UK

United Kingdom · Compliance, quality and safety · Director/VP (16-20 years)

Director, Sustainability & EHS

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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As Director, Sustainability & EHS, a good place to start on Advanced Climate Risk Modelling & Scenario Analysis is Using Data to Direct a Department's Priorities, a free Future Fluency module at Level 5. You'd practise using the data your department already produces to decide where its effort should go.

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  • Experience bandDirector/VP (16-20 years)
  • Direct reports25-100+ reports
  • Reports toChief Compliance Officer (or CEO, depending on org size)
  • UK framework levelUsually a director, accountable for a division and its numbers

Also advertised as VP, ESG & Compliance · Head of Environmental Compliance · Director of Climate Strategy · Senior Director, Carbon Reduction & Reporting

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

GQA Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Construction Senior Management GQA Qualifications Limited · Level 7 · covers 1 of 9 standards
Highfield Level 7 NVQ in Construction Senior Management (RQF) Highfield Qualifications · Level 7 · covers 1 of 9 standards
ProQual Awarding Body Level 7 Vocationally-Related Qualification in Construction Management ProQual Awarding Body · Level 7 · covers 1 of 9 standards
IAO Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management Innovate Awarding · Level 5 · covers 1 of 9 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Assess and evaluate the sustainability and environmental impact of developments in construction management GQA Level 7 NVQ Diploma in Construction Senior Management
Sustainability and environmental impact of developments in construction management Highfield Level 7 NVQ in Construction Senior Management (RQF)
Corporate Social Responsibility as a Key Strategic Issue NOCN Level 7 Extended Diploma in Strategic Leadership of Performance and Productivity
Implementing a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy IAO Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management

The future skills this job leans on

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Sustainability Fluency building care for people and planet into the work
Foresight Fluency seeing round the corner
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Director, Sustainability & EHS

4 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Assess and evaluate the sustainability and environmental impact of developments in construction management GQA Qualifications Limited · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 7
  2. Sustainability and environmental impact of developments in construction management Highfield Qualifications · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 7
  3. Corporate Social Responsibility as a Key Strategic Issue NOCN · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 7
  4. Implementing a Corporate Social Responsibility strategy Innovate Awarding · covers 1 of 9 standards Level 5
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Director, Sustainability & EHS?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Advanced Climate Risk Modelling & Scenario Analysis
  • Carbon Insetting & Value Chain Collaboration
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Director, Sustainability & EHS plan as you set up, starting with the free Data Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

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Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

Directs environmental strategy and EHS programmes for a business, turning climate goals into practical plans across departments.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Sphera / Enablon (ESG & EHS Platforms) Strategic

Leading platform selection/RFP processes, designing enterprise data architecture for climate data, integrating ESG data with ERPs and other business systems. You'll oversee how the platform serves our strategic needs.

SimaPro / GaBi (LCA Software) Architect

Setting organisational standards for LCA, evaluating new software, and integrating LCA into R&D and product development processes. You'll guide the strategic application of LCA insights.

Power BI / Tableau (Data Analysis & Viz) Strategic

Governing data visualisation standards for executive and board reporting, connecting multiple data sources to create integrated climate dashboards, and presenting insights to leadership to drive strategic decisions.

ServiceNow GRC / Diligent ESG (GRC & Reporting) Strategic

Using Diligent for board-level ESG reporting, designing the overall GRC framework for climate risk management, and ensuring robust internal controls for compliance and auditability.

Jira / Asana (Collaboration & PM) Strategic

Overseeing the portfolio of decarbonisation projects across the business unit, allocating resources across programmes, and reporting on overall programme status and risks to the C-suite.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Strategic Direction for Decarbonisation N/A N/A N/A
Annual Budget Allocation (Sustainability & EHS) N/A N/A N/A
Major Capital Expenditure for Climate Projects N/A N/A N/A
External Climate Disclosure Content N/A N/A N/A
Team Hiring & Organisational Design N/A N/A N/A
M&A Due Diligence Recommendations (Climate Risk) N/A N/A N/A

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

GHG Reduction Targets Achieved
Percentage reduction in Scope 1, 2, and material Scope 3 emissions against our science-based targets.
Target · Achieve 100% of annual SBTi-aligned targets, e.g., 7% absolute reduction year-on-year.

Our target was a 7% reduction in Scope 1 & 2. You delivered an 8.5% reduction through a major energy efficiency programme, exceeding expectations.

Regulatory Compliance & Audit Performance
Number of major non-conformities or fines related to environmental regulations and reporting.
Target · Zero major non-conformities in annual external assurance audits (e.g., ISO 14064, CSRD).

