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Manager Climate and Environment

BENEO Germany Added on Aug 11, 2026
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As the central pivot for climate and environmental topics, you will manage the carbon footprint and regulatory alignment for two key entities within the Südzucker Group. You will own the lifecycle of environmental data, from overseeing collection at production sites to ensuring compliance with high-stakes frameworks like CSRD and SBTi. This is a technical and strategic orchestrator role that turns complex data into actionable decarbonization pathways across European operations.

Working at the intersection of food science and renewable energy, you directly impact the transition toward bio-based economies. By establishing uniform environmental management systems like EMAS and digitizing reporting processes, you provide the transparency needed to move away from fossil carbons. This role is vital because it bridges the gap between corporate climate targets and the industrial reality of manufacturing sustainable biomass products.

This suits someone who possesses a strong analytical mind and the moderation skills to align diverse stakeholders. You should be comfortable navigating technical environmental regulations while driving digital transformation in data management.

Perguntas frequentes da vaga

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to serve as the central point of contact for all climate and environmental topics across BENEO and CropEnergies. You will be responsible for the governance of environmental data, ensuring that reporting meets rigorous standards such as the EU Taxonomy, CSRD, and SBTi. This involves significant coordination between production sites and group-level entities to maintain data integrity and legal compliance. Beyond reporting, you will actively steer and optimize Scope 1, 2, and 3 emission targets. You are expected to implement and evolve environmental management systems like EMAS across European production locations. Furthermore, you will lead the digitization of environmental processes using tools like Sphera and Power BI to enhance internal reporting and decision-making capabilities.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in regulatory ESG frameworks that are currently reshaping the European industrial landscape, specifically CSRD and the EU Taxonomy. By managing data for both a functional food leader and a renewable ethanol producer, you will develop a nuanced understanding of how sustainability applies across different bio-based value chains. There is also a significant opportunity to master sustainability data architecture. Working with specialized software like Sphera and integrating it with SAP or Power BI will build highly marketable skills in digital ESG transformation. You will also learn the intricacies of large-scale industrial decarbonization within the context of the broader Südzucker Group.

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

The ideal profile holds a degree in environmental sciences, engineering, or sustainability and brings previous corporate experience in environmental management. You must have a sharp analytical mind capable of distilling complex technical or regulatory requirements into clear, structured workflows for the business. Interdisciplinary collaboration is key; therefore, the candidate should be a strong communicator with moderation expertise. While fluency in German and English is required, French language skills are a significant advantage due to the company's production footprint in France and Belgium. Familiarity with SAP and data management software is the final piece of the puzzle.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between technical environmental data and corporate strategy. Highlight specific examples where you have managed reporting cycles or implemented management systems like ISO 14001 or EMAS in an industrial setting. The company values structured thinkers who don't just report data but understand how to use it to drive improvements. Since this role involves two distinct business units (BENEO and CropEnergies), show that you are adaptable and can handle diverse stakeholder needs. Mentioning your comfort level with digital tools like Power BI or Sphera will also signal that you are ready to take their reporting maturity to the next level.

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

The focus is heavily weighted toward climate mitigation and environmental transparency. You will be the architect of the decarbonization roadmap, specifically focusing on reducing carbon intensity across the manufacturing footprint. This involves rigorous tracking of energy consumption and emissions to meet Science Based Targets (SBTi). Water management and the circularity of biomass-based products are also likely focus areas. Because the company creates alternatives to fossil-based chemicals and food ingredients, your role ensures that the environmental 'handprint' of these products is backed by credible, auditable data that satisfies both regulators and B2B customers.

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

One of the main challenges will be harmonizing data collection across multiple production sites in different countries, each with its own local nuances and legacy systems. Navigating the rapidly evolving landscape of EU sustainability regulations while maintaining operational efficiency requires significant resilience and attention to detail. Additionally, you may face the challenge of influencing without direct authority. As a central interface between production, management, and the wider group, you must persuade various teams to adopt new digital processes and hit ambitious climate targets, which can sometimes conflict with short-term production priorities.

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

A typical day might begin with a coordination meeting with site managers in Germany or Belgium to review the latest energy consumption data. You might then shift to an analytical session, using Power BI to visualize progress against Scope 1 and 2 reduction targets for the executive board. Afternoons could be spent diving into regulatory analysis, interpreting how a new CSRD requirement affects the company's disclosure strategy. The day often concludes with cross-functional communication, perhaps drafting an update for the Südzucker Group or collaborating with the IT department to optimize the SAP-Sphera data interface.

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

This role offers high visibility within the Südzucker Group, providing a platform for growth into more senior strategic sustainability leadership positions. Given the dual-brand responsibility, you will build a reputation as a versatile manager capable of handling multi-entity ESG governance. As the company continues its shift toward bio-based chemicals and renewable products, you could eventually spearhead larger transformation projects or specialized climate-finance initiatives. The technical and digital skills gained here are at the forefront of the 'green job' market, ensuring long-term career viability.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will regularly interact with Production Site Managers and EHS teams to ensure operational data is captured accurately. At the corporate level, you will report to and advise Sustainability Leads within the Südzucker Group to align on collective climate goals. External stakeholders include auditors and regulatory bodies who verify the company’s compliance with environmental standards. You will also collaborate with IT and external software providers to manage the digital reporting infrastructure, ensuring that the 'single source of truth' for environmental data is robust and reliable.

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