Head of Sustainability

The Head of Sustainability is HGT's most senior sustainability role, reporting to the Board and working with regional CEOs to turn a global strategy into asset-level action. The core mission is to set and evolve a sustainability roadmap with measurable KPIs for decarbonization, energy efficiency, renewable energy and broader ESG priorities, then coordinate its execution across 26 terminals in 13 countries. On a practical level, that means leading the Scope 1, 2 and relevant Scope 3 emissions agenda, including electrification of terminal operations, alternative fuels and energy efficiency. You would also coordinate ESG data collection and reporting for HGT management, the Board and Hapag-Lloyd Group, and act as the company's regulatory radar for frameworks like CSRD and LkSG. A significant part of the role is commercial: working with Finance, Strategy, Operations and Technical teams to embed sustainability into capex planning and investment business cases, weighing environmental impact against energy savings, operating costs and return on capital. Externally, you would manage relationships with shareholders, customers, authorities and industry bodies.

This role offers exposure to a global portfolio of port and logistics assets, which is a rare chance to see how decarbonization plays out across different regulatory regimes, energy markets and terminal configurations. You would deepen practical knowledge of Scope 1, 2 and 3 accounting in a heavy-industry setting, and gain hands-on experience with CSRD and LkSG compliance in a company that is still building its reporting infrastructure. Working directly with the HGT Board and with Hapag-Lloyd Group reporting structures gives insight into how sustainability is governed at board level and how group-wide disclosure requirements are met. The capex and investment angle means you would learn to build business cases that account for energy savings and return on capital, a skill that is increasingly valued in sustainability leadership. Because HGT is expanding toward 30 terminals by 2030, there is likely to be early involvement in due diligence and integration of new assets, which builds M&A-adjacent sustainability experience. The international travel requirement also means exposure to different operating contexts and regulatory environments across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

The ideal candidate has at least five years in sustainability, ESG, decarbonization or energy transition, ideally in heavy industry, maritime logistics, port operations, infrastructure or global supply chains. A master's degree in environmental engineering, sustainability management, engineering, supply chain, business administration or a similar field is expected. Technically, you need strong practical knowledge of carbon accounting and GHG emissions management, including Scope 1, 2 and relevant Scope 3 methodologies, plus a working understanding of EU sustainability regulation such as CSRD and LkSG and international ESG frameworks. The role also demands the ability to translate strategy into operational programs with measurable targets and to assess both environmental and financial impact. Soft skills matter as much as technical ones: stakeholder management across boards, executives, operational teams and authorities, clear structured communication that turns complex topics into decision-ready recommendations, and the credibility to influence without direct authority. Professional fluency in English is required, Dutch or another European language is an advantage, and willingness to travel internationally is essential.

Given that this role reports to the Board and has a dotted line to regional CEOs, your application should demonstrate board-level communication and influence, not just technical sustainability knowledge. Use your CV and cover letter to show specific instances where you shaped investment decisions or capex business cases with sustainability criteria, and quantify the environmental and financial outcomes. HGT is a young company (founded 2023) inside a long-established group, so show that you can build structures and processes from scratch while respecting group reporting requirements. Highlight experience with CSRD, LkSG or equivalent frameworks applied in a multi-site industrial or logistics context, and mention any exposure to port operations, terminals or heavy assets. In interview preparation, be ready to discuss how you would prioritize between European regulatory demands and the broader global portfolio, and how you would work with regional CEOs who are not direct reports. A concrete view on electrification, alternative fuels and energy efficiency in terminal operations will set you apart. If you have international experience or additional European languages, make that visible.

The role centres on decarbonization and energy transition across HGT's terminal portfolio. That includes managing Scope 1 and 2 emissions from terminal operations and relevant Scope 3 emissions from the value chain, with a strong emphasis on electrification of equipment, renewable energy sourcing, alternative fuels and energy efficiency. The initial focus is Europe, where regulatory pressure and decarbonization requirements are most developed. ESG reporting and compliance is the second pillar. You would coordinate data and reporting for HGT management, the Board and Hapag-Lloyd Group, ensuring alignment with CSRD, LkSG and other environmental and carbon-related legislation. This is likely to involve building or refining reporting systems across a portfolio that spans 13 countries and multiple operating companies. The third area is integration into business decisions: embedding sustainability into capex planning, investment cases and operational transformation. Because HGT aims to grow from 26 to around 30 terminals by 2030, the role will probably also touch on sustainability due diligence for new assets and best-practice sharing across the portfolio.

One clear challenge is the dual reporting line: you report to the HGT Board but work through regional CEOs and operating companies that are not direct reports. Influencing without formal authority across 13 countries and multiple cultures requires strong stakeholder skills and a clear value proposition for why sustainability matters to each region. Another challenge is the tension between regulatory urgency in Europe and the global portfolio's varying maturity. CSRD and LkSG compliance may demand detailed data that is not yet consistently available across all assets, so building reliable ESG data processes from a young company's starting point will take time and persistence. You will need to balance ambition with the practical pace of change in terminal operations. The third challenge is commercial: making the case for sustainability investments in a capital-intensive industry where returns are scrutinized. You will need to speak the language of finance and operations, demonstrating energy savings and return on capital alongside environmental benefits, especially when competing for capex against other operational priorities.

A typical day might start with a call with a regional team in Europe or the Americas to review progress on a decarbonization project, followed by a working session with Finance or Strategy colleagues on a terminal investment case, where you would provide the sustainability inputs on energy costs, emissions impact and compliance risk. You could also spend time reviewing ESG data submissions and preparing a concise update for the HGT Board. Interactions with Hapag-Lloyd Group colleagues on reporting and disclosure requirements are likely to be regular, as is monitoring regulatory developments, particularly EU frameworks, to assess implications for HGT's assets. You might join a meeting with an external industry body or authority, or with a customer asking about the carbon footprint of terminal services. There is likely to be travel to terminals for site visits, best-practice sharing or due diligence on potential new assets. The role is global in scope, so the balance between strategic planning, operational follow-up and stakeholder meetings will vary week to week.

As the most senior sustainability role in a company expanding toward 30 terminals, the Head of Sustainability has a direct path to shaping how the function is built and resourced. Success could lead to a broader mandate covering additional ESG areas, or to a group-level role within Hapag-Lloyd given the close reporting relationship and shared disclosure requirements. The role offers high visibility with the HGT Board and with senior management across regions, which builds a strong internal network for future leadership opportunities. Leading decarbonization and energy transition programs across a diverse international portfolio also develops expertise that is in demand across infrastructure, logistics and heavy industry. Because HGT is growing, there may be opportunities to take on responsibility for integrating new acquisitions or for representing the company in industry bodies and regulatory consultations, both of which raise your external profile and deepen strategic experience.

The primary stakeholder is the HGT Board, to which this role reports directly, so you would regularly present strategy, progress and investment recommendations at board level. You would also work closely with regional CEOs and their operating teams, who are responsible for executing sustainability plans at asset level, and with Hapag-Lloyd Group colleagues on reporting and disclosure alignment. Internally, you would collaborate with Finance, Strategy, Operations and Technical teams on capex planning, business cases and operational transformation. Externally, key stakeholders include shareholders, customers asking about carbon performance, regulatory authorities and industry bodies, as well as business partners involved in energy transition projects. The role also involves working with geographically dispersed teams, so communication is often virtual and cross-cultural.