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Senior Sustainability Manager

adesso SE • Germany • Added on Aug 24, 2026
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As a central figure in the compliance team, you will lead the evolution of the sustainability strategy for a major European IT service provider. You will take full ownership of the reporting cycle, ensuring data integrity across CSRD, ESRS, and the EU Taxonomy while driving the implementation of Science Based Targets (SBTi). Your daily work involves translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable organizational solutions and maintaining the robust ISO 14001 environmental management system.

This role is critical because it bridges the gap between high-level ESG ratings like EcoVadis and CDP and the tangible decarbonization of a digital-first business. By integrating sustainability directly into the compliance framework, you ensure that the company’s rapid growth in AI and insurance software remains ethically and environmentally sound. You are the architect of the firm’s climate neutrality roadmap in an industry where digital efficiency is the primary lever for impact.

This suits someone who possesses a deep technical understanding of environmental auditing and reporting frameworks but remains curious about how AI can optimize ESG workflows. You should be a structured communicator capable of navigating German-speaking corporate environments.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus is on the end-to-end management of the corporate sustainability strategy, specifically evolving existing frameworks to meet new regulatory demands. You will be the architect behind the company's CSRD and EU Taxonomy reporting, ensuring that all data meets the rigorous standards required for external auditing. Additionally, you will oversee the implementation of SBTi-aligned climate targets and manage the maintenance of the ISO 14001 environmental management system. This involves a mix of strategic roadmap development and hands-on coordination of measures to improve the company's overall ESG performance and ratings.

Key learning opportunities for this job

You will gain deep expertise in integrated compliance management, learning how sustainability intersects with legal and quality frameworks (ISO 9001) in a high-growth tech environment. This role offers a front-row seat to the application of AI in ESG processes, allowing you to pioneer the use of agentic AI tools for sustainability data management. Furthermore, you will sharpen your knowledge of evolving European regulations, becoming a specialist in ESRS and the practical application of the EU Taxonomy. The company's commitment to continuous learning through its internal academy provides additional paths for technical and leadership training.

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

The ideal candidate is a certified environmental auditor with several years of experience in ESG consulting or corporate sustainability departments. A university degree in a sustainability-related field is essential, alongside a proven track record of managing complex reporting cycles under the GHG Protocol and CSRD. Beyond technical skills, you must be a highly organized and analytical professional who can work autonomously within a compliance-focused team. Given the company's core business, a proactive interest in digital transformation and AI-supported workflows is a significant advantage.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your audit-readiness; demonstrate that you understand not just how to report data, but how to build the governance structures that make that data defensible to external auditors. Mentioning specific experience with insurance-sector sustainability challenges could also be a major differentiator given the subsidiary's focus. Ensure your application highlights your German language proficiency (C1 or higher), as the role involves heavy interaction with local compliance and legal documentation. Briefly mention how you envision using AI to improve sustainability reporting efficiency to align with the company's 'human-first' AI strategy.

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

The role focuses heavily on environmental governance and climate transparency. By managing SBTi goals and carbon footprinting, you will directly influence the company’s path toward climate neutrality and its standing in global benchmarks like CDP and EcoVadis. There is also a strong social and governance component, as you will be embedded in the compliance department. This ensures that sustainability is not a siloed marketing effort but a core part of the organization's legal and ethical risk management framework.

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

One significant challenge will be data orchestration across multiple locations and subsidiaries to meet the granular requirements of the ESRS. Ensuring consistent data quality in a decentralized, fast-growing IT environment requires both persistence and sophisticated organizational skills. Another hurdle may be the integration of sustainability targets into the fast-paced software development cycle. You will need to influence stakeholders who are primarily focused on digital innovation to ensure that environmental considerations remain a priority in their core processes.

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

A typical day might begin with analyzing GHG emission data from various branches to prepare for the upcoming reporting season. Mid-morning could involve a meeting with the IT and AI teams to discuss the implementation of a new tool for automated data collection or carbon tracking. In the afternoon, you might shift to stakeholder management, responding to an EcoVadis assessment request from a major insurance client or conducting an internal audit of the ISO 14001 system. The day often concludes with strategic planning sessions to refine the roadmap for achieving SBTi milestones.

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

There is a clear path to becoming a strategic lead for ESG within the adesso group. As the regulatory landscape matures, the importance of this role will only increase, potentially leading to higher-level leadership positions within the compliance or corporate strategy functions. You also have the opportunity to become a thought leader at the intersection of AI and sustainability. By developing best practices for AI-supported ESG management, you can position yourself as a unique expert in the European tech industry.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with the Group Compliance Team and the Quality Management leads to align sustainability with broader corporate standards. You will also serve as the primary point of contact for external auditors and rating agencies. Internally, you will engage with department heads and project managers to implement sustainability measures on the ground. Externally, you will communicate with enterprise clients in the insurance sector who increasingly demand high-level ESG transparency from their software partners.

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