Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Chief Sustainability Officer

🎯 Role Definition

The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is an executive leader responsible for developing and delivering the organization's sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) strategy to reduce environmental impact, de‑risk the business, meet investor and regulator expectations, and create long‑term value. The CSO leads cross‑functional programs spanning decarbonization and net‑zero planning, GHG accounting (Scope 1/2/3), sustainability reporting (GRI, SASB, TCFD/ISSB), circular economy and product lifecycle initiatives, sustainable procurement and supply chain decarbonization, stakeholder and investor engagement, regulatory compliance, and organizational change to embed sustainability in strategy, operations and culture.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Director of Sustainability / Head of Sustainability
VP of ESG or Head of ESG Reporting
Head of Corporate Responsibility / Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Senior Sustainability Manager or Sustainability Program Director

Advancement To:

Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Board Member / Chair, Sustainability or ESG Committee
Group Head of Strategy or Global Head of Corporate Affairs

Lateral Moves:

Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
VP of ESG / Head of Responsible Investment
Chief Compliance Officer / Head of Risk
Head of Sustainable Procurement or Supply Chain Sustainability

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead the development, articulation and execution of a comprehensive enterprise sustainability strategy, aligned to corporate strategy, financial goals, and investor expectations, with clear multi‑year targets for net‑zero emissions, energy transition, circularity and social impact.
Own the corporate Net‑Zero / decarbonization roadmap: define science‑based targets (SBTi where applicable), develop and prioritize initiatives to reduce Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, and oversee implementation, monitoring and continuous improvement.
Establish and operate robust GHG accounting and carbon management systems in accordance with GHG Protocol best practices, ensuring accurate measurement, verification and disclosure of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions across business units and supply chains.
Lead ESG reporting and disclosure programs (GRI, SASB, TCFD/ISSB, CDP), prepare investor and regulator‑facing sustainability disclosures, and coordinate external assurance and verification of sustainability and climate reports.
Build and lead a high‑performing sustainability team and matrixed governance, set KPIs and incentives, and embed accountability across functions (operations, procurement, R&D, finance, legal, HR, investor relations).
Partner with CFO and Finance to integrate sustainability into financial planning, capital allocation, investment analysis, pricing of carbon, internal carbon pricing or shadow carbon, and to quantify the financial impacts and ROI of sustainability initiatives.
Drive sustainable procurement and supplier engagement programs to reduce upstream Scope 3 emissions, implement supplier sustainability assessments, audits, capacity building and supplier decarbonization roadmaps.
Oversee product lifecycle and circular economy initiatives: lead design for circularity, materials substitution, recycling and end‑of‑life programs that reduce waste and resource intensity while meeting customer and regulatory demands.
Manage regulatory risk and compliance for evolving sustainability and climate regulations (national, regional, and industry‑specific), prepare the company for mandatory disclosures, and engage with policymakers and industry coalitions where appropriate.
Lead climate risk assessment and integration into enterprise risk management: identify physical and transition risks, perform scenario analysis, and develop adaptation, resiliency and mitigation plans.
Define and track enterprise sustainability metrics and KPIs tied to performance, investor reporting and executive compensation, and create executive dashboards that provide transparent progress against targets.
Coordinate cross‑functional sustainability initiatives including energy efficiency programs, renewable energy procurement (PPAs, RECs), on‑site generation, green building and operational decarbonization projects.
Serve as the primary executive for stakeholder engagement on sustainability matters: investors, customers, NGOs, communities, regulators and employees; prepare investor materials, participate in ESG investor calls, and manage ESG queries.
Lead communication and positioning of the company’s sustainability narrative externally (press, industry events, sustainability rankings, awards) and internally to build organizational buy‑in, culture change and employee engagement programs.
Oversee the evaluation and deployment of carbon removal and offset strategies where appropriate, ensuring offsets meet high integrity standards and are used as a last resort while prioritizing absolute emissions reductions.
Integrate sustainability into M&A, new product development and capital projects: conduct ESG due diligence, quantify climate and sustainability risks and opportunities, and ensure integration of sustainability requirements into deal terms and post‑merger integration.
Implement data architecture and digital tools for sustainability performance management, including data collection, quality controls, analytics, and integration with enterprise systems to automate ESG reporting and disclosures.
Manage budgets, third‑party consultants, external auditors and verification partners for sustainability initiatives and reporting; procure and oversee vendors for sustainability performance improvement.
Lead training, capability building, and change management programs to upskill employees and operational teams on sustainability practices, climate literacy, and new processes required to meet corporate targets.
Create and manage partnerships with NGOs, academic institutions, industry consortia and public‑private partnerships to accelerate innovation, pilot new decarbonization technologies, and scale best practices.
Establish governance structures and policies (ESG policy, supplier code of conduct, human rights due diligence, biodiversity and land use policies) to ensure sustainable and ethical operations across markets and value chains.
Track emerging sustainability trends, technology innovations and regulatory developments; proactively recommend strategic adjustments to maintain competitive advantage and compliance.

