Manager – Sustainability

About the role

The Manager – Sustainability will lead high-impact projects across ESG strategy, sustainability reporting, circular economy, decarbonisation, and green finance. The role involves driving client engagements end-to-end, overseeing ESG due diligence and transition planning, and leading proposal development for corporates, investors, and development institutions. This is a leadership role combining strategic insight, technical depth, and business development to help clients accelerate their sustainability transformation.

Purpose of the Role

The Manager – Sustainability is a leadership position responsible for driving high-impact sustainability, ESG, and circular economy solutions for clients across industries and geographies. The role combines strategic advisory, technical depth, and project management, with a focus on delivering sustainability outcomes that align with global best practices and emerging market expectations.

The Manager will lead engagements on sustainability strategy, ESG frameworks and reporting, decarbonisation and energy transition, ESG due diligence, and green finance, ensuring dss+ continues to strengthen its position as a trusted partner in sustainable transformation. The role will also play an active part in business development, proposal writing, and client relationship management while mentoring junior consultants and ensuring the highest standards of delivery excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Lead end-to-end delivery of sustainability, ESG, and circular economy projects, ensuring technical excellence, timely completion, and client satisfaction

• Design and implement sustainability and ESG frameworks aligned with GRI, SASB, TCFD, ISSB, and SDG-linked standards, integrating materiality assessments and reporting practices

• Oversee and quality-assure ESG Due Diligence (ESG DD) assignments for corporates, investors, and financial institutions, identifying ESG risks, transition opportunities, and alignment with responsible investment criteria

• Develop and execute decarbonisation and energy transition strategies, including baseline GHG inventories, scenario modelling, target setting, and implementation roadmaps

• Guide clients in accessing green finance and climate-linked instruments such as sustainability bonds, transition finance, or taxonomy-aligned investments

• Integrate circular economy principles into client operations by identifying resource efficiency, waste valorisation, and industrial symbiosis opportunities

• Work with multidisciplinary teams to deliver sustainability diagnostics, lifecycle analyses, and performance improvement recommendations

Business Development & Knowledge Leadership

• Lead and coordinate proposal development and bid writing, ensuring alignment with client expectations and dss+ positioning

• Support new business generation through client engagement, networking, and partnership development with corporates, investors, and development institutions

• Contribute to thought leadership on ESG integration, circular business models, energy transition, and green finance through publications, webinars, and conference participation

• Maintain awareness of evolving global and regional sustainability regulations, disclosure requirements, and market trends

• Represent dss+ in external events, roundtables, and forums to strengthen visibility and partnerships

Team Development

• Mentor, coach, and develop consultants and analysts to strengthen technical and consulting capabilities

• Promote collaboration across regions and service lines to deliver integrated sustainability offerings

• Support internal capacity-building initiatives related to ESG frameworks, decarbonisation, and sustainable finance

Key Requirements

• Advanced degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Sustainability, or related discipline

• 10+ years of experience in sustainability, ESG, or climate-related consulting roles

• Proven expertise in ESG frameworks and sustainability reporting (GRI, SASB, TCFD, ISSB)

• Demonstrated experience in ESG due diligence, sustainability strategy, and performance improvement

• Technical experience in decarbonisation, energy transition planning, and/or green finance

• Familiarity with circular economy models, lifecycle thinking, and resource efficiency

• Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills

• Proven capability in proposal writing, bid management, and business development

• Ability to manage multiple projects across diverse geographies and sectors

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; fluency in English required

• Willingness to travel for client engagements, workshops, and project delivery as needed

Core Competencies

• Strategic and systems thinking with the ability to link sustainability to business performance

• Strong leadership and project management skills

• Analytical rigor and results orientation

• Effective client relationship management and business acumen

• Excellent interpersonal and communication abilities

• Cross-cultural adaptability and teamwork

• Passion for sustainability, innovation, and continuous learning

Behavioural Competencies

• Demonstrates integrity, purpose, and accountability in every engagement

• Builds trust and fosters collaboration internally and externally

• Thrives in ambiguity and can navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments

• Encourages innovation and practical problem-solving

• Acts as a role model for sustainability values and ethical behaviour

Location: PAN India