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Sustainability & Strategy Manager

Apleona Group • Germany • Added on Jul 21, 2026
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Reporting directly to the Head of Sustainability and reaching the CEO’s desk, you will own the evolution of the Group’s ESG framework. This involves steering the double materiality analysis and ensuring the company stays ahead of rigorous reporting standards like CSRD and the EU Taxonomy. You will translate complex regulatory data into actionable insights that drive board-level decision-making across forty thousand employees.

At Apleona, sustainability is the core lever for modernizing facility management and real estate services across thirty countries. By leading decarbonization initiatives across Scope 1, 2, and 3, you are not just checking boxes but fundamentally decoupling commercial growth from carbon intensity in a sector responsible for significant global emissions. Your work directly shifts how thousands of buildings are managed and optimized for a low-carbon future.

This suits someone who pair analytical precision with a proactive mindset, likely coming from a management or ESG consulting background and looking to drive real-world implementation. You should excel at navigating complex stakeholder landscapes with executive-level communication.

Job-FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

You will be responsible for the continuous development of the sustainability strategy, focusing on decarbonization, CSRD compliance, and ESG positioning for investors. This includes leading the ESRS-compliant reporting process and conducting double materiality analyses to ensure high-quality disclosures. Beyond reporting, you will develop concepts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across Scope 1, 2, and 3. You will partner with business units to implement these measures and track their progress through ESG ratings like MSCI and Sustainalytics. A significant part of the role involves stakeholder management. You will prepare complex decision templates and presentations for the Board of Directors and executive management, ensuring sustainability is integrated into the Group’s core strategic pillars.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in regulatory compliance, specifically mastering the technical nuances of CSRD, ESRS, and the EU Taxonomy within a large-scale corporate environment. This is a chance to move from theory to practice by seeing how these regulations impact operational facility management. Exposure to private equity dynamics through ownership by Bain Capital offers a unique perspective on how ESG data creates value for investors. You will learn how to align sustainability goals with the high-paced, performance-oriented environment of a market leader. Working across more than 30 countries provides international strategic exposure. You will learn to manage cross-functional projects that bridge the gap between financial reporting and technical building operations on a European scale.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings 2 to 5 years of professional experience, likely from a top-tier strategy or ESG consultancy (Big 4 or boutique) or a dedicated corporate sustainability role. You must have a strong grasp of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and European ESG regulations. Analytical and conceptual strength is paramount. You need the ability to translate data into strategy and communicate those findings clearly to top-level executives. Since this is a cross-functional role, proven experience in managing diverse stakeholder groups is essential. Fluency in both German and English is required to navigate the local market leadership while managing the Group's international reach. Technical proficiency in Power BI or ESG software solutions is a distinct advantage.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Highlight your experience within highly structured reporting frameworks. If you have guided a materiality analysis or a Scope 3 inventory before, describe the specific challenges you overcame and the tools you utilized to ensure data integrity. Showcase your ability to communicate with the C-suite. Apleona values a 'make it happen' mentality; your application should demonstrate not just that you understand the rules, but that you know how to turn those rules into operational strategy that board members will support. Tailor your narrative to the real estate and facility services sector. Emphasize any familiarity you have with building technology, energy efficiency, or industrial secondary processes, as this domain-specific knowledge will help you stand out from generic ESG applicants.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role centers on operational decarbonization. Because Apleona manages vast real-estate portfolios, the primary focus is reducing the carbon footprint of building operations and supply chains (Scope 1–3) to meet ambitious climate targets. There is a heavy emphasis on governance and transparency. You will likely focus on building the reporting infrastructure necessary to satisfy institutional investors and meet the strict requirements of EU-wide sustainability directives. Additionally, the role focuses on stakeholder engagement. You will be the bridge between technical facility managers in the field and the financial interests of the Group, ensuring sustainability projects are both impactful and commercially viable.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One major challenge is data collection and quality across 30 different countries and various business units. Harmonizing ESG metrics in a large, decentralized service organization requires significant persistence and technical coordination. You may also face the challenge of balancing regulatory speed with operational reality. Implementing deep changes in decarbonization across thousands of sites involves managing resistance and ensuring that technical teams understand the strategic necessity of ESG KPIs. Finally, operating under private equity timelines means deliverables are often high-pressure and high-visibility. Navigating the expectations of both internal CEOs and external investors like Bain Capital requires high professional resilience.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a strategy meeting with the Head of Sustainability to discuss the roadmap for the next reporting cycle. You might then shift to an analytical session, reviewing emissions data or drafting a response for an ESG rating agency like MSCI. Midday could involve clear-cut cross-functional coordination, such as a call with the Finance or Operations teams to discuss how to integrate ESG metrics into their quarterly reviews. You will likely spend time refining presentation decks for an upcoming board meeting. Your afternoon might be spent monitoring regulatory updates or advising a specific business unit on how to implement a new decarbonization measure. The day usually ends with documenting progress or coordinating with external auditors on report verification.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Given the proximity to the Group CEO and the Private Equity context, this role offers exceptional visibility. Success here can lead to senior leadership positions within the sustainability department or strategic roles in other business units. You will have the opportunity to shape a growing team. As Apleona continues its expansion as a market leader, the sustainability function is likely to scale, offering the chance to take on more significant leadership responsibilities or specialized director roles. The experience gained in managing a European-wide transition is highly transferable. This role positions you as an expert in large-scale ESG transformation, a profile that is increasingly in demand for executive positions across the real estate and industrial service sectors.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your most critical stakeholder is the Head of Sustainability and the Group CEO. Providing them with accurate, high-altitude strategic advice is the primary purpose of this managerial role. You will frequently interact with Business Unit leaders and Operations managers. These are the people responsible for delivering services on the ground, and your success depends on their ability to implement your sustainability concepts. External stakeholders include investors (Bain Capital), ESG rating agencies, and financial auditors. You will act as a key point of contact during reporting seasons to ensure Apleona’s sustainability performance is correctly understood and valued by the market.

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