Sustainability Planning Specialist

The core of this role is translating sustainability regulation into operational reality for A2A. You would be responsible for analysing the Group's economic activities against the EU Taxonomy Regulation, working closely with Business Units and the Planning & Control function to identify which activities qualify as environmentally sustainable. Alongside that, you would support the Finance function in structuring and issuing Green Bonds, ensuring alignment with A2A's Sustainable Finance Framework and the ICMA Green Bond Principles. A second major stream is the Climate Transition Plan. This involves defining and monitoring A2A's decarbonisation strategy towards Net Zero, calculating the Group's Carbon Footprint according to the GHG Protocol, and assessing the business impacts of emission scenarios across different time horizons. You would also contribute to national and international working groups, draft position papers on sustainability topics, and keep the Group aligned with evolving ESG regulation and reporting standards. Day to day, this means a mix of data analysis, cross-functional coordination and regulatory monitoring. Long term, you would help embed sustainability into A2A's core business planning, ensuring that decarbonisation targets are not just aspirational but operationalised across the Group's electricity, gas, water and waste activities.

This position offers deep, hands-on exposure to the EU Taxonomy framework, not just reading about it, but applying Delegated Acts to real business cases across A2A's diversified operations in energy, water and environment. You would likely develop strong technical skills in GHG Protocol emissions accounting and in building forward-looking emissions scenarios, which are increasingly sought-after capabilities in the sustainability job market. Working closely with Finance on Green Bond issuance would give you rare insight into the intersection of sustainability and capital markets, how Sustainable Finance Frameworks are built, how ICMA principles are applied in practice, and how investors assess green instruments. You would also gain familiarity with ESG rating agencies and disclosure platforms like CDP and S&P Global, understanding how external assessments are shaped. Because the team participates in national and international working groups, there could be valuable opportunities to build a professional network and gain visibility in the wider sustainability community. A2A also mentions a structured Performance Management process, internal job rotation possibilities and dedicated training programmes, suggesting a genuine commitment to professional development.

The ideal candidate likely holds a degree in economics, engineering, environmental sciences or a related field, with two to five years of professional experience in sustainability, specifically in EU Taxonomy and decarbonisation. A background in consulting, utilities, industrial companies or ESG-focused organisations would be particularly valued, as it would bring both technical rigour and practical understanding of how sustainability operates within complex businesses. On the technical side, you would need solid command of the EU Taxonomy Regulation and its Delegated Acts, proven experience calculating emissions under the GHG Protocol, and knowledge of sustainability reporting standards and frameworks. Familiarity with ESG questionnaires and ratings such as CDP and S&P Global is expected. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and excellent written and spoken English are both essential, given the international nature of the working groups. Soft skills matter here too. The role involves frequent interaction with colleagues across Finance, Planning & Control and various Business Units, so strong relational and collaborative abilities are important. A2A seems to value autonomy, problem-solving, critical thinking and proactivity, people who can take ownership of complex workstreams and drive them forward without constant supervision.

A2A explicitly states that only applications submitted through its company careers site will be considered, so make sure you apply there rather than through a job board redirect. Given the technical specificity of this role, your CV should lead with concrete evidence of EU Taxonomy application, not just awareness of the regulation, but examples of how you have mapped economic activities against Delegated Acts in a real organisational context. When describing your experience with GHG Protocol emissions accounting, be specific about the scopes you have worked on, the methodologies used and the business decisions your analysis informed. If you have contributed to Green Bond frameworks, sustainability-linked financing or climate transition plans, highlight those contributions explicitly: these are clearly central to what this team does. Mention any exposure to CDP, S&P Global or other ESG rating processes. In your cover letter, connect your motivation to A2A's Life Company identity and its concrete commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda, the company takes pride in having over 70% of its 2030 projects already authorised or under implementation. Demonstrating that you understand the Italian energy transition context and A2A's role as the country's second-largest operator by installed renewable capacity would set you apart. Prepare for interviews by being ready to discuss how you would approach a Taxonomy assessment for a diversified utility, and brush up on A2A's Sustainable Finance Framework.

This role sits squarely within A2A's environmental and governance agenda, with a particularly strong emphasis on the 'E', specifically EU Taxonomy alignment, decarbonisation and climate transition planning. You would be directly involved in identifying which of A2A's economic activities qualify as sustainable under the Taxonomy Regulation, which is a foundational exercise for the Group's sustainability reporting and green financing activities. The Climate Transition Plan is another central focus. A2A has committed to Net Zero and has aligned its sustainability policy with 11 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. Your work on carbon footprint analysis and emissions scenarios would feed directly into how the Group shapes its long-term strategy across electricity generation, gas distribution, district heating, water services and waste management, all activities with significant decarbonisation implications. On the governance side, supporting Green Bond issuance and monitoring ESG regulation means you would help ensure that A2A's sustainability commitments are credible, well-documented and attractive to investors. The stakeholder engagement dimension, participating in working groups and drafting position papers, suggests the role also touches on how A2A shapes and responds to the broader sustainability policy environment in Italy and internationally.

