder Mapping', Zavmo will guide you through analysing a complex enterprise account, identifying key decision-makers, and building an engagement strategy."

DEMONSTRATE Phase: Competency Assessment

Zavmo automatically builds your evidence portfolio as you learn. Every conversation, practice scenario, and application example is captured and mapped to NOS performance criteria. When ready, your portfolio supports OFQUAL qualification claims and demonstrates competence to employers.

Output: Competency matrix, evidence portfolio (downloadable), qualification readiness, career progression score.