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Manager Environment, Sustainability & Audit

Sappi Maastricht B.V. • Netherlands • Added on Aug 10, 2026
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As the lead for environment and sustainability at the Maastricht mill, you will be the primary guardian of the site’s license to operate. Your daily focus centers on managing a complex industrial ecosystem, overseeing environmental permits, and ensuring absolute compliance with regional and national emissions standards. You will steer critical audits and manage the integration of environmental management systems across a high-output production facility.

This role is vital because it sits at the heart of the heavy industry’s transition toward a circular economy. By managing energy consumption and carbon output for one of the world’s largest board machines, you directly influence the decarbonization of the packaging sector. You ensure that paper production remains a sustainable choice through rigorous management of renewable raw materials and waste-to-energy integration.

This suits someone who thrives in technical, industrial environments and possesses the diplomatic skill to bridge the gap between complex engineering realities and strict legal frameworks.

FAQ de l’offre

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to secure the license to operate for a major industrial site by managing environmental permits and ensuring total compliance with water, air, and soil regulations. You will oversee all environmental and emission-related issues, including CO2 and energy consumption tracking. Additionally, you are responsible for the implementation and maintenance of key management systems and certifications such as ISO, FSC, and PEFC. This includes managing internal and external audit cycles to ensure the facility meets both legal and voluntary industry standards. Long-term, you will lead the reporting processes for sustainability data, contributing to annual reports and emission statements. You will act as a strategic advisor to the mill's management regarding environmental risks and the evolving legislative landscape in the Netherlands.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This role offers deep exposure to the energy transition within a heavy industrial context, particularly regarding grid stability and balancing services. You will gain hands-on experience in how a massive production facility interacts with the national energy market as a flexibility provider. Furthermore, you will refine your expertise in Dutch and European environmental law, specifically the Omgevingswet and industrial emissions directives. Navigating these complex frameworks provides a high-level masterclass in regulatory affairs and compliance management for large-scale manufacturing. Professional development is also available through internal leadership programs and specialized technical training in auditing and sustainability reporting frameworks like the CSRD, ensuring your skills remain at the cutting edge of ESG management.

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

The ideal candidate holds a technical degree, likely in environmental science or engineering, and brings significant experience from a process industry background. You must have a proven track record in managing environmental permits and navigating the administrative complexities of provincial regulators. Technical knowledge of ISO standards and forest management certifications (FSC/PEFC) is essential. However, the role also demands high-level stakeholder management skills to effectively communicate technical requirements to non-specialist internal teams and external government officials. You should be someone who remains calm under pressure, especially during audits or when facing tight reporting deadlines. A proactive attitude toward legislative changes and a genuine commitment to industrial sustainability are what will set you apart.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to translate abstract environmental laws into practical operational procedures. Highlight specific instances where you successfully managed relationships with regulators or turned a compliance challenge into a process improvement opportunity. Research the company's recent sustainability reports and their EcoVadis standing to show you understand their corporate-level goals. Mentioning your experience with specific Dutch environmental authorities or your familiarity with the Maastricht industrial region will show you are ready to hit the ground running.

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

The role focuses heavily on emissions reduction and resource efficiency. Given the scale of the machinery, managing the carbon intensity of the production process is a top priority, alongside water management and circularity of the chemicals used in coating. You will also focus on responsible sourcing, ensuring that all wood-based raw materials satisfy strict traceability standards. This ensures the company’s graphic and packaging boards maintain their status as premium, sustainable alternatives to plastic-based packaging. Another key angle is energy management. The mill’s role as an energy provider means your work in energy compliance directly supports the stability of the Dutch power grid, facilitating the broader integration of renewable energy sources.

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

The main challenge is balancing production targets with increasingly stringent environmental limits. In an industry with high energy and water needs, maintaining a competitive edge while meeting decarbonization goals requires constant technical and strategic negotiation. You may also face challenges related to the speed of regulatory change. Keeping the mill compliant with evolving EU and national laws requires foresight and the ability to implement changes across a large workforce without disrupting complex manufacturing workflows. Finally, managing the expectations of diverse stakeholders—from environmental NGOs and local authorities to corporate shareholders—requires high-level diplomatic skills and a thick skin.

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

A typical day often starts with a review of operational emissions data and energy consumption from the previous 24 hours to ensure everything is within the permit limits. You might then spend the morning in a project meeting regarding a new permit application for a plant upgrade. Lunch could be followed by a walk-through of the mill to prepare for an upcoming FSC audit, speaking with plant operators to ensure documentation is correctly maintained on the floor. You'll likely spend time in your office reviewing draft environmental reports or responding to inquiries from the provincial regulator. The day often concludes with a meeting with the mill management team to discuss long-term sustainability strategy or energy market trends, ensuring that environmental goals are integrated into the overall business plan.

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

Within a global group, this role is a springboard to regional or global ESG leadership positions. Success at a flagship site provides high visibility to senior leadership and opens doors to strategic corporate functions. You could move into roles focused on corporate-level environmental strategy, sustainable procurement, or energy management. There are also opportunities to lead cross-border projects within the European operations, focusing on best-practice sharing between mills in different countries. The technical and legal expertise gained here is highly transferable, making you a prime candidate for senior HSE or Sustainability Director roles within any heavy industrial or manufacturing sector.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internal stakeholders include the Mill Manager and the production engineering teams, whom you will advise on compliance and efficiency. You will also work closely with the energy department regarding grid services and CO2 management. Externally, your most critical interactions are with the Provincial authorities and environmental inspectorates. You act as the face of the company during inspections and permit negotiations. Other stakeholders include certification bodies for ISO and FSC audits, as well as suppliers of raw materials and energy. You may also engage with local community groups or industry associations to discuss the mill’s environmental footprint.

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