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Project Manager Sustainability

DLL • Netherlands • Added on Jul 6, 2026
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This is a dynamic role bridging ambitious sustainability strategy and day-to-day practice. You’ll lead a range of projects that strengthen the organization’s sustainability capabilities, from developing internal training to shaping the operational emissions strategy. You act as a central accelerator, motivating and activating colleagues across different domains.

What makes this position unique is its direct impact on sustainability in the financial sector through asset management. By working to cut operational emissions and strengthen external ESG ratings, you’ll make a concrete contribution to the transition toward a circular economy, translating complex climate goals into actionable steps for teams like Facilities and Procurement.

This suits someone who is a strong communicator, thrives in an international environment, and can turn complex concepts into clear messages — pairing a master’s degree with a practical, can-do mentality and a strong affinity for stakeholder management in a corporate context.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core of this role involves bridging the gap between high-level strategy and operational execution. You will be responsible for developing a roadmap for operational emissions reduction, specifically collaborating with procurement, travel, and facilities teams to implement decarbonization plans. Another major pillar is capability building and internal advocacy. You will identify knowledge gaps across different business domains and work with Learning & Development to create scalable training content that ensures commercial and regulatory readiness. Additionally, you will support the company's standing in the ESG landscape by researching and assessing business cases for external sustainability ratings and climate frameworks. This ensures the organization stays aligned with global standards in biodiversity and circularity.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this position, you will gain deep exposure to the financial services industry's unique ESG challenges, particularly how a large-scale asset finance company integrates sustainability into its core business model. You will learn to navigate complex regulatory requirements and voluntary reporting standards. From a technical perspective, you will develop expertise in operational carbon accounting and the practicalities of implementation within corporate supply chains. Managing projects that intersect with facilities and procurement provides a hands-on look at corporate decarbonization. Furthermore, because the role is part of a global sustainability network, you will benefit from mentorship and collaborative learning from experts across 25 countries, enhancing your ability to drive change in diverse cultural and professional contexts.

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

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree in a relevant field and brings between 2 to 4 years of experience, making them a perfect fit for a mid-level professional looking to specialize in corporate sustainability. Proficiency in both Dutch and English is essential given the local headquarters and global operations. Technical knowledge in ESG frameworks, climate strategy, or circularity is highly valued, but equal weight is placed on interpersonal and communication skills. The ability to simplify complex data into engaging internal updates and executive-ready presentations is a critical success factor. A proactive, 'can-do' mentality is vital. The hiring team looks for someone who is not just a researcher but a natural connector who enjoys moving between different departments to solve problems and drive commitment.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to translate strategy into tangible results using specific examples from your past projects where you successfully influenced stakeholders who were not direct reports. Show that you understand the link between financial services and environmental impact. Since this role involves significant content creation for training and internal communications, a portfolio or examples of clear, engaging communication materials you have produced could be a strong advantage. Ensure your application reflects a passion for sustainability that goes beyond just 'interest' into active engagement. Research DLL’s specific focus on circularity and asset life cycle finance before your interview. Aligning your answers with these specific business drivers, rather than general ESG concepts, will prove you have the strategic mindset needed for this internal consulting-style role.

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

This role sits at the intersection of operational footprint management and corporate transparency. A significant portion of your energy will go toward the operational emissions strategy, focusing on the direct environmental impact of the company's offices, travel, and procurement practices. Beyond direct operations, you will focus on ESG ratings and frameworks like biodiversity and circularity. This involves ensuring that the company’s efforts are recognized by external bodies and meet the evolving expectations of the parent company, Rabobank. There is also a strong social and educational focus. By leading the Sustainability Embedded Team and capability initiatives, you are essentially driving a cultural shift, ensuring that every employee understands their contribution to the company's mission to 'Partner for a better world'.

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

The most significant challenge will be managing cross-functional priorities. Sustainability projects often require time and effort from teams like Procurement or Facilities who have their own busy agendas; influencing these stakeholders without direct authority requires persistence and tact. You may also face the difficulty of translating evolving regulations into simple, actionable steps. Change management can be slow in large financial organizations, and you will need to maintain your enthusiasm and momentum even when progress feels incremental. Finally, balancing broad project management with technical research requires high cognitive flexibility. One day you might be organizing a learning session, and the next you could be deep-diving into the business case for a new biodiversity commitment.

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

Your day might begin with a coordination meeting with the Sustainability Embedded Team to review progress on internal engagement initiatives, followed by a session with the Facilities team to brainstorm tangible reduction targets for office energy use. Mid-day, you could be focused on content creation, perhaps drafting a concise brief for executive leadership regarding a new external climate rating or designing a module for a new sustainability training course. This requires deep focus and the ability to synthesize technical ESG data. The afternoon might involve stakeholder outreach across different geographies to gather best practices or identify knowledge gaps. Your day usually ends with administrative project tracking to ensure all diverse workstreams are moving toward their milestones.

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

This role is a gateway to senior sustainability leadership within the financial sector. Because you interact with global domain leaders and executive stakeholders, you will build a high-visibility profile that can lead to senior specialized roles in ESG strategy or corporate affairs. There is also the possibility of lateral movement into commercial or operational leadership roles where sustainability expertise is increasingly a prerequisite. You are positioned at the heart of the company's strategic transition, giving you a holistic view of the business. Furthermore, as part of the Rabobank Group, you have access to a vast internal ecosystem of sustainability professionals and development programs, offering career paths that extend beyond DLL into the broader banking and investment landscape.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will regularly interact with domain leaders in Facilities, Travel, and Procurement to execute the emissions reduction roadmap. These are key partners in making the company's operations truly sustainable. You will also be a core part of the Sustainability Network and the Sustainability Embedded Team, which consists of colleagues from various departments who are championing green initiatives within their own functions. Finally, you will report to and support Group Sustainability leadership and interact with internal Learning & Development teams. Externally, you may correspond with sustainability rating agencies or consultants during the assessment of new climate and circularity commitments.

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