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Sustainability Graduate

Mercury • Ireland • Added on Aug 4, 2026
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As a Sustainability Graduate within the corporate team, you will support the deployment of the ‘Our Planet, Our Duty’ strategy across a vast European construction portfolio. You will be responsible for coordinating ESG data collection, assisting with high-level reporting frameworks like CSRD and GRI, and helping the business benchmark its environmental performance against industry peers. Your work ensures that sustainability moves from a high-level vision into measurable, operational reality.

In the heavy-impact world of complex engineering and data center construction, this role is a critical link in decarbonizing the digital infrastructure of tomorrow. By managing supplier engagement and supporting green tenders, you directly influence the environmental footprint of some of the world’s most significant technological hubs. It is a rare chance to see how large-scale industrial construction navigates the transition to a low-carbon economy through rigorous data and strategic reporting.

This suits someone who is a detail-oriented communicator with a strong academic background in environmental science or business, ready to launch a career in an ultra-fast-paced corporate environment.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus is assisting in the operationalization of Mercury’s sustainability strategy, Our Planet, Our Duty. This involves substantial data management, where you will coordinate the collection of ESG metrics across various business units to ensure compliance and support corporate transparency. You will also be tasked with supporting the development of content for bids and tenders. By articulating the company's sustainability value proposition, you help the sales and project teams meet the increasingly stringent environmental requirements of global corporate clients.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep technical exposure to international reporting standards, specifically CSRD and GRI. This is an exceptional opportunity to learn how a large enterprise manages its disclosures for platforms like CDP and EcoVadis, which are gold standards in corporate sustainability assessment. Beyond technical reporting, the eighteen-month graduate programme includes structured masterclasses and a strategic research project presented to senior management. This ensures exposure to high-level business decision-making and helps bridge the gap between academic theory and industrial application.

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

Mercury is looking for high-achieving graduates, typically requiring a 2:1 Honours Degree or higher in a relevant field. While the specific degree subject is flexible, a background in environmental science, engineering, or sustainable business provides a strong foundation for the data-heavy aspects of the role. Soft skills are equally important; the team values individuals who are adaptable and solutions-driven. Because the role involves working across different departments and potentially traveling, a high degree of organizational capability and an energetic, proactive attitude are essential for success.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate a clear understanding of the construction industry's unique ESG challenges, such as embodied carbon or supply chain ethics. Mentioning your familiarity with Mercury's specific strategy name shows you have done your homework and are genuinely aligned with their corporate culture. Since the role involves high-stakes reporting, emphasize any experience you have with data analysis or complex documentation. Whether from a previous internship or a university project, showing that you take pride in the accuracy and presentation of your work will resonate with their 'delivery with certainty' ethos.

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

The role is heavily weighted toward corporate accountability and ESG transparency. You will likely spend significant time on carbon accounting and benchmarking performance against competitors to ensure Mercury maintains its position as a sustainability leader in the construction sector. There is also a strong supply chain and procurement angle. As the company builds for major tech and life sciences firms, ensuring that suppliers meet specific ESG criteria is a growing priority that this role will actively support through data processes and risk identification.

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

The fast-paced nature of the construction industry can be a challenge for those new to the workforce. You will need to manage competing deadlines from different stakeholders, especially during tender periods or annual reporting cycles where data accuracy is non-negotiable. Additionally, gathering consistent ESG data from a diverse range of subcontractors and suppliers across different countries requires persistence and strong interpersonal skills. Navigating these complex relationships while maintaining reporting integrity is a central hurdle of the position.

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

A typical day might begin with a team meeting to track progress on an upcoming EcoVadis submission, followed by hours spent analyzing energy or waste data from various project sites. You might then transition into a collaborative session with the sales team to draft sustainability content for a new data center bid. Afternoons could be dedicated to supplier outreach, helping external partners understand Mercury's data requirements. The day often involves shifting between focused, independent data work and high-energy coordination meetings with internal managers.

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

Mercury has a proven track record of retaining graduates, with many moving into permanent specialist or management roles upon completion of the 18-month programme. The exposure to senior management through the strategic project provides high visibility early in your career. As the sustainability department grows to meet new European regulations, there are likely to be opportunities for specialization in areas like carbon management, social value, or sustainable procurement, allowing for a tailored professional trajectory within the firm.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with the Internal Sustainability Team and the broader QEHS department. You will also be a key resource for the Sales and Tendering teams, providing them with the ESG credentials needed to win new business. Externally, you will engage with suppliers and subcontractors to drive data compliance. You may also have occasional exposure to client representatives from major global corporations who have high expectations for Mercury's sustainability performance.

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