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Senior Sustainability Officer

Royal IHC • Netherlands • Added on Jun 29, 2026
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This is an essential role for embedding ESG policy within a leading maritime organization. You are the driving force behind the ESG Governance & Control Framework, translating complex CSRD requirements into concrete processes and reliable reporting structures. You make sure sustainability isn’t a standalone project but an integral part of day-to-day operations and decision-making.

The importance of this role lies in the transformation of the maritime industry. At Royal IHC, you contribute directly to the ambition of becoming a fully sustainable company with a net-zero portfolio by 2050. By bridging the gap between legislation and execution, you make sustainability performance measurable, auditable, and strategically valuable for both customers and the planet.

This suits someone who is a hands-on professional with at least five years of experience in industrial sustainability who excels at process optimization and data integrity, and who thrives in a technical environment while having the diplomacy to unite diverse departments around shared ESG goals.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary focus of this role is the implementation and maintenance of the ESG Governance & Control Framework across Royal IHC. You will lead the effort to translate complex CSRD requirements into practical business controls, ensuring that every department understands and acts upon its sustainability obligations. Beyond just reporting, you will be responsible for structuring the double materiality assessment and defining the ESG scope for the entire organization. This involves establishing high-quality data collection and validation methods, working hand-in-hand with Finance to ensure audit-ready performance disclosures. You will also act as a central coordinator for internal and external audits, using these assessments to drive continuous improvement. Your goal is to embed sustainability KPIs into the heart of the company's quality management and operational decision-making systems.

Key learning opportunities for this job

A major learning curve in this role will involve the practical application of CSRD in a heavy industrial and maritime context. Managing the transition from voluntary reporting to regulated environmental and social disclosures offers a unique expertise that is highly valued in today's corporate landscape. You will gain deep exposure to maritime technology and engineering, learning how sustainability impacts massive infrastructure projects from sea dredging to offshore mining. This provides a specialized understanding of life-cycle assessments and environmental management systems in a complex, globalized manufacturing environment. Furthermore, you will refine your skills in cross-functional change management. Navigating the intersection of HSE, Finance, Procurement, and Legal within a legacy industrial firm will sharpen your ability to lead through influence and build resilient governance structures.

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

The ideal candidate brings at least five years of experience in sustainability or ESG management, specifically within an industrial or manufacturing sector. A strong technical foundation is required, particularly with ISO 14001 or similar environmental management systems, as the company operates within a highly regulated quality management framework. We look for someone who combines analytical rigor with process-oriented thinking. You should be comfortable with data governance and reporting dashboards, yet possess the soft skills to communicate the 'why' behind ESG requirements to various business domain owners who may be new to these regulations. Education in a relevant field such as Sustainability Management, Environmental Engineering, or Business Administration with an ESG focus is expected. Experience with CSRD implementation or previous roles in quality auditing will be considered a significant advantage.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to be practical rather than theoretical. Your application should show clear examples of how you have steered an organization through a process change or how you have successfully built a KPI framework that employees actually found useful. Since this role sits within the QA & Security department, highlighting your familiarity with rigid quality standards and audit procedures is crucial. Show that you understand how to align sustainability initiatives with existing business controls rather than creating redundant systems. Research Royal IHC's recent innovation projects in dredging and offshore. Demonstrating an awareness of their net-zero 2050 goal and how your governance experience can de-risk that journey will signal that you are a candidate who understands both the compliance burden and the strategic vision.

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

The focus is heavily weighted toward ESG governance and regulatory compliance. This means you will mainly be working on the 'G' and 'E' of ESG, ensuring that the company's decarbonization targets and social commitments are backed by verifiable data and structured processes. You will likely concentrate on the environmental footprint of shipbuilding, including material waste, energy efficiency in production, and the overall carbon impact of the company's vessels. The CSRD reporting cycle will be the main driver for your annual activities, requiring deep dives into supply chain transparency. Social aspects will also play a role, particularly regarding safety and labor standards within the global maritime industry. You will ensure these are consistently monitored and reported through the centralized ESG framework to meet stakeholder expectations for transparency.

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

The primary challenge is likely data fragmentation across a global organization with nearly 2,000 employees. Gathering consistent, high-quality ESG data from diverse departments like Procurement and HR requires persistent follow-up and the implementation of more rigorous data entry cultures. You may also face cultural resistance to new reporting requirements. In a technical, engineering-heavy environment, team members might see ESG as a 'tick-box' exercise. Your challenge will be to prove that these controls add value by improving operational efficiency and market competitiveness. Navigating the evolving regulatory landscape of EU sustainability law, particularly the transition into CSRD, requires constant learning and agility. You must stay ahead of legislative changes to ensure the company doesn't fall into a reactive mode during external audits.

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

A typical day might start with a cross-functional coordination meeting with representatives from Finance and Engineering to review the latest data inputs for the annual sustainability report. You would spend time identifying gaps in the data and suggesting process improvements to domain owners. In the afternoon, you could be reviewing the internal audit results of an environmental management system, helping shift-track how non-conformities are being addressed. This is followed by strategic work, such as refining the methodology for a specific KPI or updating the double materiality assessment logic. You might end the day by advising the Head of QA on a upcoming external assurance activity, ensuring that all necessary documentation for ESG disclosure is prepared and easily accessible for the auditors.

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

As a senior role, this position offers a direct path toward Sustainability Leadership within the maritime sector. Success in building the ESG framework could lead to a 'Head of Sustainability' or 'ESG Director' role as the department matures in significance. There is also the potential to transition into Strategic Risk Management or operational excellence roles. Given the role's proximity to finance and quality assurance, you could develop into a specialist in sustainability-linked finance or supply chain risk governance. The global nature of Royal IHC also opens doors for international exposure. Helping the company navigate diverse regulatory environments across its worldwide locations will build a profile that is highly attractive to multinational industrial firms.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will be the linking pin between several critical business units. On a daily basis, you will interact with the HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) teams, the Finance department for reporting alignment, and the Legal team regarding compliance risks. You will also work closely with Procurement and HR to ensure that environmental and social data from the supply chain and workforce is accurately captured. As the role reports to the Head of Quality Assurance & Security, you will have regular interactions with senior management regarding governance performance. Externally, your main contacts will be auditors and assurance providers who verify the company's ESG reports. You may also occasionally interface with customers who are increasingly asking for detailed sustainability data before awarding large maritime contracts.

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