Secondary Functions

Support ad‑hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to enable timely executive reporting and evidence‑based sustainability decisions.
Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap to ensure sustainability data is integrated, accurate and auditable.
Collaborate with business units to translate sustainability data needs into engineering and IT requirements for reporting and analytics solutions.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies with the data and engineering teams to prioritize sustainability features and reporting capabilities.
Provide subject matter expertise to HR and internal communications to design sustainability training programs, employee engagement campaigns, and incentive structures.
Advise procurement and legal teams on supplier contract language, sustainability clauses and compliance with environmental and social standards.
Act as escalation point for regulatory inquiries and coordinates cross‑functional responses to sustainability audits, investor due diligence and third‑party assessments.
Support product and R&D teams with sustainability input for sustainable product design, material selection and circular business model pilots.
Facilitate internal sustainability steering committees, working groups and steering councils to ensure alignment and cross‑functional delivery.
Represent the company in industry working groups, standards bodies and public forums to influence and stay current on evolving sustainability frameworks.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

ESG strategy development and implementation across an enterprise, including integration into business units and corporate planning.
Carbon accounting and GHG Protocol expertise (Scope 1, 2 and 3), including experience with life‑cycle analysis (LCA) and emissions data collection methodologies.
Sustainable finance knowledge: internal carbon pricing, P&L/capex interface, capex assessments, and reporting to investors and rating agencies.
Sustainability reporting and disclosure: practical experience preparing GRI, SASB/ISSB, TCFD/TCFD‑aligned climate disclosures, CDP submissions and managing external assurance.
Net‑zero strategy design and delivery, including SBTi submission, target setting and implementation of decarbonization levers.
Supply chain sustainability and supplier engagement: audits, supplier risk assessment, procurement policies and supplier decarbonization programs.
Regulatory compliance and policy expertise related to climate, environmental, human rights and ESG regulations (EU CSRD, SEC climate disclosure guidance, EU taxonomy knowledge desirable).
Renewable energy procurement and energy management (PPAs, RECs, on‑site renewables, energy efficiency programs).
Data management and analytics for ESG: familiarity with sustainability data platforms, ERP integration, data governance, and KPI dashboards.
Project and program management at scale, including budget management, vendor management and cross‑functional delivery.
Carbon removal and offset assessment: evaluation of offset quality, permanence and co‑benefits in line with recognized standards.
Risk management and scenario analysis: climate scenario planning, physical risk assessment and integration with enterprise risk frameworks.
Circular economy and product stewardship expertise: materials substitution, product end‑of‑life strategy and waste reduction initiatives.
Experience with sustainability certifications and standards (LEED, B Corp, ISO 14001, PAS 2060, ISO 50001, or similar).

Soft Skills

Senior leadership and proven ability to influence C‑suite, board members, investors and external stakeholders.
Strategic thinking and systems‑level problem solving with the ability to translate strategy into operational plans and measurable outcomes.
Exceptional stakeholder management and relationship building with investors, regulators, NGOs, customers and suppliers.
Clear, persuasive verbal and written communication for executive presentations, investor dialogs and public speaking.
Change management and culture transformation skills to embed sustainability practices across the organization.
Collaborative mindset and ability to work in cross‑functional, matrixed environments.
Strong negotiation skills for vendor, supplier and partner agreements.
Data‑driven decision making and comfort with ambiguity in fast‑evolving regulatory and market environments.
Resilience, political acumen and ethical judgment when managing complex social and environmental tradeoffs.
Coaching and people development skills with a track record of building effective, diverse teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, Business Administration, Finance or a related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree (MBA, MSc in Sustainability, Environmental Management, Climate Science or related) or equivalent senior executive experience.
Advanced certifications (GHG Protocol trainings, SBTi, LEED, ISSP, CFA ESG, CDP, ISO auditing) are highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science / Sustainability / Climate Science
Business Administration / Strategy / Finance
Engineering (Energy, Chemical, Environmental)
Public Policy / Law (for regulatory and compliance emphasis)
Supply Chain / Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 10–20+ years of progressive experience in sustainability, ESG, environmental management, corporate strategy, or related roles, with at least 5–10 years in senior leadership positions.

Preferred:

Proven track record leading enterprise sustainability transformation, net‑zero delivery, or large cross‑functional decarbonization programs.
Experience interacting with investors, rating agencies and board committees on ESG topics and investor disclosure.
International experience and demonstrated ability to manage multi‑jurisdictional regulatory requirements and global supply chains.
Success in designing and delivering measurable sustainability outcomes tied to revenue, cost savings or risk mitigation.
Experience managing sustainability reporting and external assurance processes and working with third‑party verifiers and auditors.