BA Sustainability Manager

The Business Area (BA) Sustainability Manager oversees the development and operational rollout of sustainability strategies across the unit. Key responsibilities include managing the internal Carbon Neutrality and Circular Economy Management System, conducting thorough assessments of operational and product-level risks, and ensuring strict compliance with applicable international environmental frameworks. You will design targeted policies for energy efficiency, waste diversion, and sustainable material sourcing. On a continuous basis, the role tracks sustainability metrics such as carbon emissions, water withdrawal, and waste volumes against defined KPIs. You will prepare structured performance reports for executive leadership, coordinate audit processes with Environmental Safety and Health (ESH) peers, and steer dedicated improvement programs. The position also oversees social responsibility initiatives and coordinates cross-functional teams to embed sustainable practices into core commercial workflows.

Working within an industrial enterprise offers deep exposure to large-scale decarbonization and circular economy practices within polymer and chemical engineering. You will gain extensive experience navigating global corporate standards alongside complex domestic regulations in China, building advanced capabilities in corporate auditing and environmental compliance systems. Additionally, the role provides opportunities to master cross-functional alignment across procurement, plant operations, and commercial strategy. You will refine your skills in ESG data governance, life-cycle mindset applications, and international reporting protocols, working in direct alignment with central global sustainability functions.

The ideal candidate holds a Master's degree or PhD in Natural Sciences, Business, or a STEM discipline. A minimum of several years of experience in industrial environmental management, corporate sustainability strategy, and regulatory compliance is expected. Practical familiarity with carbon accounting methods, waste management protocols, and international ESG standards is essential. Strong business acumen and structured project management abilities are critical for balancing environmental goals with operational realities. Because this position interfaces with local production sites and international headquarters, excellent cross-cultural communication skills in both English and Mandarin are highly valued, alongside the ability to influence cross-functional leaders without direct authority.

Highlight tangible results from your past roles where you developed and implemented environmental or carbon management programs within industrial or manufacturing settings. Be prepared to discuss specific metrics you tracked, such as emissions reductions, energy efficiency percentages, or circularity improvements, showing how you translated corporate targets into plant-level action. Demonstrate your grasp of both Chinese environmental regulations and international supply chain frameworks (such as EU carbon border measures or customer supply chain audits). Emphasize your ability to manage multidisciplinary stakeholder relationships across engineering, operations, and corporate functions, illustrating structured project delivery and change management.

The focus of this position centers on operational decarbonization, circular economy implementation, and resource efficiency. The manager will concentrate on tracking Scope 1 and Scope 2 footprints at production sites while evaluating Scope 3 impacts across raw materials and logistics. Key areas of work include implementing recycling initiatives, minimizing industrial waste streams, evaluating sustainable product design options, and expanding renewable energy usage across facilities. The role also incorporates social responsibility aspects, ensuring ethical workplace standards, regulatory compliance, and community engagement align with the broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

A primary challenge will be driving standardized sustainability practices across varied manufacturing sites with differing levels of operational maturity and local regulatory pressures. Balancing sustainability investments with tight production schedules and cost constraints requires persistence, clear business cases, and strong diplomacy. Another difficulty lies in managing complex data collection for greenhouse gas emissions, waste, and material traceability across decentralized operations. Bridging communication and expectation gaps between corporate group directives and shop-floor manufacturing realities will demand rigorous planning and constant stakeholder dialogue.

A typical day could begin with reviewing performance dashboards on regional energy consumption, carbon output, and waste generation across manufacturing facilities. You might then participate in a coordination call with the global sustainability team to align on group-wide guidelines or incoming reporting requirements. In the afternoon, you could lead an operational meeting with plant managers and ESH teams to audit a newly launched recycling initiative or evaluate renewable power procurement options. The end of the day might involve preparing executive presentation slides on key sustainability metrics or drafting a policy update to reflect revised environmental compliance standards.

This role serves as a prominent platform for career development in industrial sustainability management. Demonstrating measurable progress in carbon reduction and regulatory alignment across the business area can pave the way toward senior regional sustainability leadership or corporate-level ESG director positions. Furthermore, developing expertise in industrial materials, circular economy systems, and international supply chain standards positions professionals well for lateral moves into operational excellence, sustainable procurement, or general EHS management within multinational manufacturing organizations.

Internal stakeholders include business area executives, site and plant managers, manufacturing engineers, and procurement teams who must implement sustainability guidelines into daily operations. Close collaboration is required with corporate Global Sustainability and ESH teams to ensure alignment with overarching group policies and audit protocols. Externally, the role interacts with regulatory authorities, environmental auditors, local communities, customers seeking ESG performance disclosures, and supplier partners involved in circular material sourcing and waste recycling programs.