We passed our annual CSRD audit with zero findings, demonstrating robust data and processes, saving us potential penalties and reputational damage.

Capital Allocation Influenced for Decarbonisation
The total value of capital expenditure projects (e.g., renewable energy, process electrification) that you directly influenced and secured funding for.
Target · Influence the allocation of >£5M in capital expenditure towards decarbonisation projects annually.

You successfully secured £7.5M for a new heat pump system in our main factory, projected to reduce Scope 1 emissions by 1,200 tCO2e per year.

ESG Rating Improvement
Improvement in key external ESG ratings (e.g., CDP, Sustainalytics, MSCI) directly attributable to our climate strategy and disclosures.
Target · Improve our CDP climate change score by at least one band (e.g., from B to A-), or increase Sustainalytics score by 5 points.

Our CDP score jumped from 'B' to 'A-' this year, thanks to your leadership on TCFD-aligned disclosures and clear progress on SBTs, which significantly boosted investor confidence.

Strategic Influence & Board Engagement
How effectively you shape executive and board-level discussions on climate risk and opportunity, leading to proactive strategic decisions.
  • Regular invitations to board strategy sessions
  • your input is sought on major investment decisions
  • you're seen as the authoritative voice on climate matters
  • successful integration of climate risk into enterprise risk management.
Organisational Capability Building
Your success in building a high-performing team and embedding climate expertise across relevant functions (e.g., Procurement, Engineering).
  • Low attrition within your team
  • clear succession plans
  • positive feedback from other department heads on the support and expertise provided by your team
  • successful internal training programmes on carbon accounting or climate risk.
External Reputation & Thought Leadership
Our standing in the industry and with external stakeholders regarding our climate performance and disclosures.
  • Invitations to speak at industry conferences
  • positive media coverage on our sustainability efforts
  • recognition from NGOs or peer groups
  • successful partnerships with external climate initiatives.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Shaping Enterprise Strategy

You'll spend a good chunk of your week in strategic planning meetings, working with the C-suite to integrate climate considerations into every major business decision, from product development to market entry. You'll be building multi-year roadmaps.

You led the development of our new 2030 climate strategy, which was approved by the board and is now driving our capital expenditure planning.

Driving Large-Scale Transformation

You get a real buzz from seeing your vision translated into tangible projects that reduce our footprint. This means overseeing multiple complex programmes, unblocking issues, and celebrating significant milestones, like a new renewable energy installation.

After two years of planning, the new process electrification project you championed is now fully operational, cutting our Scope 1 emissions by 15%.

Building & Mentoring High-Performing Teams

You enjoy developing your managers and specialists, helping them grow, and seeing them deliver impactful work. You're creating a legacy of talent and expertise within the organisation.

Two of your direct reports were promoted this year, and your team consistently delivers high-quality, assurance-ready data that withstands external scrutiny.

What frustrates people
  • The constant battle for capital allocation for decarbonisation projects against other business priorities.
  • Explaining complex climate science and regulatory nuances to board members who are focused on quarterly earnings.
  • Dealing with 'greenwashing' pressures from marketing or investor relations to present an overly optimistic picture.
  • The sheer scale of data collection for Scope 3 emissions across a global supply chain, often from uncooperative suppliers.
  • The slow pace of change in a large organisation, even with executive buy-in.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable routine with minimal stakeholder interaction.
  • Direct control over all operational aspects of decarbonisation.
  • Immediate, tangible results for every initiative you champion.
  • A role where you can avoid internal political navigation and complex negotiations.

8Who you work with

This role directly shapes the business unit's long-term environmental strategy, influencing capital allocation, operational procedures, and our public image. You're responsible for ensuring we remain compliant, competitive, and attractive to investors and talent. Get it right, and you'll drive significant P&L impact through efficiency gains and reduced risk. Get it wrong, and the consequences can be severe, impacting our licence to operate and shareholder value.

Inside the business
  • C-Suite (CEO, CFO, COO)
  • Board of Directors (especially Audit & Risk Committee)
  • Legal & Regulatory Affairs
  • Heads of Operations & Supply Chain
  • Investor Relations & Corporate Communications
Outside the business
  • Regulatory bodies (e.g., Environment Agency, DEFRA)
  • External auditors (e.g., PwC, Deloitte)
  • Industry associations & NGOs
  • Investors & ESG rating agencies
  • Key suppliers and strategic partners

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • Extensive experience (10+ years) leading large-scale sustainability, EHS, or climate functions within a complex, multi-site organisation.
  • Demonstrable track record of successfully setting and achieving ambitious carbon reduction targets and navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
  • Proven experience managing significant budgets (multi-million £) and influencing capital allocation for environmental projects.
  • Prior experience presenting to and influencing executive leadership teams and Boards of Directors on strategic environmental issues.
  • A deep understanding of financial reporting, investor relations, and how ESG performance impacts market valuation.
  • Experience building, leading, and developing large teams (20+ direct/indirect reports).

