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Sustainability & Circular Economy Specialist

Rosenbauer Group • Austria • Added on Aug 5, 2026
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This role centers on transforming how heavy-duty emergency vehicles are designed and built. You will lead the operational shift toward circularity and ecodesign, ensuring that sustainability is baked into the very fabric of product development. By managing life cycle assessments and developing new methodological standards, you will move beyond simple reporting to actively shaping the next generation of firefighting technology.

The impact here is unique: Rosenbauer is a global leader in fire and disaster control, meaning your work directly influences the decarbonization of critical public safety infrastructure. Moving these complex, high-performance machines toward a circular model significantly reduces resource intensity in a sector where reliability and durability are life-saving requirements.

This suits someone who possesses a strong technical background and a pragmatic approach to circular economy principles. You should be comfortable navigating regulatory shifts like the Digital Product Passport while translating complex ESG data into actionable business cases for engineering teams.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core mission involves the identification and implementation of Circular Economy projects across the product lifecycle. You will be responsible for establishing and advancing ecodesign standards, conducting detailed Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), and ensuring that sustainable product development is integrated into existing engineering workflows. Beyond technical implementation, you will also act as a regulatory navigator, screening new requirements such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Digital Product Passport. Your goal is to develop the methods and decision-making frameworks that allow the company to build business cases for sustainable services and circular business models.

Key learning opportunities for this job

You will gain deep expertise in the practical application of industrial ecodesign within a complex automotive and manufacturing environment. This is a rare chance to work on the implementation of the Digital Product Passport and navigate the specific sustainability challenges of heavy-duty emergency vehicles. Furthermore, the role offers significant exposure to strategic ESG methodologies. You will likely enhance your skills in multi-stakeholder project management, learning how to balance high-performance safety requirements with rigorous environmental footprinting and circularity standards.

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

The ideal candidate brings a university degree specializing in sustainability, environmental management, or the circular economy. You must have a solid understanding of technical products and product development processes, as this role bridges the gap between high-level ESG goals and tangible engineering output. Technically, you should be proficient in LCA methodologies and familiar with emerging EU regulations like the ESPR. Soft skills are equally vital; you need to be an assertive communicator who can manage conflicting goals between sustainability and production, using a structured and analytical approach to drive change.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your ability to translate abstract sustainability concepts into concrete business value for a manufacturing firm. Highlight any experience you have with technical product development or how you have successfully navigated 'target conflicts' where sustainability requirements met technical or budgetary constraints. Since Rosenbauer values reliability and progress, demonstrate your proactive project management style. Providing examples of how you have stayed ahead of regulatory changes, such as the Digital Product Passport, will show you are ready to lead their compliance and innovation efforts.

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

This role is heavily focused on Product Sustainability and Circularity rather than just corporate reporting. You will likely spend a significant amount of time on reducing the embedded carbon of vehicles through smarter material choices and designing for longevity or modularity. There is also a strong governance and compliance aspect. Ensuring that products meet the evolving European environmental standards is critical for maintaining market access and leadership in the global firefighting equipment industry.

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

One of the primary challenges will be the alignment of stakeholders. Engineers and product managers may prioritize performance and safety in emergency situations, which can sometimes conflict with circular design choices. You will need to find the 'sweet spot' where these priorities meet. Additionally, the regulatory landscape is shifting rapidly. Staying current with every nuance of European circular economy legislation while maintaining momentum on internal projects will require high levels of organization and resilience.

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

A typical day might begin with a review of current LCA data for a new vehicle prototype, followed by a meeting with the product development team to discuss ecodesign improvements. You might spend the afternoon analyzing new EU directives to see how they impact the company's long-term product roadmap. Communication is a constant thread; you will likely spend time drafting methodological standards or preparing decision papers for management. Your day will be a mix of deep analytical work and collaborative sessions with departments ranging from procurement to engineering.

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

Given the rising importance of circularity in the automotive and machinery sectors, this role offers a path toward strategic sustainability leadership. Successful implementation of these projects could lead to managing larger cross-functional teams or overseeing global sustainability initiatives for the group. There is also the opportunity for specialization. As the company adopts more digital tools for sustainability, you could become a leading expert in Digital Product Passports or circular business model innovation within the industrial sector.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will primarily interact with the Product Development and Engineering teams to integrate sustainability into the design phase. Collaborating with Product Management is also essential to ensure that sustainable features align with customer needs and market demand. External interactions will include regulatory bodies and industry partners to stay informed on standards. Internally, you will report to sustainability leadership and provide decision-making data to senior management regarding the group's long-term circular economy strategy.

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