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Manager Sustainability Requirements & Governance

Continental • Germany • Added on Aug 13, 2026
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This role acts as the central translator for sustainability regulations, turning complex legal frameworks into actionable business requirements across the entire organization. You will take ownership of the governance structures and internal controls that ensure long-term compliance, moving beyond mere reporting to active process design. By bridging the gap between legal departments and operational functions like R&D and supply chain, you ensure sustainability is hard-wired into the corporate DNA.

The automotive industry is undergoing a massive transformation where circularity and carbon transparency are no longer optional. In this position, you directly influence how a global industrial giant navigates high-stakes legislation like the EUDR, CSRD, and LkSG. Your work provides the structural integrity needed to transform sustainability from a regulatory burden into a robust operational standard for over 50,000 employees.

This suits someone who possesses a sharp legal or analytical mind and the diplomatic skill to drive cross-functional change without direct authority. You should be a structured thinker who thrives on building systems from scratch in an international corporate environment.

Preguntas frecuentes

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus of this role is to act as a regulatory translator, interpreting international sustainability laws and customer requirements to define what they mean for the company's daily operations. You will be responsible for creating the governance frameworks, including the definition of roles, responsibilities, and decision-making structures that ensure the organization remains compliant. Beyond just setting rules, you will oversee the implementation of these requirements into end-to-end business processes. This involves working closely with departments like IT and Purchasing to ensure that data collection and documentation are audit-ready. You will also lead pilot projects to test new processes before they are rolled out globally.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in the regulatory landscape of the automotive and manufacturing sectors, specifically regarding the CSRD, LkSG, and European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). This is a masterclass in how a multinational corporation handles large-scale compliance transformations and integrates non-financial KPIs into traditional ERP systems. You will also develop advanced change management skills by navigating a complex matrix organization. The role offers exposure to how sustainability intersects with legal, technical compliance, and digital transformation, providing a holistic view of modern corporate governance and risk management.

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

The ideal candidate brings several years of experience in sustainability, compliance, or management consulting within an international context. You should have a proven track record of interpreting legal requirements and turning them into practical business rules. A degree in law, business, or engineering with a focus on sustainability is essential. Soft skills are just as important as technical knowledge; you need to be a strong communicator and moderator who can influence stakeholders across different hierarchy levels. Experience with risk management frameworks and a deep understanding of supply chain due diligence will make your profile stand out.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Focus your application on your ability to operationalize abstract concepts. Instead of just listing known regulations, explain a specific instance where you took a complex requirement and successfully integrated it into a company's workflow or software environment. Showing that you understand the technical and data-driven side of sustainability will be a major advantage. Given Continental's focus on its four core values—Trust, Passion to Win, Freedom to Act, and For One Another—tailor your cover letter to reflect how you exercise leadership without formal authority. Demonstrating an analytical mindset paired with a collaborative approach is key for this specific governance role.

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

The role is heavily focused on the governance and transparency aspects of ESG. You will likely spend significant time on the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) and upcoming product-related regulations like the Battery Regulation or the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). There is also a strong emphasis on traceability and data integrity. As the company moves toward carbon neutrality and circular economy goals, your focus will be ensuring that the data supporting these claims is robust, verifiable, and gathered through standardized processes across all global production sites.

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

One of the biggest hurdles will be the speed of regulatory change. Keeping up with evolving EU and global standards while ensuring the business doesn't lose agility requires a delicate balance. You may encounter resistance from operational functions that view new sustainability controls as additional administrative overhead. Furthermore, ensuring consistency across diverse markets is a significant challenge. Implementing a unified governance framework in 54 different countries means accounting for varying local legal landscapes while maintaining a high global standard for the Tires division.

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

A typical day might begin with an impact assessment of a new regulatory draft, followed by a meeting with the Legal and Standards departments to align on interpretation. You might then shift to a workshop with IT and Purchasing to discuss how to automate data collection for the corporate sustainability report. In the afternoon, you could be mentoring a pilot project team in one of the production plants to see how a new traceability process works in practice. Much of your time is spent in cross-functional coordination, ensuring that everyone from the factory floor to the boardroom understands their role in the sustainability governance framework.

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

This role is a high-visibility position that puts you at the intersection of strategy and operations. Success here can lead to senior leadership roles within the Global Sustainability team or lateral moves into Corporate Governance, Risk Management, or Supply Chain Leadership. Continental provides extensive professional development platforms, including LinkedIn Learning and internal leadership programs. Given the strategic importance of ESG compliance for the automotive industry's future, the expertise gained in this role will make you a highly sought-after expert for any global industrial corporation.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact with a wide array of internal stakeholders, including the Legal, Compliance, and Technical Regulations teams. On the operational side, your primary partners will be in Purchasing, R&D, and Production, where the actual implementation of sustainability requirements takes place. Externally, you may engage with auditors and consultants during the verification of sustainability reports or the assessment of governance systems. You also act as a bridge to customers, ensuring that Continental’s sustainability governance meets the increasingly stringent requirements of major automotive OEMs.

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