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

AI for Strategic Climate Decision-Making

Beyond basic automation, AI is rapidly advancing to provide predictive insights for climate risk, optimise decarbonisation pathways, and even simulate policy impacts. As a Director, you need to understand how to harness these capabilities for strategic advantage.

Machine learning for predictive climate impact ana · Optimisation algorithms for energy system transiti · Natural Language Processing (NLP) for advanced reg · AI ethics and bias in climate data analysis · Digital twins for optimising industrial processes

  • This quarter: Deep dive into our AI Productivity Hub's advanced features and identify 1-2 strategic use cases for your function.
  • Next 6 months: Partner with our Data Science or IT team to explore a pilot project using AI for a specific climate challenge (e.g., optimising energy procurement).
  • Next 12 months: Lead a workshop with your team and relevant technical experts on the ethical implications and governance of AI in climate reporting and decision-making.
  • Ongoing: Read industry reports and attend webinars on AI applications in sustainability to stay current.

Quick win: Challenge your team to identify one recurring strategic analysis where AI could provide deeper or faster insights. Task them with exploring existing tools or internal capabilities.

Integrated Reporting (Financial & Non-Financial)

The trend is clear: financial and non-financial reporting are converging. Standards like IFRS S1/S2 (ISSB) are pushing for climate disclosures to be as robust and auditable as financial statements, requiring a seamless integration of data and narrative.

ISSB (International Sustainability Standards Board · Double materiality concept in practice · Integrated Annual Reports (e.g., <IR> Framework) · Data governance for integrated reporting · Assurance requirements for non-financial informati

  • This quarter: Work closely with our CFO and Head of Financial Reporting to understand their roadmap for ISSB adoption.
  • Next 6 months: Lead a cross-functional working group (Finance, Legal, Sustainability) to map our current climate data to ISSB requirements and identify gaps.
  • Next 12 months: Oversee the development of internal controls and processes to ensure our climate data meets the same rigour as financial data.
  • Ongoing: Engage with industry forums and professional bodies (e.g., ICAEW, IEMA) on best practices for integrated reporting.

Quick win: Schedule a meeting with the CFO to discuss the implications of ISSB and how your team can proactively prepare for the convergence of financial and non-financial reporting.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending executive-level sustainability forums and conferences (e.g., World Economic Forum, WBCSD, Climate Week) to stay abreast of global trends and network with peers.
  • Participating in industry working groups or committees focused on climate policy or sustainable practices.
  • Engaging in continuous learning on emerging topics like climate finance, circular economy, and AI applications in sustainability.
  • Mentoring rising talent within the organisation and externally, sharing your expertise and leadership insights.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Advanced Climate Risk Modelling & Scenario Analysis

Regulations like TCFD and CSRD are demanding more sophisticated, quantitative assessments of physical and transition risks. Investors want to see how resilient our strategy is under various 1.5°C or 2°C warming scenarios, not just qualitative statements.

  • Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) for climate sc
  • Probabilistic risk assessment for physical assets
  • Financial modelling of transition risks (e.g., car
  • Climate stress testing methodologies
  • Interpreting IPCC AR6 regional projections

Carbon Insetting & Value Chain Collaboration

With Scope 3 emissions often representing 80-90% of a company's footprint, simply 'reporting' isn't enough. Regulators and investors expect us to actively drive reductions within our supply chain. Insetting (investing in emission reductions within our own value chain) is becoming a strategic imperative.

