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Sustainable Journeys Program Manager, Google Search

Google • Switzerland • Added on Sep 15, 2026
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This role manages the complex delivery of high-impact features within Google Search that help users make greener travel choices. You will bridge the gap between technical engineering teams and product visionaries to scale initiatives like contrail avoidance and the Travel Impact Model globally. Your daily focus will involve unblocking technical hurdles and ensuring that sustainability data is seamlessly integrated into one of the world’s most-used digital interfaces.

The impact is significant because you are directly influencing the carbon awareness of millions of travelers. By refining how aviation emissions and climate impacts are calculated and displayed, you help shift consumer behavior toward lower-carbon alternatives at a massive scale. This position is at the intersection of deep tech and climate science, turning complex atmospheric data into actionable insights for global users.

This suits someone who thrives in high-velocity tech environments and possesses a sophisticated understanding of both software lifecycles and environmental accounting. You should be comfortable navigating the ambiguity of emerging climate tech while maintaining rigorous project standards.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core mission involves leading the end-to-end lifecycle of programs that bring environmental data to Google Search. You will be responsible for scaling the Travel Impact Model (TIM) and contrail avoidance initiatives, ensuring these complex features reach a global audience. This requires a mix of strategic planning and hands-on technical coordination to keep multi-disciplinary teams aligned. You will also translate intricate business and technical requirements into actionable engineering roadmaps. Beyond execution, the role demands proactive risk mitigation and operational excellence, including budget tracking and the integration of third-party platform dependencies to ensure smooth feature launches.

Key learning opportunities for this job

A successful candidate will gain deep exposure to the intersection of climate science and global-scale software engineering. Working on contrail avoidance, for instance, provides unique insights into aviation's non-CO2 climate impacts and the data science required to model these effects in real-time for millions of users. Furthermore, you will likely master the use of generative AI tools for project management and operational scaling. Google encourages leveraging these tools to automate workflows, offering a chance to be at the forefront of how AI enhances sustainability program delivery and cross-functional efficiency.

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

The ideal candidate brings at least five years of experience in technical program management, specifically within a software development context. You should have a proven track record of launching global products by partnering with engineering, UX, and business development teams. A background in Business Administration or a technical field like Computer Science is essential. Subject matter expertise in aviation tech or carbon accounting is highly valued. Google looks for individuals who can manage distributed global teams and translate complex policy or environmental frameworks into clear project milestones. Proficiency in navigating third-party technical dependencies and partner integrations is also key.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your experience with data-driven sustainability initiatives rather than just general project management. Showcasing a specific understanding of Scope 3 emissions or aviation-specific climate challenges will demonstrate that you can hit the ground running with the Sustainable Journeys team. Additionally, highlight any experience using AI to optimize your workflows. Google values a 'healthy disregard for the impossible', so prepare examples of how you have solved complex cross-functional blockers in high-pressure environments. Tailor your resume to show how you bridge the gap between technical constraints and product goals.

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

The role focuses heavily on product-led sustainability, specifically helping users reduce their individual travel footprints. This includes technical work on the Travel Impact Model (TIM), which is Google's framework for estimating flight emissions, and contrail avoidance projects that address the warming effects of aircraft vapor trails. You will also engage with external policy and compliance frameworks. As regulations around environmental claims and carbon reporting evolve globally, this role ensures that Google's search features remain accurate, transparent, and compliant with regional standards while driving industry-wide progress in travel transparency.

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

One of the primary challenges is managing technical ambiguity across different regions and regulatory environments. Sustainability data, particularly in aviation, is constantly evolving, and you must ensure the engineering roadmap can adapt to new scientific findings or policy shifts without losing momentum. Coordination across highly distributed global teams and time zones also poses a logistical hurdle. Balancing the needs of external partners, third-party developers, and internal stakeholders requires exceptional communication skills to ensure that technical dependencies do not become bottlenecks for global launches.

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

A typical day involves a series of cross-functional syncs with engineers and product managers to track progress on Search sustainability features. You might start by reviewing technical roadmaps for contrail avoidance integrations before moving into a meeting with external travel partners to discuss data dependencies. In the afternoon, you might use AI-driven tools to refine project timelines or automate status reporting for executive leadership. The day often concludes with strategic planning sessions to identify potential risks in the upcoming quarter's launch schedule, ensuring all operational and technical pieces are aligned.

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

This role offers high visibility within Google Search, one of the company's most critical product areas. Success here can lead to senior leadership positions in sustainability strategy or technical program management across other Google product areas like Maps or Google Cloud. You will also have the opportunity to represent Google in industry-wide sustainability consortiums. Driving the adoption of the Travel Impact Model across the broader travel ecosystem provides a platform to establish yourself as a thought leader in the green-tech space.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with Engineering, Product, and UX teams to ensure the technical execution of sustainability features meets user experience standards. Business Development is also a key partner, as many features rely on external data and partner integrations. Externally, you will work with airline industry partners and third-party platform developers. You will also communicate regularly with executive leadership to report on program impact, ensuring that the Sustainable Journeys mission remains aligned with Google's broader corporate ESG commitments.

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