ESG Jobs: Key Roles and Responsibilities

published on 10 April 2024

As companies strive to be more responsible towards the environment and society, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) jobs are becoming increasingly crucial. This article explores the key roles within ESG, highlighting their responsibilities, skills required, and the impact they have on driving sustainable and ethical business practices. Whether you're an ESG Analyst, Sustainability Manager, or involved in ESG Reporting, your work supports companies in achieving their ESG goals, managing risks, and being transparent with their sustainability efforts. Here's a quick overview of what to expect from a career in ESG:

  • ESG Analyst: Analyses investments for their environmental, social, and governance impacts.
  • Sustainability Manager: Develops strategies for meeting ESG goals and reducing environmental footprints.
  • ESG Reporting Manager: Oversees the creation of ESG reports that comply with regulations and standards.
  • Emerging roles like ESG Data Analyst and Carbon Accounting Specialist are also critical as companies seek innovative ways to enhance their ESG practices.

ESG professionals face challenges such as keeping up with changing regulations and proving the value of ESG to skeptics, but the opportunities to lead change and make a significant impact are vast. This article provides insights into the dynamic field of ESG, aiming to inform those interested in pursuing a career in this area.

1. ESG Manager

The ESG Manager is super important for helping a company be more eco-friendly, fair, and well-run.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the planning for the company's ESG goals and make sure these goals fit well with what the company wants to achieve
  • Gather and look at data to figure out ESG risks, chances to do good, and how actions affect things
  • Work with different teams to set ESG targets and make sure the company works in a way that's good for the planet
  • Handle the ESG report-making process, following rules and standards
  • Talk about the company's ESG efforts and results with people outside the company
  • Keep up with new ESG trends and compare the company to others in the same field
  • Give advice to the company's leaders on ESG matters and suggest what to do

Skills and Qualifications

  • Really know your stuff about ESG issues, how to report them, and the rules around them
  • Be great at analysing ESG data and spotting important issues
  • Know how to talk and work well with others
  • Think big picture about how ESG fits into the company's overall plan
  • Be able to lead, work with teams, and get people on board
  • Be good at explaining ESG efforts and why they matter

The ESG Manager is key to making sure a company cares about its impact on the world and acts responsibly. They do a bit of everything, from planning and analysing to talking with people inside and outside the company. As caring about the planet and society becomes more common, this job is becoming more important and impactful.

2. ESG Specialist

The ESG Specialist has a big job: they make sure a company is doing well in taking care of the environment, treating people right, and running the business fairly.

Responsibilities

  • Check how the company is doing with its ESG (environment, social, governance) goals and share what they find
  • Spot any ESG problems or chances to do better
  • Come up with plans to improve the company’s ESG efforts, making sure they match the company’s main goals
  • Work with different parts of the company to make sure ESG stuff is considered in everyday work
  • Help put ESG plans into action and be the go-to person for ESG knowledge
  • Keep an eye on new ESG trends, rules, and what people expect from companies
  • Help company leaders make decisions by giving them ESG advice
  • Write ESG reports and help with sharing info on things like carbon footprint or how the company treats people

Skills and Qualifications

  • Really know a lot about ESG topics, how to report them, and the rules around them
  • Be good at looking at both numbers and stories to understand ESG issues
  • Think creatively to find new ways to improve ESG efforts
  • Be able to talk and work well with others, both inside and outside the company
  • Know how to share ESG stories in a way that makes people listen
  • Be able to encourage people to support ESG changes

The ESG Specialist helps a company do better for the planet and its people. They know a lot about ESG, find ways to improve, and work with others to make those improvements happen.

Emerging Roles in ESG

As more companies focus on being environmentally and socially responsible, new job roles are popping up to help them achieve these goals. Here's a look at some of the new positions that are making a big difference in how companies operate sustainably and ethically:

ESG Data Analyst

  • Gather, study, and explain data related to the company's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) efforts from inside and outside the company
  • Spot risks or chances to do better in ESG and suggest improvements
  • Help create ways to measure and report on ESG progress

ESG Product Manager

  • Lead the creation of products or services that help solve environmental or social problems (like clean energy technologies or services that include everyone)
  • Find out what customers want in terms of sustainability and come up with product ideas
  • Work with teams from different parts of the company to make and track the impact of these ESG-focused products

ESG Change Management Lead

  • Plan and carry out projects to get everyone in the company on board with ESG rules and ways of doing things
  • Teach and inform employees about the importance of sustainability
  • Keep an eye on how well employees are taking to these new ESG initiatives

Carbon Accounting Specialist

  • Figure out how much greenhouse gas the company is responsible for and its overall carbon footprint
  • Analyse the environmental impact of the company's products and operations to find ways to reduce emissions
  • Set realistic goals for cutting down on emissions based on science

ESG Innovation Strategist

  • Keep track of new trends, technologies, and rules in the ESG world
  • Look for new business chances, partnerships, and investments that focus on ESG
  • Plan out long-term strategies for the company to stay ahead in sustainability

As more people expect companies to act responsibly towards the environment and society, there's a growing need for experts who specialise in these areas. The roles mentioned above show where the field of corporate responsibility and sustainability is headed.

