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Sustainability Director

OVHcloud • France • Added on Jul 23, 2026
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You will take the helm of the environmental strategy for a global cloud leader, leading a team of experts to execute an ambitious 2030 roadmap. This role involves steering carbon reduction trajectories, overseeing energy market intelligence, and ensuring that environmental KPIs like PUE and WUE are integrated into core industrial operations. You will bridge the gap between technical infrastructure and high-level corporate sustainability goals.

The cloud industry is a critical frontier for decarbonization, and at OVHcloud, this role influences the very design of data centers and server lifecycles. By optimizing energy procurement through mechanisms like PPAs and improving resource efficiency across 450,000 servers, your work directly diminishes the digital carbon footprint of 1.6 million global customers. This is a rare opportunity to drive industrial-scale transition in the tech sector.

This suits someone who possesses a deep command of energy markets and carbon accounting, coupled with the leadership gravitas to influence diverse business units from sales to engineering in a fast-paced IT environment.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

As a Sustainability Director, you are the primary architect of the Group’s environmental roadmap for 2030. This involves managing a team of specialized experts to translate broad climate ambitions into actionable industrial projects. You will be responsible for overseeing the entire carbon reduction trajectory, ensuring all initiatives remain aligned with SBTi commitments and evolving regulatory frameworks. Beyond strategy, you own the technical performance monitoring of global infrastructures. You will define and track critical metrics such as Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE), ensuring data reliability and high-quality reporting for governance committees. Your mission also includes deep-diving into energy market dynamics to support strategic procurement and resilience planning.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This role offers an immersive masterclass in green IT and data center sustainability at a massive industrial scale. You will gain sophisticated knowledge of how hardware design and infrastructure management directly correlate with environmental impact. This unique vertical integration at OVHcloud provides a rare window into the entire value chain of cloud computing, from server assembly to cooling technologies. Furthermore, you will sharpen your expertise in complex energy procurement. Working on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Virtual PPAs, and green certificates in a volatile global market will provide high-level financial and regulatory skills. Mentoring a team of experts while influencing the C-suite will also significantly enhance your strategic leadership and change management capabilities within a high-growth tech environment.

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

The ideal candidate brings a sophisticated blend of technical climate science and energy market intuition. You should have a proven track record in managing carbon footprints and a deep understanding of energy purchasing mechanisms. Professional experience specifically within IT infrastructure or industrial sectors is highly valued, as you must speak the language of engineers and operations managers. On the soft skills side, we look for influential leadership. This isn't just about managing a direct team; it's about being a diplomat and an educator across departments like Sales, Public Affairs, and Industry. Fluency in English is non-negotiable, and a proactive, analytical mindset is essential to stay ahead of the rapidly changing regulatory landscape including the EU Taxonomy and CSRD requirements.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, move beyond generic CSR language and demonstrate a strong grasp of technical metrics. Showing that you understand the specific challenges of data centers—such as heat recovery, water scarcity, or grid stability—will demonstrate immediate value. Tailor your application by highlighting instances where you turned complex environmental data into strategic decision-making assets for senior executives. Since this role involves heavy cross-functional collaboration, provide concrete examples of how you have fostered a culture of sustainability in past roles where you didn't have direct authority over every department. Emphasizing your familiarity with SBTi and energy hedging will also signal your readiness for the high-stakes financial and technical components of this leadership position.

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

The focus is heavily weighted toward industrial decarbonization and circularity. Because the company builds its own servers and data centers, the role touches on everything from eco-conception of hardware to the operational efficiency of the machines. You will likely focus on reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions through smarter energy sourcing and Scope 3 by engaging with the broader supply chain. There is also a significant emphasis on resource frugality, particularly water management and energy efficiency. You will be at the forefront of the 'trusted cloud' movement, ensuring that environmental performance becomes a competitive differentiator for customers who are increasingly scrutinized on their own digital carbon footprints.

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

One of the primary challenges will be balancing rapid global growth with strict decarbonization targets. As the company expands its server fleet and data center footprint, maintaining a downward carbon trajectory requires constant innovation and operational discipline. You may face internal pushback when environmental priorities conflict with short-term industrial or performance requirements. Navigating the volatility of global energy markets while trying to secure long-term renewable energy contracts is another significant hurdle. Additionally, the role requires stayng ahead of complex, evolving regulations across multiple continents, ensuring that reporting remains transparent and compliant without becoming a bottleneck for the business's agility.

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

A typical day could start with a review of environmental performance dashboards to check the energy efficiency of a specific data center cluster. You might move into a steering committee meeting with the Purchasing and Industry teams to evaluate a new PPA contract or discuss the carbon footprint of a newly designed server rack. No two days are likely to be the same, as you pivot between granular data and high-level strategy. In the afternoon, you might shift to coaching your team of experts on a specific reporting challenge or meeting with the Communication and Public Affairs teams to refine how the company’s green initiatives are presented to regulators. The evening might involve a sync with global peers or stakeholders in different time zones to ensure the sustainability strategy is being localized effectively across all 4 continents.

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

This position is a high-visibility role at the intersection of tech and climate, positioning you for potential Executive-level roles in sustainability or operations. Within the company, you have the opportunity to move from directing a specialized function to leading broader strategic transformation initiatives that impact the entire business model. The scale of the company allows for significant professional maturation in global management. Externally, successfully leading sustainability for a top European cloud provider makes you a thought leader in the digital transition. You will likely represent the company at international climate forums and industry associations, building a powerful professional network. The expertise gained here in SBTi alignment and energy strategy is in extremely high demand across the global tech sector.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your primary internal network includes the Industry and Infrastructure teams, who own the physical assets, and the Energy Procurement team, with whom you'll collaborate on sourcing. You will work closely with C-suite leaders to report on progress and secure buy-in for new initiatives. Cross-functional partners in Sales and Marketing will depend on your data to communicate value to eco-conscious clients. Externally, you will interact with regulatory bodies and industry auditors to ensure compliance with environmental standards. You will also engage with renewable energy providers for PPA negotiations and participate in stakeholder dialogues with NGOs and climate organizations like SBTi to ensure the company's targets remain credible and ambitious.

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