ESG Manager

The ESG Manager at Renalfa is likely to act as the operational backbone of the sustainability team, translating the group's ESG strategy into project-level practice. A large part of the role will involve coordinating environmental and social due diligence processes, Environmental and Social Action Plans, management plans and monitoring programmes across solar, wind and BESS projects in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and North Macedonia. You will be the person who turns lender and regulatory requirements into concrete, trackable actions that development, construction and operations teams can implement. Another core mission will be preparing and coordinating ESG reporting for management, lenders, investors and other stakeholders. This includes contributing to EU Taxonomy, CSRD/ESRS, climate, carbon and sustainability-related assessments and disclosures. You will also be expected to identify ESG risks and support the implementation and monitoring of mitigation measures, which means maintaining a live view of risk rather than a static compliance checklist. Because Renalfa is a hands-on IPP, the role is unlikely to be confined to a desk. You will work closely with project development, construction, operations, legal, finance, procurement and HSE teams, and you will coordinate external consultants and support engagement with lenders, investors, contractors and local stakeholders. The overarching goal is to keep ESG embedded in the full asset lifecycle, from origination to operation.

The learning curve in this role could be steep and unusually broad. You will gain hands-on exposure to international financial institution standards (likely IFC Performance Standards, EBRD requirements and Equator Principles) applied to real renewable energy and BESS projects in multiple jurisdictions. Few roles offer the chance to see how those standards are operationalised across four CEE countries with different regulatory environments. You can also expect to deepen your expertise in European sustainability legislation, particularly EU Taxonomy and CSRD/ESRS, as Renalfa prepares disclosures for lenders and investors. Because the company works across the full solar PV, BESS and wind value chains, you may develop a practical understanding of environmental and social risks specific to construction, grid connection and long-term asset operation, knowledge that is transferable to any infrastructure or project finance setting. Finally, working alongside a 45-person team and external consultants means you will likely build strong stakeholder-management and project-coordination skills. You might also gain exposure to green hydrogen and e-mobility through Renalfa's wider portfolio, broadening your view of the energy transition beyond generation assets.

The ideal candidate likely has a university degree in environmental studies, sustainability, engineering, law, economics or a related field, plus several years of professional experience in ESG, sustainability or environmental and social risk management. Experience in renewable energy, infrastructure, construction, project finance or sustainability consulting would be a strong advantage, Renalfa explicitly frames this as a hands-on role, so candidates who have worked on live projects rather than only advisory or reporting desks may fit best. On the technical side, knowledge of international financial institution standards and European sustainability legislation is important. The ability to translate regulatory and lender requirements into practical project-level actions is probably the single most valued skill, alongside strong analytical and organisational capabilities. Excellent written and spoken English is essential, and additional CEE languages could be useful for local stakeholder engagement. Soft skills matter too. Renalfa describes itself as operationally minded, so a proactive, structured and solution-oriented approach is likely to be prized. The candidate will need to manage multiple projects and priorities in an international working environment, which means comfort with ambiguity and the ability to coordinate across development, construction, finance and HSE teams without direct authority over all of them.

To stand out, tailor your application around the specific intersection of renewable energy project finance and ESG implementation. Renalfa is not a generic corporate sustainability role; it is an IPP where ESG work is tied to lender requirements, due diligence and asset-level compliance. Highlight any experience you have with IFC Performance Standards, EBRD requirements or Equator Principles, and be concrete about which projects or portfolios you supported. Quantify where possible, number of projects, capacity in MW, countries involved. Your cover letter should show that you understand Renalfa's business model: an independent power producer with a 4.5 GW pipeline across Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and North Macedonia, backed by international lenders and investors. Mention how you have helped translate regulatory or lender requirements into practical actions on the ground, because that is exactly what the job description asks for. If you have worked with CSRD/ESRS or EU Taxonomy, make that explicit rather than burying it in a list. For interviews, prepare to discuss how you would coordinate environmental and social due diligence across multiple jurisdictions and how you would manage competing priorities from development, construction and finance teams. Given Renalfa's small team size, they may value someone who can work independently and communicate clearly with senior stakeholders. Show that you are structured, solution-oriented and comfortable in a fast-moving international environment.

