Sustainability Specialist

The role centres on three interconnected pillars: reporting, strategy, and advisory. You would lead the further development and management of group-wide sustainability reporting according to standards such as GRI, ensuring that data collection, analysis, and disclosure are strong and audit-ready. This likely includes coordinating ESG ratings like EcoVadis and monitoring regulatory developments to keep the company compliant and ahead of market trends. A second major responsibility is actively advancing ewimed's sustainability strategy and supporting its implementation across the group. That means not just writing the strategy but also facilitating its operationalisation, setting impulses for greener materials, products, packaging, and processes, and working with teams to turn ideas into action. You would also conduct training and presentations to raise internal awareness and capability. Finally, you would serve as the central interface for ESG topics, advising departments, particularly R&D, on sustainability-related questions. This involves translating complex standards into practical guidance, helping colleagues embed sustainability criteria into their daily work, and connecting different functions to ensure a coherent approach. The overarching goal is to make sustainability a pragmatic and impactful part of how ewimed does business.

You would deepen your expertise in GRI and other reporting frameworks, likely gaining hands-on experience with the CSRD and EU taxonomy as they become applicable. Coordinating EcoVadis assessments would sharpen your skills in ESG rating methodologies and benchmarking. The advisory role with R&D offers a rare chance to learn about sustainable product design and materials in a regulated medical device context, an area where few sustainability professionals have deep exposure. Working across ten European countries could broaden your understanding of diverse regulatory environments and cultural approaches to sustainability. You might also develop strong project management and stakeholder engagement capabilities, as you steer cross-functional initiatives and deliver training sessions. Mentorship and training opportunities are not explicitly mentioned, but a structured onboarding is promised. Given the company's growth, you could potentially take on more strategic responsibilities over time, learning how to embed sustainability into corporate strategy and M&A activities. The role seems well-suited for someone who wants to grow into a senior sustainability manager or head of function.

The ideal candidate holds a degree in sustainability management, environmental management, environmental engineering, industrial engineering, business administration, or a comparable field. You have first professional experience in ESG or sustainability management and are familiar with relevant standards, especially GRI. Fluency in German and English (C1 level) is essential, as you will advise German-speaking colleagues and contribute to English-language reporting. Beyond credentials, the role demands a pragmatic mindset: you see sustainability as more than a trend and want to embed it effectively in day-to-day business. You are comfortable in an interface function, able to advise and connect different departments with competence and diplomacy. You can manage projects independently, think analytically, and translate complex requirements into practical solutions. Soft skills matter greatly: you likely need to be a persuasive communicator, a good listener, and a proactive self-starter. Experience with EcoVadis or other rating platforms could be a plus, as could exposure to product-related sustainability in manufacturing or healthcare. The job description emphasises a hands-on, impact-oriented approach over purely theoretical knowledge.

Your application should demonstrate that you understand the specific context of a mid-sized, family-owned medical device company operating across Europe. Tailor your CV to highlight any experience with GRI reporting, ESG data management, and cross-functional advisory work, especially in manufacturing, healthcare, or other regulated sectors. Quantify achievements where possible, such as the number of sites covered in a report or the improvement in an EcoVadis score. In your cover letter, avoid generic statements about passion for sustainability. Instead, show how you have pragmatically embedded sustainability into business processes, perhaps by giving an example of advising a technical team on material selection or simplifying a complex regulation for colleagues. Mention your familiarity with the German regulatory environment and your ability to work in both German and English. Express genuine interest in ewimed's mission of improving patient quality of life, and connect it to sustainability, for example, how sustainable product design can also improve patient safety and access. For the interview, prepare to discuss how you would approach the first 100 days: assessing the current reporting status, identifying key stakeholders, and building a roadmap. Be ready to talk about challenges you anticipate in a decentralised group structure and how you would overcome them. Demonstrating a collaborative, hands-on style will resonate, as will showing that you are comfortable navigating ambiguity and influencing without authority.

