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Sustainability Leader

Schaeffler Mexico Added on Aug 5, 2026
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As the central figure for sustainability at the La Resurrección site, you will own the local execution of the global ESG strategy. Your primary focus is translating high-level goals into concrete plant-level actions, with a heavy emphasis on decarbonization and rigorous data reporting. You will move between technical risk analysis and people-centric initiatives to ensure the facility meets international standards like GRI and SASB.

This role is critical because it bridges the gap between global industrial manufacturing and local environmental stewardship. By managing carbon and water footprints in a large-scale production environment, you directly influence the decarbonization of the automotive and industrial supply chain. Your work ensures that motion technology remains efficient without compromising the ecological health of the region.

This suits someone who possesses a strong technical background in industrial or sustainable engineering and thrives on high-level accountability. You should be a strategic communicator capable of fostering an ESG culture across a diverse manufacturing workforce.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to steer the site's sustainability strategy by aligning local operations with ten global ESG action areas. You will be responsible for the end-to-end management of site-level sustainability reporting, ensuring accuracy for frameworks like GRI and SASB. Beyond data, you will actively design and implement decarbonization projects. This involves identifying specific areas within the plant's production cycles where carbon and water footprints can be reduced, then tracking the performance of these interventions over time. You will also serve as the internal champion for ESG, developing training programs to embed a sustainability mindset across all levels of the plant hierarchy. This includes building external partnerships with institutions to enhance the company's local strategic positioning.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep expertise in global ESG reporting frameworks (GRI, SASB) and how they apply to the complex manufacturing sector. Navigating these requirements in a large-scale industrial setting provides a unique technical edge in compliance and disclosure. You will also have the chance to master industrial decarbonization methodologies. By working within a innovative motion technology firm, you will see firsthand how carbon-neutral production is engineered from the ground up, providing a masterclass in life cycle assessment and resource efficiency. Additionally, the role offers significant exposure to international corporate governance. Working for a large German family-owned company allows you to learn how global sustainability targets are localized in different regulatory and cultural environments like Mexico.

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

The ideal candidate holds a degree in Sustainable Development Engineering or Industrial Engineering. This technical foundation is crucial for understanding the operational complexities of a plant and effectively analyzing resource usage and emissions data. You should have a proven track record in sustainability risk and opportunity analysis. Proficiency in calculating carbon and water footprints is non-negotiable, as is a strong grasp of ESG methodologies. Advanced English is required to collaborate with global stakeholders and interpret international standards. Soft skills are equally important; the role demands leadership and strategic thinking. You need to be someone who can look at a dataset, identify a risk, and then lead a multidisciplinary team to implement a technical solution.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your technical proficiency in data-driven reporting. Avoid generic statements about loving the environment; instead, highlight specific instances where you used GRI or SASB standards to improve corporate transparency or operational performance. Since this role focuses on the manufacturing sector, showcase your knowledge of industrial processes. If you have experience reducing water or energy waste in a factory setting, make that the centerpiece of your application to demonstrate you understand Schaeffler's specific operational environment. Research Schaeffler’s ten ESG action areas before the interview. Demonstrating that you have already thought about how to apply these specific global goals to the La Resurrección plant will prove your proactive leadership style and alignment with their corporate culture.

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

The role is heavily weighted toward environmental performance and decarbonization. You will likely spend a significant amount of time on energy efficiency projects and transition strategies to reduce the plant's Scope 1 and 2 emissions in line with global targets. Another major focus area is resource circularity and water stewardship. Given the manufacturing context, optimizing how the plant uses raw materials and manages its water footprint is essential for both compliance and long-term operational resilience. Finally, the role addresses ESG governance and culture. This means ensuring that sustainability is not just a reporting exercise but is integrated into the plant’s decision-making processes and the daily habits of the workforce through training and awareness campaigns.

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

One of the primary challenges will be bridging the gap between production targets and sustainability goals. In a fast-paced manufacturing environment, you may need to advocate strongly for ESG initiatives that require changes to established workflows or initial capital investment. You might also face hurdles related to data collection and accuracy. Gathering precise sustainability metrics from various departments requires high levels of cooperation and technical rigor, which can be difficult if reporting systems are not yet fully automated or integrated. Cultural change is the third major challenge. Embedding an ESG mindset into a large workforce requires persistence and the ability to translate abstract global goals into meaningful, everyday actions for employees on the plant floor.

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

A typical day might start with reviewing plant performance data to track progress against decarbonization targets. You might spend the morning analyzing resource consumption metrics or preparing documentation for an upcoming ESG audit or GRI disclosure. Mid-day could involve meeting with plant managers or engineering teams to discuss the implementation of a new waste-reduction project or energy-saving initiative. You will act as a consultant to these departments, providing the sustainability expertise needed to make their processes greener. In the afternoon, your focus might shift to stakeholder engagement and training. This could involve hosting an awareness workshop for employees or meeting with external local partners to discuss collaborative sustainability strategies or community impact projects.

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

This role offers a clear path toward regional or global sustainability leadership. Successfully managing the ESG strategy for a major site like La Resurrección makes you a prime candidate for oversight roles covering multiple plants or entire geographic divisions within the Schaeffler Group. You could also transition into specialized environmental engineering or corporate strategy roles. The deep experience gained in decarbonization and risk analysis is highly transferable to senior positions focused on climate strategy or sustainable supply chain management. Furthermore, because Schaeffler is a leader in motion technology innovation, you will be at the forefront of the industry's green transition, providing high-visibility opportunities to lead high-impact projects that are recognized at the executive level.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your most frequent interactions will be with plant leadership and operational managers. You will work closely with them to ensure that sustainability initiatives are integrated into the daily running of the facility without disrupting production cycles. You will also be a key point of contact for the Global Sustainability and ESG teams. You will provide them with the site-level data they need for corporate reporting while receiving guidance on the group’s overarching strategic direction. Externally, you will interact with regulatory bodies, industry associations, and local community groups. Building these relationships is vital for maintaining the company's social license to operate and for staying ahead of evolving environmental regulations in Mexico.

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