One of the main challenges would be navigating the complexity of the EU Taxonomy Regulation across a highly diversified business. A2A operates in electricity distribution, gas, district heating, water services and waste management, each with different eligibility criteria, technical screening thresholds and 'do no significant harm' assessments. Applying Delegated Acts consistently across all these activities requires both regulatory precision and deep understanding of the underlying operations. Another likely challenge is the cross-functional nature of the work. You would need to extract data and build consensus among colleagues in Finance, Planning & Control, and multiple Business Units who may have different priorities and levels of sustainability expertise. Coordinating Taxonomy reporting or Green Bond compliance across such a large organisation (the company describes itself as having almost 15,000 people) demands strong interpersonal skills and the ability to translate technical sustainability concepts into language that non-specialists can act on. The pace of regulatory change in ESG is another pressure point. Keeping A2A aligned with evolving European standards, from Taxonomy amendments to CSRD requirements and beyond, means constantly updating your knowledge and potentially reworking analyses. Balancing this with the day-to-day demands of emissions calculations and stakeholder requests could be demanding, particularly during reporting cycles or Green Bond issuance periods.

A typical day might begin with reviewing regulatory updates or newly published guidance on EU Taxonomy or ESG reporting standards, flagging anything that could affect A2A's current assessments. You could then move into a working session with colleagues from a Business Unit to gather or validate data on specific economic activities, for example, confirming whether a particular investment meets the technical screening criteria for climate mitigation. These conversations often require translating regulatory language into operational terms. Midday or early afternoon might involve a meeting with the Finance team on an upcoming Green Bond issuance or a review of the Sustainable Finance Framework. You would likely be asked to verify that proposed expenditures or projects align with the framework's eligibility criteria. Alternatively, you could spend time on the Climate Transition Plan, running emissions scenarios, updating carbon footprint models under the GHG Protocol, or preparing materials for a steering committee. Later in the day, there might be a working group call with external stakeholders or industry peers, or time set aside to draft a position paper or internal briefing note. The role appears to offer some flexibility, A2A mentions smart working up to 60% and reduced hours on Fridays, so there could be quieter blocks for deep analytical work. Occasional travel for events, conferences or working groups is also mentioned, adding variability to the routine.

Given the breadth of this role (Taxonomy, climate transition, sustainable finance and regulatory monitoring) the learning curve itself is a growth opportunity. Mastering EU Taxonomy application at a company as diversified as A2A would build a highly transferable expertise that is in strong demand across European utilities and financial institutions. Similarly, hands-on involvement in Green Bond issuance is a rare skill set that could open doors to roles in sustainable finance, treasury or investor relations. The role sits within a Corporate Business Unit that coordinates sustainability strategy across the Group, which means visibility is likely high. Successful delivery on the Climate Transition Plan or a Green Bond issuance could position you well for progression within the Sustainability Planning team or into broader strategy, finance or Business Unit leadership roles. A2A also mentions Performance Management with multi-source feedback and the possibility of internal job rotation through internal applications. Beyond formal progression, there is the less tangible but valuable growth that comes from working on national and international working groups. Building relationships with peers at other utilities, regulators and standard-setters can expand your professional network and reputation in the sustainability field. For someone early-to-mid career, this combination of technical depth and strategic exposure is a strong foundation for future leadership roles.

Internally, your closest collaborators would likely be within the Sustainability Planning team itself, but the role is explicitly cross-functional. You would work regularly with the Finance function on Green Bond issuance and sustainable finance products, with Planning & Control on Taxonomy data and alignment, and with various Business Units to gather information on economic activities and decarbonisation projects. Each of these relationships has a different dynamic, Finance needs precision and compliance, Business Units need practicality and clarity. Externally, the role involves participation in national and international working groups, which means engaging with peers from other companies, industry associations, regulators and possibly standard-setting bodies. You might also interact with ESG rating agencies and data providers such as CDP or S&P Global, either directly or by preparing the materials that inform A2A's responses to their questionnaires. These external interactions require diplomatic skill and the ability to represent A2A's positions credibly. There may also be contact with investors and financial institutions indirectly through the Green Bond process, while Finance likely leads those conversations, your technical input on Taxonomy alignment and climate strategy would underpin the credibility of what A2A presents. The job description also mentions occasional travel for training, events and conferences, suggesting that face-to-face stakeholder engagement is part of the role's rhythm.