  • Supplier engagement strategies for decarbonisation
  • Collaborative platforms for Scope 3 data sharing
  • Financing mechanisms for supplier climate action
  • Life Cycle Costing (LCC) for sustainable procureme
  • Measuring 'avoided emissions' through product inno

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • GHG Protocol & Corporate Accounting
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Climate-Related Regulatory Frameworks
  • Science-Based Target Setting (SBTi)
  • Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Analysis
  • Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Head of Sustainability for a large business unit

    3-5 years in previous role

    Skills to master

    • Enterprise-level strategic planning, P&L management for a smaller function, board reporting, large team leadership.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully led a significant climate programme from strategy to execution.
    • Consistently met or exceeded climate targets for their previous business unit.
    • Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and secure significant budgets.
    • Built and developed a high-performing team.
  2. 2

    Senior Consultant / Partner at a top-tier ESG consultancy

    5-7 years at consultancy, 15-20 years total experience

    Skills to master

    • Deep understanding of multiple industry sectors, client relationship management at C-suite level, strategic advisory skills, managing complex project teams.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Advised multiple FTSE 100/Fortune 500 clients on their climate strategies.
    • Developed and implemented large-scale decarbonisation roadmaps for clients.
    • Proven ability to translate complex climate science into actionable business strategies.
    • Strong network within the sustainability and climate sector.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to non-executive board work with an ESG focus, a global ESG leadership role in a financial institution, or leading a company built around climate solutions.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Director, Sustainability & EHS is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

Also named as a next step, with no page in the catalogue yet:

  • Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) or Chief Operating Officer (COO)

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Assess and evaluate the sustainability and environmental impact of developments in construction management, worked against Director, Sustainability & EHS.

Assess and evaluate the sustainability and environmental impact of developments in construction management Level 7

Applied to your work in Director, Sustainability & EHS

This unit aims to equip learners with the ability to assess the environmental impact of construction development proposals and evaluate sustainable requirements. Learners will be able to analyse the environmental impact assessment process and effectively present findings related to sustainable construction.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Director, Sustainability & EHS
  • GHG Protocol & Corporate Accounting
  • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
  • Climate-Related Regulatory Frameworks
  • Science-Based Target Setting (SBTi)
  • Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Analysis
  • Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Director, Sustainability & EHS is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)

    3-5 years in this Director role

    C-Suite (Level 007)

    • Holistic ESG framework design (e.g., integrating diversity & inclusion, human rights).
    • Advanced stakeholder engagement (e.g., government lobbying, industry thought leadership).
    • Public speaking and media relations as the company's ESG spokesperson.

  2. Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) or Chief Operating Officer (COO)

    5-8 years in this Director role

    C-Suite (Level 007)

    • Risk management beyond environmental (e.g., financial, operational, cyber).
    • Process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean Six Sigma) at an enterprise scale.
    • Digital transformation for operational efficiency.
    • Global supply chain strategy and management.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

At this level, your time is precious. You shouldn't be bogged down in manual data crunching or drafting routine reports. We're serious about using AI to free up your strategic capacity, letting you focus on what truly matters: driving our climate agenda.

Imagine cutting down the time spent on regulatory updates, data validation, and even drafting board presentations. AI isn't here to replace your strategic brain; it's here to augment it, giving you superpowers to analyse more, report faster, and make better decisions. We're building an internal AI Productivity Hub, and you'll be at the forefront of using it.

Automated Invoice Parsing

Use AI with OCR (Optical Character Recognition) to automatically extract energy consumption (kWh, therms) and cost data from thousands of PDF utility bills. This feeds directly into our GHG inventory, saving your team countless hours of manual data entry and reducing errors.

Anomaly Detection Engine

Train an AI model on historical emissions data to automatically flag unusual spikes or dips in a plant's electricity use or fuel consumption. This helps your team quickly identify potential data errors, operational issues, or even opportunities for efficiency improvements before they become bigger problems.

Regulatory Briefing Assistant

Imagine an AI agent constantly monitoring and summarising updates to complex climate regulations like CSRD, SEC rules, or new national policies. It highlights key changes relevant to our company's specific reporting obligations and flags potential risks or opportunities, giving you a head start on compliance.

Narrative Reporting First Draft

Feed quantitative emissions data, project updates, and strategic objectives into a generative AI. It can then produce a structured first draft of the TCFD, CSRD, or annual sustainability report's climate section, saving your communications team significant drafting time and ensuring consistency.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Director, Sustainability & EHS?

Common routes in include Head of Sustainability for a large business unit (3-5 years in previous role) and Senior Consultant / Partner at a top-tier ESG consultancy (5-7 years at consultancy, 15-20 years total experience). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Director, Sustainability & EHS progress to?

This role can lead on to Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) (3-5 years in this Director role) and Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) or Chief Operating Officer (COO) (5-8 years in this Director role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Director, Sustainability & EHS?

Increasingly, Advanced Climate Risk Modelling & Scenario Analysis and Carbon Insetting & Value Chain Collaboration. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

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17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 7

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in compliance, quality and safety

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

Skills in climate strategy, regulatory compliance and large-scale change apply across many sectors, including consulting, finance and climate technology.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Data Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.