This role is likely to focus on the environmental and social governance dimensions that keep Renalfa's renewable energy projects financeable and compliant. A major part of the work will be coordinating environmental and social due diligence and action plans, which means the sustainability focus is less about broad corporate pledges and more about project-level risk management and lender compliance. You will probably spend significant time on EU Taxonomy, CSRD/ESRS and climate-related disclosures, ensuring that the group's reporting meets the expectations of investors and financial institutions. Because Renalfa operates across solar, wind and BESS assets in several CEE countries, the role may also involve monitoring environmental and social performance during construction and operation, for example, land use, biodiversity, community engagement and health and safety. The BESS portfolio (620 MW/2300 MWh) could bring additional focus on responsible sourcing, battery lifecycle considerations and grid stability contributions to decarbonisation. More broadly, the role supports Renalfa's positioning as a credible clean-energy platform. By embedding ESG into the full asset lifecycle, the ESG Manager helps demonstrate that renewable energy projects are not just low-carbon but also socially and environmentally responsible, a distinction that matters increasingly to lenders and investors in the region.

One likely challenge is the sheer breadth of the role. Renalfa is a 45-person company with a portfolio spanning four countries and multiple technologies, so the ESG Manager may need to cover due diligence, reporting, compliance, stakeholder engagement and risk monitoring without a large support team. Managing multiple projects and priorities across different jurisdictions will require strong organisational skills and the ability to triage. Another challenge could be translating high-level standards and regulations into practical actions that project teams actually adopt. Construction and operations teams are often focused on timelines and budgets, so the ESG Manager will need to influence without direct authority and make the case for ESG requirements in operational terms. Differences in local legislation and lender expectations across Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and North Macedonia may add complexity. Finally, the reporting environment is evolving quickly. CSRD/ESRS and EU Taxonomy requirements are still bedding in, and international financial institution standards are periodically updated. Staying current while also delivering day-to-day project support could be demanding, especially in a company that is growing its portfolio rapidly.

A typical day could start with a check-in with project development or construction teams to review environmental and social action plan items and identify any emerging risks. You might then spend time reviewing due diligence documentation from an external consultant, preparing comments or clarifying how a lender requirement applies to a specific solar or BESS project. Because Renalfa operates across multiple countries, some of this coordination is likely to happen over email, calls and shared trackers. Midday might involve a meeting with finance or legal colleagues to align on ESG disclosures for an upcoming investor report, or a call with a local stakeholder or contractor to discuss mitigation measures. If a project is in a critical phase (financial close, construction start or commissioning) the day may be heavily weighted toward that asset, with less time for broader strategy work. The role probably includes a fair amount of writing and documentation: drafting or reviewing ESG reporting sections, updating monitoring programmes and preparing summaries for management. Variability is likely high, with some weeks dominated by reporting deadlines and others by project-level problem-solving or external consultant coordination.

Renalfa's portfolio is expanding across Central and Eastern Europe, with a 4.5 GW pipeline and further growth planned. For an ESG Manager, that growth could create opportunities to take on more responsibility, potentially leading ESG workstreams for new countries, technologies or financing rounds. Direct exposure to international lenders, investors and leading sustainability standards is a strong foundation for a career in sustainable finance or infrastructure ESG. Because the team is small, high-visibility projects are likely to come around quickly. You might find yourself representing ESG in project financing discussions or helping shape how the group responds to CSRD/ESRS. That kind of experience is valuable for moving into senior ESG, sustainability director or impact investment roles later on. There may also be lateral exposure to other parts of the group, such as green hydrogen or e-mobility through SPARK and Eldrive, depending on how the sustainability team is structured. Professional development is explicitly mentioned in the job offer, which suggests the company is open to supporting certifications or further training relevant to the role.

Within Renalfa, the ESG Manager will likely interact most frequently with the sustainability team, project development, construction, operations, legal, finance, procurement and HSE colleagues. Because the role is project-focused, relationships with development and construction teams may be particularly important: they are the ones implementing environmental and social action plans on the ground. Finance and legal colleagues will be key when preparing disclosures or responding to lender requests. Externally, you will likely work with lenders and investors who require ESG reporting and compliance with international standards. External consultants (environmental and social specialists, auditors or advisers) will be regular contacts, as will contractors and local stakeholders in the communities where projects are located. The nature of these interactions will range from formal reporting and due diligence to practical problem-solving and relationship management. Given Renalfa's group structure, you may also coordinate with colleagues across subsidiaries such as Renalfa IPP or Solarpro Holding, depending on how ESG responsibilities are allocated. The ability to manage diverse stakeholders with different priorities will be central to the role.