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(Senior) Sustainability Manager - ESG Reporting

Körber • Germany • Added on Jul 6, 2026
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In this role, you’ll take central ownership of designing and producing the group-wide sustainability report covering more than 100 companies. You’ll steer qualitative data collection, check the plausibility of quantitative ESG figures pulled from specialized software, and guide the whole process through to external audit — while also driving forward improvements to the ESG reporting process itself to keep pace with international regulation.

This role is central to the sustainable transformation of a global technology group. By translating complex regulatory requirements into transparent, audit-ready reports, you build the factual foundation for strategic decisions and strengthen external stakeholders’ trust in the company’s climate targets, while directly supporting CSRD implementation and closing identified sustainability gaps.

This suits someone structured with several years of experience in ESG reporting, who combines technical understanding of data systems like Salesforce Net Zero Cloud with strong editorial writing skills.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus of this role is the annual creation of the group-wide sustainability report, covering over 100 individual entities. This involves a comprehensive end-to-end process from designing data collection templates to the final editorial production in both English and German. You will be responsible for the accuracy and audit-readiness of all disclosures. Beyond simple reporting, you will lead the transition from manual Excel-based tracking to system-supported solutions, specifically utilizing tools like Salesforce Net Zero Cloud. Your technical oversight will ensure that all qualitative and quantitative data points are plausible and meet the high standards required for external auditing. Furthermore, you will actively shape the company’s long-term transparency strategy by refining the Double Materiality Analysis and overseeing EU Taxonomy reporting. This includes preparing decision-oriented briefings for the management board and monitoring the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape to ensure future-proof compliance.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in CSRD and ESRS implementation within a complex, industrial corporate environment. Managing the disclosure requirements for a multifaceted technology group provides a masterclass in navigating current EU sustainability regulations and transparency standards. Technically, you will gain hands-on experience with advanced ESG reporting software, moving beyond legacy manual processes. Exposure to Salesforce Net Zero Cloud and digital tagging for machine-readability will position you at the forefront of the 'digitalization of sustainability' trend. Additionally, the role offers a high level of interdisciplinary exposure. By coordinating with finance, legal, and operational business units, you will learn how to integrate non-financial reporting into traditional financial frameworks, a skill highly valued in the evolving ESG job market.

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

The ideal candidate holds an excellent university degree in sustainability management, business, or engineering, complemented by several years of professional experience in ESG reporting. Professional backgrounds from top-tier consulting firms or large international industrial corporations are particularly valued. Technical proficiency is non-negotiable, specifically regarding CSRD, ESRS, and the EU Taxonomy. You should possess strong analytical skills for data validation combined with an exceptional ability to write clear, concise editorial content for diverse audiences. Mastery of Excel and experience with reporting tools like Fyrsys or Salesforce is essential. On a personal level, this role requires high levels of initiative and stakeholder management skills. You must be comfortable acting as a central point of contact during pressure-filled audit periods, maintaining a meticulous eye for detail while keeping the project on a strict timeline.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Focus your application on your technical reporting experience. Rather than listing broad sustainability interests, highlight specific projects where you successfully managed data collection, performed materiality assessments, or translated ESRS requirements into operational reporting templates. Given the international nature of Körber, demonstrating bilingual competence (German and English) is crucial. Ensure your application materials reflect the editorial high standards expected for the reporting role itself; clarity and professional tone in your cover letter can serve as a direct demonstration of your reporting aptitude. Research Körber’s diverse business fields—from pharma to supply chain. Showing an understanding of how diverse industrial business models impact a centralized sustainability report will demonstrate that you can handle the group's complexity effectively.

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

The role is heavily weighted toward the Governance and Environmental pillars of ESG, with a specific focus on transparency and regulatory accountability. You will ensure that the technological innovations of the group are backed by credible, auditable environmental data. Particular emphasis will be placed on decarbonization data and the formal disclosure of climate risks. As the company moves toward digital solutions, your work will focus on making sustainability performance measurable and comparable across global locations. Social aspects are also reflected through the management of qualitative data points, ensuring that the entire sustainability initiative—ranging from supply chain ethics to labor standards—is documented according to the high standards of the Group's central initiative.

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

The most significant challenge will be managing data complexity across more than 100 subsidiaries. Coordinating qualitative inquiries and ensuring consistency among various business units requires both diplomacy and a rigorous systematic approach. Navigating the ongoing regulatory shift from older standards to the new CSRD/ESRS landscape requires constant learning. You will need to maintain a high level of accuracy while the 'rules of the game' are still being refined by European authorities. Finally, moving from Excel-based collections to software solutions often faces internal resistance or technical hurdles. Balancing the daily demands of report production with long-term digital transformation projects will require excellent time management and resilience.

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

A typical day might begin with a coordination call with the head of the sustainability initiative to review current project milestones. You might then spend several hours reviewing quantitative data inputs in the Net Zero Cloud, flagging discrepancies for business unit managers to address. Afternoons are often dedicated to editorial work or regulatory research. You might draft specific sections of the sustainability report or prepare a PowerPoint briefing for an upcoming board meeting regarding the results of the latest materiality analysis. Your day will frequently include consultations with external auditors. You will provide the necessary evidence and documentation to support specific ESG claims, ensuring that the audit process moves forward smoothly and without significant findings.

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

Within a technology group like Körber, this role offers a path toward strategic leadership in ESG. Success in building a compliant, digitised reporting system can lead to broader responsibilities in corporate strategy or ESG governance. There are also opportunities for lateral development. By working closely with the finance department on the integration of financial and non-financial reporting, you could transition into roles focused on sustainable finance or investor relations. Furthermore, the visibility of this role is high. Reporting directly to the lead of the group-wide sustainability initiative and preparing documents for the management board provides significant exposure that can accelerate your career within the executive-level committees.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will act as a central hub between various internal departments. Key stakeholders include the group-wide sustainability initiative, the legal department, and various business unit managers who provide the raw data for your reports. External interaction is equally prominent. You will serve as the primary contact for auditors during the annual review and collaborate with specialized ESG consultants on the implementation of new regulatory frameworks. Additionally, you will interact with the Management and Executive boards. By providing decision-support documents and clear reporting insights, you help leadership understand the group's sustainability performance and influence the direction of the corporate strategy.

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