Challenges and Opportunities

Working in ESG jobs means facing some tough spots but also finding big chances to make a difference. Here's a look at the main hurdles and wins for those in ESG roles:

Challenges

  • Keeping up with rules that keep changing: It's tricky to stay on top of new laws and ways of reporting on sustainability. ESG folks need to keep learning and adjusting.
  • Tough data: Getting good ESG data across a company's work is hard. People need to be sharp at understanding complicated and sometimes mismatched information.
  • Not everyone's convinced: Some people in charge and investors aren't sure if ESG really matters. It's up to ESG workers to show them it's worth it with solid proof.
  • Working together across the company: ESG affects every part of a business. Getting everyone to work together, especially without direct control, is a challenge.

Opportunities

  • Being a leader: Being good at ESG can help attract the best people and more money. It puts companies ahead.
  • Setting the standard: With everything changing quickly, ESG workers can help shape the rules and best ways to do things in sustainability.
  • Doing good for the world and people: A strong ESG plan means companies can cut down on pollution, be more inclusive, and other good stuff.
  • Finding new ideas: The need to be more sustainable can lead to new inventions and ways of doing business. ESG people are on the lookout for these chances.

By smartly dealing with these challenges and grabbing these opportunities, ESG workers can help companies avoid risks, come up with new ideas, and grow in a way that's good for both people and the planet. The job isn't easy, but the chance to make a real impact is huge.

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Conclusion

Jobs in ESG are now key for helping companies change how they do business to care more for the environment, treat people right, and have good practices. As what people expect from businesses changes and how important it is to be sustainable affects investing, companies see how much they need ESG experts.

Here are some main points about ESG jobs and what they do:

  • ESG jobs cover lots of areas - from looking at data to creating new products to managing changes and more. Businesses need people with ESG skills in many parts of their work.
  • ESG roles help guide the company - Managers and Specialists in ESG don't just look after reports. They help lead the company and encourage changes throughout it.
  • New ESG jobs show what's now important - Jobs like figuring out a company's carbon footprint and coming up with new sustainable ideas show that companies are really focusing on reducing emissions and growing in a green way.
  • ESG experts face challenges but also find big chances - ESG work can be tough because of complex data and always-changing rules. But, it's also a big chance to help a company be a leader in being responsible.

Working in ESG is hard but also gives a lot of satisfaction. These experts help companies grow in a way that's good for the environment and fair for everyone. They bring new ideas and ways of thinking that companies need to be safe, fair, and care for the environment. As more people care about how companies impact the world, the work of ESG experts will become even more important. They're helping move things forward where business, society, and the health of our planet meet.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the ESG department?

The ESG department makes sure a company is doing well in looking after the environment, treating people right, and running things fairly. Here’s what they do:

  • Plan and carry out the company's ESG goals
  • Decide on ESG targets and how to measure them
  • Run programs to help the environment or community
  • Keep track of ESG data and share the results
  • Write reports on how the company is doing with ESG
  • Talk to people interested in the company about ESG stuff
  • Keep up with new ESG rules and best ways to do things
  • Give advice to the company's big bosses on ESG matters

What is ESG job description?

An ESG analyst or manager usually does things like:

  • Study companies to see how they affect the environment, treat people, and are run
  • Look at investments to find ESG risks or chances to do good
  • Use standards to judge how well a company is doing with ESG
  • Talk to companies about improving their ESG efforts
  • Include ESG in making investment choices
  • Keep an eye on ESG trends and rules
  • Share how investments are doing with ESG
  • Encourage interest in ESG among people who care

What does an ESG professional do?

An ESG professional helps a company be more eco-friendly and ethical. They:

  • Offer advice on ESG goals and plans
  • Check how the company is doing with ESG and find ways to get better
  • Lead ESG projects and make sure they’re working
  • Help with ESG reporting
  • Teach the company about ESG issues
  • Stay updated on ESG trends and rules
  • Work with others on ESG topics
  • Look at investments and clients with ESG in mind

What is the job description of an ESG consultant?

An ESG consultant’s job includes:

  • Researching ESG risks and opportunities
  • Checking how clients are doing with ESG
  • Finding areas where clients can improve
  • Giving strategic advice on ESG
  • Helping with setting ESG goals and carrying out plans
  • Assisting with ESG reporting
  • Creating and giving ESG training
  • Checking how vendors or suppliers are doing with ESG
  • Keeping an eye on what regulators and others expect regarding ESG
  • Sharing best practices with clients

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