The core focus is almost certainly on environmental and governance dimensions of ESG, given the explicit mention of GRI reporting, EcoVadis, and regulatory compliance. You would be instrumental in building out ewimed's group-wide sustainability reporting, which suggests a strong emphasis on transparency, data quality, and aligning disclosures with evolving EU requirements. Beyond reporting, the role has a clear product and operations angle: you would advise R&D and potentially other teams on more sustainable materials, product design, and packaging. For a medical device company, that could mean exploring recyclable or bio-based materials, reducing packaging waste, or assessing the life-cycle impacts of drainage systems, while never compromising patient safety or regulatory approval. Social aspects might surface through supplier engagement or employee training, but the primary thrust appears to be embedding sustainability into core business processes and product development. The strategy element implies you would also help shape long-term goals, possibly including decarbonisation targets, though the job ad does not specify net-zero commitments.

One clear challenge is the breadth of the role: you are expected to handle reporting, strategy, advisory, and training simultaneously, often with limited resources in a mid-sized company. Balancing deep analytical work with frequent interruptions and stakeholder requests requires strong prioritisation and time management. You may also need to navigate a matrix of ten country organisations, each with its own dynamics, which can slow down decision-making. Another hurdle could be resistance or inertia within a medical device company where patient safety and regulatory compliance rightly dominate. Convincing R&D and other teams to prioritise sustainability considerations, especially if they add cost or complexity, might require persistent, evidence-based advocacy. The fast-evolving regulatory environment, particularly around CSRD and EU taxonomy, adds pressure to stay current and translate requirements into actionable steps. Finally, as a specialist rather than a manager, you may need to influence without formal authority. Building credibility through expertise, pragmatism, and strong relationships will be essential to drive change across functions.

A typical day might start with a check-in on the latest regulatory updates or GRI indicators, followed by a working session with R&D colleagues to assess the sustainability profile of a product or packaging component. You could then spend time consolidating data from different departments for the annual ESG report or an EcoVadis submission, making sure figures are accurate and narratives are consistent. Interspersed would be short advisory calls with other functions (procurement, operations, or communications) where you help them interpret a standard or shape a new process. Some days might be heavier on analysis, building KPI dashboards or reviewing market trends; others could involve preparing and delivering a training session on sustainability topics for colleagues. Because the role is a central interface, expect frequent context-switching between detailed data work and strategic conversations. The mix likely varies with the reporting calendar and project phases.

As ewimed continues to expand and develop its sustainability management, this role could grow into a more senior position, potentially leading a team or taking on a broader ESG portfolio. The group-wide scope and direct involvement in strategy offer high visibility to senior management, which can accelerate career progression. You might have the chance to shape the sustainability function as it matures, defining processes and tools that last. Laterally, you could move into other areas such as product management, operations, or corporate communications, bringing a sustainability lens to those functions. The experience gained in medical device sustainability is transferable to other regulated industries like pharmaceuticals or chemicals, where such expertise is in demand. You could also become a recognised internal expert on GRI and CSRD, opening doors to external advisory or auditing roles. The role's advisory component means you build a strong internal network, which is valuable for any future career move. If the company pursues ambitious decarbonisation or circular economy projects, you could lead those initiatives, gaining further strategic exposure.

The most frequent interactions would be with R&D teams, as the job explicitly names them as a key internal client for sustainability advice. You would likely work closely with colleagues in procurement, operations, and regulatory affairs to gather data, align on product changes, and ensure compliance. The finance or controlling department might also be involved for ESG metrics that feed into reporting. Externally, you could engage with rating agencies like EcoVadis, possibly auditors or certification bodies, and sustainability consultants or industry peers. If ewimed's customers, hospitals and clinics, increasingly ask for sustainability credentials, you might support sales or key account teams in responding to those requests. Within the sustainability function itself, you might report to a Head of Sustainability or a member of the executive team, depending on how the department is structured. Given the group-wide scope, you would also coordinate with colleagues in other European locations, making cross-border collaboration a regular feature.