Climate Change Specialist

The Climate Change Specialist will own the decarbonisation programme of the group, mapping processes, identifying emission reduction levers and working with external consultants on gap analysis towards energy targets validated by SBTi. This includes managing the SBTi portal and its requirements, acting as the technical interface with site contacts and technicians during the design and construction of energy plants, and implementing energy efficiency actions with the Health & Safety function across company sites. The circular economy part of the role covers research, development and implementation of circularity projects, with a focus on optimising scrap management and increasing recycling potential. The specialist will work with suppliers, clients and partners to find innovative ways to treat materials. Waste management is another core responsibility, coordinating regulatory obligations and driving improvement actions at site level. The role also supports the group's clients, which are luxury brands, on special projects they promote around circular economy and carbon impact. Overall, the mission is to coordinate and implement activities that reduce environmental impact, improve sustainability performance and keep the group aligned with its legal obligations and its energy transition and circular economy goals.

The candidate will work directly on a Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) decarbonisation pathway, including gap analysis, target validation and management of the SBTi portal. That is a concrete, market-relevant skill that many sustainability professionals only encounter indirectly. There is also hands-on exposure to energy efficiency projects in manufacturing sites, from design through implementation, in collaboration with site technicians, external consultants and the Health & Safety function. The circular economy and waste work offers practical learning on scrap optimisation, recycling channels and innovative material treatment with suppliers, clients and partners. Because Gruppo Florence produces prêt-à-porter, leather goods and footwear, the candidate will see multiple material streams and process types, which builds a broad operational understanding of textile and luxury supply chains. The role also develops stakeholder management and training skills, since the candidate acts as a technical interface for site contacts and supports brand clients on their own circularity and carbon projects. This mix of regulatory, technical and relational experience is a strong foundation for a career in industrial climate action.

The posting asks for a degree in environmental engineering, energy engineering, environmental sciences, chemistry or sustainability management, plus three to five years of experience in environmental sustainability, energy management or circular economy. Specialisation courses, a master or certifications in environmental sustainability, circular economy, waste management, renewable energy or environmental management systems are a plus. Strong written and spoken English is essential, as the role touches external consultants and probably international brands. On the technical side, you need solid knowledge of Italian environmental legislation on waste management, traceability and environmental obligations. You should understand circular economy processes and be comfortable with Excel, document management tools and environmental data monitoring systems. The role also requires project coordination skills and the ability to deal with internal and external stakeholders at different levels. On the personal side, the posting rewards analytical and organisational skills, problem solving, good relational and communication abilities, and a proactive approach to continuous improvement. A genuine sensitivity to ESG topics and a willingness to train and support site contacts are important, because much of the implementation happens far from the Florence or Milan office.

Focus the resume on the intersection of climate action and textile manufacturing. Quantify what you have done: tonnes of CO2 reduced, energy savings in kWh or euros, waste diverted from landfill, recycling rates achieved. Gruppo Florence works across many production sites and luxury brands, so show that you can run projects across multiple locations and deal with site technicians, external consultants, brand clients and suppliers at the same time. In the cover letter, name one or two concrete levers you would examine first in a prêt-à-porter and leather goods group: for example thermal efficiency of finishing equipment, electrification of process heat, or scrap leather and fabric valorisation. Mention any exposure to SBTi target validation or to the Italian waste regulation (the Testo Unico Ambientale, environmental registers, RENTRI if you know it). This proves you read the posting carefully. For interviews, prepare to walk through a decarbonisation project from mapping to implementation. Be ready to discuss how you would interface with Health & Safety colleagues on site work, and with brand clients who may request their own circularity or carbon projects. The role is a contract, so also be clear about your availability and how you handle fixed-term assignments.

