V

Sustainability Analyst

Veolia • United States • Added on Sep 10, 2026
Apply →

Joining a lean, high-impact corporate team, you will bridge the gap between high-level sustainability strategy and on-the-ground operational execution across North America. This role involves tracking decarbonization progress, managing a sprawling biodiversity program, and ensuring environmental compliance across diverse business units, from municipal water to hazardous waste. You will be responsible for translating complex ESG data into actionable improvement plans that drive real-world ecological outcomes.

This position is unique because it moves beyond passive reporting to active environmental restoration within a global leader in resource management. By working on site-level risk assessments and climate resilience, you contribute directly to the ecological transformation of critical public infrastructure and industrial services. It is a rare chance to influence the footprint of a company that already operates at the heart of the circular economy.

This suits someone who is analytically minded yet operationally curious, possessing a year or two of experience and the grit to navigate large-scale industrial environments while advocating for sustainable change.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

As a Sustainability Analyst, you will be a key driver in turning Veolia North America's strategic climate goals into tangible operational results. Your primary focus will involve executing the internal decarbonization strategy, which includes tracking greenhouse gas emissions, managing Scope 3 implementation, and identifying specific abatement opportunities across diverse business units. You will also take ownership of the regional biodiversity program, conducting site visits to create tailored improvement plans and mobilizing a community of over 200 employee ambassadors. Beyond these core pillars, the role requires maintaining rigorous sustainability data structures to support both internal decision-making and external ESG reporting requirements, while ensuring environmental compliance remains integrated with operations.

Key learning opportunities for this job

This role offers an accelerated path to mastering applied corporate sustainability within a complex, industrial context. You will gain deep technical expertise in carbon accounting methodologies and climate risk frameworks like TCFD, moving from theoretical knowledge to site-level adaptation planning. The exposure to different business segments—ranging from hazardous waste to energy services—provides a comprehensive understanding of the circular economy. Furthermore, working directly with the Chief Sustainability Officer provides high-level mentorship in change management and strategic influence. You will likely develop specialized skills in biodiversity assessment and water stewardship, areas that are increasingly critical for environmental professionals but often less accessible in purely corporate office-based roles.

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

The successful candidate typically holds a degree in engineering or environmental science and brings 1 to 3 years of professional experience, ideally within an industrial or corporate setting. You should possess a strong foundation in at least one technical area such as carbon accounting, biodiversity metrics, or regulatory compliance. Academic excellence is highly valued, as is the ability to handle complex datasets. Beyond technical skills, the ideal profile is someone with intellectual curiosity and interpersonal agility. Because this role requires collaborating with diverse teams—from frontline plant operators to C-suite executives—the ability to communicate technical sustainability concepts in a clear, compelling, and non-jargonistic way is essential for success.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to be a 'builder' rather than just a 'reporter.' The hiring team specifically mentions they want someone who moves initiatives from strategy to execution. In your application, highlight specific examples where you took a data-driven insight and turned it into a project or a change in process within an organization. Given Veolia's global footprint, highlighting any French language skills or experience working in multi-national matrix organizations will be a significant advantage. Tailor your cover letter to show you understand the specific environmental challenges of the waste and water sectors, rather than just general corporate ESG trends. Showing that you are comfortable with travel and 'getting your boots dirty' during site visits will also resonate well.

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

This role is central to Veolia's mission of Ecological Transformation. You will focus heavily on decarbonization, specifically looking at how the company can reduce its own operational footprint while managing the complexities of Scope 3 emissions. Biodiversity is another major pillar, where you will manage active programs to enhance local ecosystems at Veolia-managed sites. Additionally, the role focuses on climate resilience. You will likely work on site-level risk assessments to ensure that water and waste infrastructure can withstand the impacts of climate change. This intersection of environmental compliance and forward-looking sustainability strategy ensures that the company's growth remains within planetary boundaries.

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

One of the primary challenges will be navigating the complexity of a large, decentralized organization with over 10,000 employees in North America alone. Influencing operational teams who have competing priorities like production targets and safety can require significant persistence and diplomatic skill to ensure sustainability remains a priority. Another challenge is the data maturity required for accurate reporting across hundreds of locations. You may encounter gaps in historical data or inconsistent tracking methods across different business units, requiring you to be highly organized and methodical in building and maintaining robust data structures while under reporting deadlines.

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

A typical day might begin with an analytical deep-dive into carbon emissions data or biodiversity metrics to prepare a progress report for the CSO. By mid-morning, you could be on a call with plant managers in the hazardous waste division to discuss the implementation of a new energy efficiency project or a site-level biodiversity initiative. Afternoons are often dedicated to project management and collaboration. This might involve meeting with EHS teams to align on compliance tracking or working with external partners on climate risk modeling. The role involves about 25% travel, so some days will be spent entirely in the field, conducting site assessments and engaging directly with local operations teams to audit their environmental impact.

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

Veolia is a massive global entity, offering significant vertical and lateral career paths. Within the sustainability team, a successful analyst could progress to a Senior Analyst or Manager role, eventually overseeing specific environmental programs or regions. The company's 'Ecological Transformation' strategy means sustainability is not a siloed department but a core business driver, providing high visibility to leadership. There are also opportunities for international exposure. Given the company's French heritage and global operations, high performers may find opportunities for global projects or rotations. The diverse nature of the business—water, waste, energy—also allows for lateral moves into operational leadership or specialized technical roles for those who want to broaden their environmental expertise.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will work most closely with the Chief Sustainability Officer and the core North American sustainability team. However, your impact depends on building strong relationships with Business Unit leaders and Operations Managers, as they are the ones who ultimately implement the strategies you help develop. External stakeholders are also key, including regulatory bodies and environmental partners who collaborate on biodiversity and compliance projects. You will also interact with the broader employee base through the biodiversity community, acting as a champion for the company's environmental culture and ensuring that sustainability goals are understood and embraced at every level of the organization.

CSR Jobs newsletter

Never miss the next opportunity

Get a curated selection of new CSR, ESG, and sustainability roles in your inbox. No daily noise, just useful opportunities.

Free to join. Unsubscribe anytime.