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Chargé de performance environnementale groupe

KNDS France • France • Added on Aug 18, 2026
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As a central figure within the Environment, Health, and Safety department, you will drive environmental performance across a network of production sites. You will maintain the ISO 14001 certification framework while ensuring that complex industrial operations remain ahead of strict regulatory curves. From monitoring carbon footprints to preparing for incoming CSRD disclosures, you will be the bridge between high-level group strategy and local operational reality.

This role is critical because it tackles the environmental footprint of heavy industrial manufacturing in a high-stakes sector. By overseeing SEVESO sites and translating European regulations like REACH and IED into action, you directly influence how a defense leader navigates the ecological transition. Your work ensures that technological innovation in land defense is matched by rigorous industrial decarbonization and environmental stewardship.

This suits someone who thrives in complex technical environments and possesses the diplomatic skills to lead transversal networks. You should be a regulatory expert who enjoys turning legal requirements into concrete industrial improvements.

FAQ del ruolo

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus involves orchestrating the Environmental Management System (EMS) at a group level, ensuring that all production sites maintain their ISO 14001 certifications. You will be responsible for coordinating internal audits, managing action plans for non-conformities, and providing technical support to local environmental referents. Beyond certification, you will lead the group's efforts in carbon footprinting (BEGES) and prepare the environmental data required for CSRD and ESRS reporting. This includes building reliable performance dashboards and tracking environmental indicators to support strategic management reviews. You will also serve as a regulatory expert, interpreting complex frameworks such as SEVESO III, REACH, and the IED directive. By translating these into operational requirements, you help the group anticipate and mitigate industrial risks while fostering a culture of continuous environmental improvement.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This position offers deep exposure to the transition from traditional HSE management to the new era of ESG transparency. You will gain hands-on experience in implementing the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) within a large-scale industrial group, a highly sought-after skill set in the current market. Candidates will also sharpen their expertise in managing high-risk industrial environments, specifically SEVESO-rated sites. The technical variety—ranging from chemical risk management like PFAS and REACH to water management and waste reduction—provides a comprehensive masterclass in modern industrial ecology. Furthermore, the transversal nature of the role allows for the development of leadership and change management skills. You will learn how to influence site managers and technical teams across different European regions, harmonizing practices within a multi-national defense consortium.

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

The ideal candidate holds a Master's degree in Environmental Engineering, HSE, or Process Engineering, backed by significant experience in industrial risk management. A deep understanding of the ISO 14001 framework is non-negotiable, as you must be capable of leading audits and maintaining certification across multiple sites. Technical literacy regarding ICPE regulations and SEVESO requirements is essential given the nature of defense manufacturing. Knowledge of carbon accounting methodologies and emerging ESG regulations like the CSRD will distinguish top-tier applicants, as these are becoming central to the role's evolution. Soft skills are just as vital; you need the analytical rigor to handle complex data and the relational ease to train and sensitize diverse audiences. Proactivity and the ability to work independently while remaining a team player in a transversal network are key attributes for success.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your experience in bridging the gap between regulatory theory and industrial practice. Provide specific examples of how you have successfully navigated complex environmental audits or implemented carbon reduction initiatives in a manufacturing setting. Since KNDS operates in the defense sector, demonstrating an understanding of the operational constraints of heavy industry—such as metal treatment or chemical handling—will be highly valued. Tailor your application to show you are comfortable with high-security environments and the administrative rigor they require. Finally, highlight your transversal leadership abilities. The recruiters are looking for someone who doesn't just monitor compliance but actively animates a network. Show how you have previously influenced stakeholders who did not have a direct reporting line to you to achieve sustainability goals.

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

The role is primarily focused on industrial environmental stewardship. This includes minimizing the direct impacts of manufacturing processes, such as waste management, water usage, and the reduction of hazardous substances in accordance with REACH and PFAS regulations. A significant and growing portion of the role is dedicated to climate strategy. By managing the group's carbon footprint and sustainability reporting, you will be instrumental in tracking the company's progress toward decarbonization and ensuring transparency for external stakeholders. There is also a strong focus on governance and compliance. You will ensure that the group’s 'license to operate' remains secure by staying ahead of evolving European environmental laws, thereby integrating sustainability into the core operational risk management of the company.

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

One of the main challenges is the decentralized nature of the role. You must maintain high standards of environmental performance across twelve different sites, each with its own local culture and operational pressures, without having direct hierarchical authority over site personnel. The regulatory complexity of the defense sector is another hurdle. Balancing strict military production requirements with increasingly stringent environmental laws requires creative problem-solving and constant vigilance to ensure no compliance gaps emerge during rapid production cycles. Finally, transitioning the organization toward CSRD-compliant reporting represents a major data challenge. Ensuring the reliability and traceability of environmental indicators across a large group requires rigorous process implementation and the ability to convince others of the importance of non-financial data.

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

A typical day might begin with a coordination meeting with local HSE referents to discuss the progress of an action plan following a recent internal audit. You might then shift to analyzing the latest data for the group's carbon footprint, ensuring all emissions factors are correctly applied. Midday could involve a deep dive into regulatory monitoring, perhaps assessing how new European restrictions on PFAS will impact specific manufacturing processes at the Versailles site or other subsidiaries. This often involves translating legal jargon into practical briefs for the engineering teams. Afternoons are frequently spent on-site or in transversal workshops. You might be preparing for a management review, compiling environmental performance indicators into a dashboard, or conducting a training session to sensitize production staff on new waste segregation protocols.

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

This role serves as a launchpad for strategic sustainability leadership. By managing group-level performance and ESG reporting, you could naturally evolve into a Corporate Sustainability Director or a Group HSE Director role in the future. There are also opportunities for international exposure within the KNDS group, particularly through the Franco-German partnership. Engaging in cross-border projects can lead to roles with broader European or global remits, focusing on harmonizing sustainability standards across the defense industry. Alternatively, you could specialize further in climate transition or industrial risk. The expertise gained in CSRD implementation and high-level environmental compliance is currently in extremely high demand, allowing for significant career mobility within large-scale industrial sectors.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your most frequent interactions will be with the Network of Environmental Referents at the various production sites. You act as their technical guide, providing the tools and knowledge they need to maintain local compliance and performance. Internally, you will report to the Risk Prevention Coordinator and interact with the wider EHS department. You will also engage with Site Managers and Department Heads during audits and management reviews to ensure that environmental objectives are aligned with production goals. Externally, you may interact with regulatory authorities, certification bodies for ISO 14001, and specialized consultants for carbon auditing. As CSRD requirements grow, you will also likely collaborate with the Finance and Legal departments to ensure integrated reporting accuracy.

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