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Group Sustainability Lead

Ardo • Belgium • Added on Jul 28, 2026
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As the Group Sustainability Lead, you will bridge the gap between high-level vision and operational execution across a global food manufacturing footprint. Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, you will take full ownership of the multi-site sustainability agenda, transforming abstract targets into concrete improvement projects. Your work focuses on orchestrating the implementation of climate actions, resource efficiency programs, and sustainable sourcing protocols while maintaining a rigorous reporting framework.

This role is critical because food production sits at the intersection of climate resilience and consumer health. By leading the charge on SBTi alignment and CSRD compliance, you directly influence how millions of hectares are farmed and how water is managed in the supply chain. You serve as the central nervous system for positive impact, ensuring that the transition to a low-carbon food system is both measurable and rapid.

This suits someone who blends deep technical knowledge of ESG frameworks with the interpersonal skills required to influence diverse functions from agronomy to procurement. You should be a structured project manager who thrives on turning complex data into a compelling narrative for change.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves translating group-level strategy into actionable operational roadmaps. You will lead cross-functional projects specifically targeting climate mitigation, resource efficiency, and sustainable sourcing across all production sites. Another significant pillar is the mastery of the ESG reporting and compliance agenda. You will be responsible for ensuring the company meets the rigorous demands of CSRD and SBTi while maintaining high scores on platforms like EcoVadis. Beyond data, you serve as a sustainability ambassador. You will collaborate with agronomists, site directors, and procurement teams to co-lead the sustainability agenda, ensuring that environmental considerations are embedded into every business decision.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep expertise in navigating the regulatory transition to CSRD within a complex, international manufacturing environment. This is a rare opportunity to apply theoretical reporting frameworks to a real-world supply chain. You will also experience significant exposure to SBTi-aligned decarbonization strategies. Working closely with engineering and agronomy teams will provide unique insights into technical resource efficiency and the practical challenges of reducing Scope 3 emissions. Mentorship from the Sustainability Director will sharpen your leadership and change management skills. You will learn how to drive a sustainability agenda in a large-scale, family-oriented corporate culture where long-term vision meets daily operational demands.

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

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s Degree in sustainability, environmental science, or engineering. You should have substantial experience in ESG reporting frameworks and a proven track record of managing complex projects across multiple departments. Strong analytical skills and data affinity are non-negotiable, as you will be the steward of the group’s KPIs. You must be comfortable working with large datasets and converting them into insights that drive executive decision-making. Soft skills are equally important; the role requires someone with persuasive communication and authenticity. You must be able to influence stakeholders who may not have sustainability as their primary focus, taking full ownership of outcomes.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, move beyond just listing ESG frameworks on your CV and demonstrate your ability to implement change. Provide concrete examples of where you successfully translated a corporate target into an operational process or a tangible reduction in carbon footprint. Show that you understand the specific impact of the food industry. Research current initiatives in biodiversity and residue-free farming, and explain how your expertise can help scale these efforts. Highlighting your fluency in English and Dutch or French will also be highly beneficial. Align your application with the core values of ownership and authenticity. Ardo is looking for a 'doer' who can also think strategically, so emphasize your experience in bridge-building between corporate departments like procurement and engineering.

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

The role focuses heavily on climate action and resource efficiency. This involves optimizing water and energy usage across production facilities and working toward ambitious carbon reduction targets in line with international standards. Sustainable sourcing and biodiversity also form a core focus. Given the business model, the role will intersect with agricultural practices, ensuring that the vegetable supply chain remains resilient and follows organic or low-residue principles. Lastly, there is a strong governance and transparency angle. With the rollout of CSRD, a major focus will be building the robust data systems required for mandatory ESG disclosures, ensuring that the company’s claims are backed by audit-ready evidence.

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

One of the chief challenges will be driving consistency across a diverse group of stakeholders. Balancing the priorities of procurement, site directors, and agronomists requires high-level negotiation skills, especially when sustainability goals conflict with short-term costs. The rapidly evolving regulatory landscape poses another hurdle. Staying ahead of CSRD and SBTi requirements while ensuring the operational teams understand and adopt these changes without being overwhelmed by 'reporting fatigue' is a delicate balance. Finally, the nature of the food industry itself presents challenges, such as dealing with Scope 3 emissions and agricultural volatility. Influencing change in the fields requires a deep understanding of farmer realities.

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

A typical day might begin with a performance review meeting, analyzing energy or water usage data from various production sites to track progress against quarterly KPIs. You might then shift to a planning session with the procurement team. In the afternoon, you could be drafting a section of the annual ESG report or preparing documentation for an upcoming assessment. This involves collaborating with the Director of Sustainability to ensure the narrative aligns with the broader group strategy. Your day will often involve cross-functional coordination, such as a call with site directors to troubleshoot a waste-reduction initiative. You finish the day by acting as a point of contact for an external inquiry about the company's biodiversity footprint.

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

This role offers a high-visibility path within a global leader in the food sector. Successfully leading the group-wide transition toward CSRD compliance will establish you as a top-tier ESG expert, opening doors to director-level roles. You will have the opportunity to lead high-impact, international projects that go beyond traditional corporate social responsibility and move into core business transformation. This provides a platform to build a reputation as an effective change agent. The culture of professional development and freedom to shape the business means that proactive individuals can expand their scope into new areas, such as circular economy strategy or sustainable brand positioning, depending on interest.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will report directly to the Director of Sustainability and maintain a close working relationship with the executive leadership team to align on strategic objectives. This ensures your initiatives have the necessary top-down support. On the operational side, your internal partners include Procurement, Engineering, and Agronomists. You will also work closely with Site Directors and Marketing teams to ensure sustainability is both practiced in factories and communicated to the market. External stakeholders include regulatory bodies, ESG auditors, and customers. You will also interact with industry associations and sustainability rating platforms like EcoVadis, serving as the technical face of environmental commitments.

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