The role is positioned squarely inside the ESG Environment and Climate Change team, so the sustainability focus is environmental, with a strong climate and circularity angle. The main area is the decarbonisation pathway validated by SBTi, which means the specialist will work on the group's own emissions reduction trajectory rather than on general CSR communications. Energy efficiency in production sites is a practical lever here, likely covering process optimisation, plant upgrades and the shift towards cleaner energy use. Circular economy is the second major focus. The group produces prêt-à-porter, leather goods and footwear, so material streams are varied and the potential for recycling leather, fabric and other scraps is a real theme. The specialist will look at how waste can become a resource, which links directly to how luxury fashion clients present their own environmental credentials. Governance appears mainly through compliance with Italian environmental legislation on waste management, traceability and environmental obligations. On the social side, the role includes training and supporting site contacts, which builds internal capability rather than external social programmes. The overall focus is operational and measurable: cutting emissions, improving waste handling and helping brand clients meet their own circularity and carbon goals.

The biggest challenge is likely implementation across a multi-site group. Decarbonisation and energy efficiency measures need to be designed with external consultants but delivered inside production facilities where daily operations, production deadlines and technical constraints take priority. Coordinating with Health & Safety and site technicians without direct authority over those teams will require persuasion, clear planning and patience. Waste management is another demanding area. Italian environmental regulation on waste, traceability and compliance is detailed and regularly updated, and the role coordinates obligations across sites. Finding virtuous recycling channels for mixed textile, leather and footwear scraps is technically difficult, because material complexity and current recycling infrastructure limit what can be recovered. Finally, the role supports luxury brand clients on their own climate and circularity projects. Brands may have different methodologies, reporting requests and timelines, so the candidate will need to manage several external expectations while keeping internal site work on track. Balancing advisory, compliance and operational work in a contract role adds pressure to deliver visible results within a defined time frame.

A typical day could start with internal alignment with the ESG Environment and Climate Change team, updating progress on decarbonisation actions and priorities for the week. The specialist might then review energy consumption data and efficiency measures with a site technical contact or an external consultant, checking technical assumptions, costs or timelines for a planned intervention. Documentation for the SBTi portal or for gap analysis towards validated targets could take another block of time. Waste and circularity topics would regularly interrupt the technical work. A supplier or waste contractor might call about a new recycling channel for textile or leather scraps, or a site might need support on a compliance question. The specialist could also prepare training material or a session for site referents, aimed at improving how waste streams are separated and tracked. Client-related work is likely sporadic but visible. When a luxury brand requests a circularity or carbon impact project, the specialist would coordinate the response with internal teams and external partners, potentially joining a call with the client. Days will vary depending on whether the focus is design phase, implementation or reporting, and travel to production sites is plausible.

This contract role gives wide exposure to a multi-site luxury manufacturing platform and to the ESG Environment and Climate Change team, with direct reporting to the area manager. Working on SBTi validation, decarbonisation projects, waste management and circular economy initiatives across many production facilities builds a broad operational profile that is valuable for future roles in industrial groups, consultancies or brand sustainability teams. The interface with luxury brand clients on their special circularity and carbon projects is likely the most visible part of the job. That exposure can open doors to client-side sustainability positions or to more senior climate roles in the fashion and luxury supply chain. A successful contract could also convert into a permanent position if the group continues to build out its climate function, though that depends on internal decisions and cannot be assumed. Lessons learned here, such as managing SBTi portal requirements, site-level energy efficiency implementation and waste compliance across Italy, are transferable skills in a market where many textile and fashion companies are still at an early stage of climate target setting.

Internally, the main relationship is with the area manager in the ESG Environment and Climate Change team, who provides direction and to whom this role reports. The candidate will work closely with the Health & Safety function during site-level energy efficiency and decarbonisation implementation, and with site managers and technical contacts who run production facilities. The role explicitly includes training and supporting those site contacts, so the interaction is both technical and pedagogical. Externally, the candidate collaborates with external consultants on decarbonisation mapping, gap analysis towards SBTi targets and the SBTi portal, and on the design and construction of energy plants. Suppliers, clients and partners are also key, particularly for circular economy projects and innovative material treatment. The proximity to luxury brand clients is significant, because the role supports them on special circularity and carbon impact projects. Other stakeholders are likely waste management contractors and possibly environmental authorities or auditors, given the responsibility for waste compliance and traceability. The variety of these relationships means the candidate spends a substantial part of the day communicating, aligning priorities and translating technical information for different audiences.