Sustainability manager
Also called sustainability analyst, sustainability specialist, sustainability coordinator
Sustainability managers are responsible for ensuring the sustainability of business processes. They provide assistance in the design and implementation of plans and measures to ensure that the manufacturing processes and products comply with given environmental regulations and social responsibility standards and they monitor and report on the implementation of sustainability strategies within the company supply chain and business process. They analyse issues linked to manufacturing processes, use of materials, waste reduction, energy efficiency and products traceability to improve environmental and social impacts and integrate sustainability aspects into the company culture.
What you'd do
Policy and planning managers · ILO- Developing, implementing and monitoring strategic plans, programmes, policies, processes, systems and procedures to achieve goals, objectives and work standards
- Developing, directing, administering and participating in policy research and analysis
- Coordinating the implementation of policies and practices
- Establishing activity measures and measurements of accountability
- Planning and directing daily operations
- Leading and managing the activities of policy development and strategic planning staff
- Overseeing the selection, training and performance of staff
- Consulting with senior management and with managers of other departments
- Representing the enterprise or organization in negotiations, and at conventions, seminars, public hearings and forums
- Indoors
- A mix of sitting and standing
- Lots of contact with people, including the public
- Good freedom to decide
- Often more than 40 hours a week
- Deadlines now and then
- Varied tasks, little repetition
Will there be jobs?
Limited prospectsFewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
What does it pay?
Well above averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €3,500 a month (Romania) to €12,800 (Italy), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among managers in the EU, women earn 27% less per hour than men. Managers · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Usually a degreeA degree in environmental protection technology is the usual route.
949 institutions in the EU offer engineering bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
Very littleAI could help with only small parts of the tasks.
Average task score 0.36 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for policy and planning managers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).