Q: What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core of this role involves structuring a robust ESG data architecture . You will define data governance policies, identify key owners across various departments, and maintain a comprehensive data dictionary. This ensures that every metric used in sustainability reporting is defined consistently across all European subsidiaries. Operationally, you will drive the annual reporting cycle, coordinating with various sites to gather environmental and social data. You are responsible for the integrity and auditability of these figures, preparing them for external verification and ensuring they meet strict CSRD and ESRS regulatory standards. Beyond simple compliance, you will act as a performance analyst. By utilizing tools like Power BI or Qlik, you will create dashboards that visualize trends and highlight performance gaps, providing the executive team with the analytical insights needed to adjust the group's sustainability strategy.

Q: Key learning opportunities for this job

This position offers a deep dive into the technical implementation of CSRD , one of the most rigorous reporting frameworks in the world. You will gain hands-on experience in mapping ESRS requirements to complex industrial operations, a highly sought-after skill in the current job market. You will also sharpen your expertise in digitalizing ESG workflows . Administering and evolving sustainability reporting software will provide you with technical skills at the intersection of IT and CSR, particularly in automating data collection and validation processes. Furthermore, the role provides exposure to international defense industry standards and large-scale Scope 3 carbon management. Working within a Franco-German corporate environment will also enhance your ability to navigate cross-border regulatory and cultural nuances.

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

The role focuses heavily on environmental transparency and operational carbon footprinting. A major priority is the coordination of Scope 3 measurement, which involves mapping the emissions of a vast supply chain involved in heavy industrial manufacturing. You will also focus on governance and ethics . Ensuring that ESG data is reliable and traceable is a key component of corporate governance in the defense industry, where trust and accountability are paramount for maintaining partnerships with armed forces. Social metrics also play a role, as you will likely track indicators related to diversity, health and safety, and professional development within the 4,500-strong workforce, aligning these human capital metrics with the broader group-level ESG objectives.

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

One of the primary challenges will be the harmonization of data across multiple sites and subsidiaries. Different departments may have varying levels of maturity regarding ESG data collection, requiring you to be both a persistent coordinator and an educator. Navigating the complexity of the CSRD transition is another significant hurdle. Translating new, evolving regulations into actionable internal processes while maintaining business-as-all-usual productivity requires a high degree of organization and foresight. Finally, ensuring data quality from diverse sources —ranging from shop floor energy meters to HR systems—presents a constant challenge in maintaining an 'audit-ready' status throughout the year, not just during reporting season.

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

A typical day might begin with a coordination meeting with Data Owners in Belgium or Italy to track the progress of a current collection campaign. You would spend time verifying the consistency of the data received, checking for anomalies or outliers that require further investigation. In the afternoon, you might switch to a more technical mode, configuring the ESG reporting tool or building a new dashboard to visualize water consumption trends for the R&D sites. This work requires deep focus on data accuracy and software logic. Your day could conclude with an advisory session for an operational department, helping them understand how to calculate a specific carbon metric or preparing documentation for an upcoming internal audit of the group's sustainability performance.

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

This role is a springboard for a career in ESG leadership . As you become the go-to expert for the group's sustainability data, you could evolve into a more strategic ESG Manager role or a Global Sustainability Lead position. There are also paths into Data Privacy and Governance or Corporate Strategy, as the skills involved in managing complex regulatory reporting are highly transferable. KNDS's identity as a 'learning company' means there are structured paths for professional development and internal mobility. For those interested in the international dimension, the Franco-German organizational structure offers unique opportunities to lead cross-border projects, potentially leading to roles with broader European oversight or specialized positions in Sustainable Finance and Investor Relations.

Q: The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact extensively with the Sustainability Team and the Financial Controlling department, ensuring that extra-financial data is treated with the same rigor as financial figures. Internal Data Owners and Contributors across different business units (Production, HR, Purchasing, EHS) are your primary partners for data collection. You will need to build strong relationships with these teams to ensure timely and accurate submissions. Externally, you will be the main point of contact for Statutory Auditors and ESG rating agencies (such as EcoVadis or CDP). You will defend the group's methodologies and provide the evidence needed to secure favorable ratings and audit opinions.

Question 1

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Accepted Answer

The core of this role involves structuring a robust ESG data architecture. You will define data governance policies, identify key owners across various departments, and maintain a comprehensive data dictionary. This ensures that every metric used in sustainability reporting is defined consistently across all European subsidiaries. Operationally, you will drive the annual reporting cycle, coordinating with various sites to gather environmental and social data. You are responsible for the integrity and auditability of these figures, preparing them for external verification and ensuring they meet strict CSRD and ESRS regulatory standards. Beyond simple compliance, you will act as a performance analyst. By utilizing tools like Power BI or Qlik, you will create dashboards that visualize trends and highlight performance gaps, providing the executive team with the analytical insights needed to adjust the group's sustainability strategy.

