Sustainability Manager job description.
A Sustainability Manager develops and leads an organization's environmental and social responsibility initiatives, tracking performance against sustainability goals and regulatory requirements. They coordinate cross-functional projects, manage reporting, and engage stakeholders to reduce environmental impact and advance corporate sustainability strategy.
The Sustainability Manager job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Sustainability Manager Reports to: VP of Operations or Chief Sustainability Officer
A Sustainability Manager develops and leads an organization's environmental and social responsibility initiatives, tracking performance against sustainability goals and regulatory requirements. They coordinate cross-functional projects, manage reporting, and engage stakeholders to reduce environmental impact and advance corporate sustainability strategy.
- Develop and implement the organization's sustainability strategy and goals
- Track and report environmental performance metrics (energy, waste, emissions)
- Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and reporting standards
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
2 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
VP of Operations or Chief Sustainability Officer
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Develop and implement the organization's sustainability strategy and goals
- Track and report environmental performance metrics (energy, waste, emissions)
- Ensure compliance with environmental regulations and reporting standards
- Lead cross-functional sustainability projects and initiatives
- Engage internal and external stakeholders on sustainability priorities
- Prepare sustainability reports for leadership, investors, or regulators
- Identify cost-saving opportunities through resource efficiency
- Monitor industry trends and emerging sustainability regulations
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in environmental science, sustainability, or related field
- 4+ years of experience in sustainability, EHS, or corporate responsibility
- Knowledge of environmental regulations and reporting frameworks
- Strong project management and stakeholder engagement skills
- Master's degree or sustainability-related certification (LEED, GRI)
- Experience with ESG reporting and carbon accounting
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Sustainability Manager job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Sustainability Manager job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The senior band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (VP of Operations or Chief Sustainability Officer) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What background is typical for this role?
- Candidates often come from environmental science, EHS, or corporate responsibility backgrounds with several years of relevant project or reporting experience.
- Is ESG reporting experience required?
- It is increasingly expected, especially for organizations facing investor or regulatory ESG disclosure requirements, though it can be developed on the job.
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This Sustainability Manager job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.