Question 2

Key learning opportunities for this job

Accepted Answer

This position offers a deep dive into the technical implementation of CSRD, one of the most rigorous reporting frameworks in the world. You will gain hands-on experience in mapping ESRS requirements to complex industrial operations, a highly sought-after skill in the current job market. You will also sharpen your expertise in digitalizing ESG workflows. Administering and evolving sustainability reporting software will provide you with technical skills at the intersection of IT and CSR, particularly in automating data collection and validation processes. Furthermore, the role provides exposure to international defense industry standards and large-scale Scope 3 carbon management. Working within a Franco-German corporate environment will also enhance your ability to navigate cross-border regulatory and cultural nuances.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The ideal profile combines 3 to 5 years of experience in data management or ESG reporting with a highly technical mindset. You should be comfortable manipulating large datasets and have advanced mastery of Excel and data visualization tools like Power BI or Tableau. Familiarity with extra-financial reporting frameworks (CSRD, CDP, SBTi) is essential, as you must be able to translate these guidelines into practical calculation methodologies. Given the daily international collaboration, fluency in English is mandatory, and proficiency in German is a significant advantage. Soft skills are equally important; you need the relational agility to influence stakeholders who may not be sustainability experts, ensuring they understand the importance of data quality and meeting strict deadlines.

Question 4

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Accepted Answer

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between technical data governance and strategic sustainability. Use your application to highlight a specific project where you improved data reliability or automated a reporting process that was previously manual and prone to error. Research the specific challenges of the defense sector, such as supply chain transparency and dual-use considerations. Showing that you understand the unique security and confidentiality constraints of KNDS will demonstrate that you are prepared for the administrative and safety inquiries required for the role. Finally, emphasize your rigor and audit-ready mindset. Mentioning experience with internal controls or working with external auditors to validate non-financial data will reassure the hiring team of your ability to handle the auditability requirements of the CSRD.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

The role focuses heavily on environmental transparency and operational carbon footprinting. A major priority is the coordination of Scope 3 measurement, which involves mapping the emissions of a vast supply chain involved in heavy industrial manufacturing. You will also focus on governance and ethics. Ensuring that ESG data is reliable and traceable is a key component of corporate governance in the defense industry, where trust and accountability are paramount for maintaining partnerships with armed forces. Social metrics also play a role, as you will likely track indicators related to diversity, health and safety, and professional development within the 4,500-strong workforce, aligning these human capital metrics with the broader group-level ESG objectives.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

One of the primary challenges will be the harmonization of data across multiple sites and subsidiaries. Different departments may have varying levels of maturity regarding ESG data collection, requiring you to be both a persistent coordinator and an educator. Navigating the complexity of the CSRD transition is another significant hurdle. Translating new, evolving regulations into actionable internal processes while maintaining business-as-all-usual productivity requires a high degree of organization and foresight. Finally, ensuring data quality from diverse sources—ranging from shop floor energy meters to HR systems—presents a constant challenge in maintaining an 'audit-ready' status throughout the year, not just during reporting season.

Question 7

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

Accepted Answer

A typical day might begin with a coordination meeting with Data Owners in Belgium or Italy to track the progress of a current collection campaign. You would spend time verifying the consistency of the data received, checking for anomalies or outliers that require further investigation. In the afternoon, you might switch to a more technical mode, configuring the ESG reporting tool or building a new dashboard to visualize water consumption trends for the R&D sites. This work requires deep focus on data accuracy and software logic. Your day could conclude with an advisory session for an operational department, helping them understand how to calculate a specific carbon metric or preparing documentation for an upcoming internal audit of the group's sustainability performance.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

This role is a springboard for a career in ESG leadership. As you become the go-to expert for the group's sustainability data, you could evolve into a more strategic ESG Manager role or a Global Sustainability Lead position. There are also paths into Data Privacy and Governance or Corporate Strategy, as the skills involved in managing complex regulatory reporting are highly transferable. KNDS's identity as a 'learning company' means there are structured paths for professional development and internal mobility. For those interested in the international dimension, the Franco-German organizational structure offers unique opportunities to lead cross-border projects, potentially leading to roles with broader European oversight or specialized positions in Sustainable Finance and Investor Relations.

Question 9

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Accepted Answer

You will interact extensively with the Sustainability Team and the Financial Controlling department, ensuring that extra-financial data is treated with the same rigor as financial figures. Internal Data Owners and Contributors across different business units (Production, HR, Purchasing, EHS) are your primary partners for data collection. You will need to build strong relationships with these teams to ensure timely and accurate submissions. Externally, you will be the main point of contact for Statutory Auditors and ESG rating agencies (such as EcoVadis or CDP). You will defend the group's methodologies and provide the evidence needed to secure favorable ratings and audit opinions.

ESG Data Manager

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Key learning opportunities for this job

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

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

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

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

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

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

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

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