Ready to grow your sustainability team? Here’s how…

Identifying key roles for your sustainability team

When you’re ready to grow your sustainability team, identifying and defining the right roles becomes essential to building a team that can deliver on strategic goals. A successful expansion often starts by considering which functions will create the greatest impact based on your business needs and priorities. The roles you add will shape the focus and effectiveness of your team.

Here are a few roles commonly prioritized for sustained growth:

• Sustainability analyst
• Compliance officer
• Environmental specialist
• Cross-functional liaison

Evaluating these roles in the context of your company’s goals can clarify where each position will have the most impact. For instance, if data analysis is crucial for tracking emissions or resource use, a sustainability analyst might be an immediate priority. Aligning roles with specific business objectives ensures your team is structured to drive measurable progress on core sustainability initiatives.

Cross-functional collaboration is essential as ESG goals increasingly intersect with various departments. Finance may focus on integrating basic ESG data practices within existing financial reporting frameworks. Operations can implement efficiency initiatives that align with company targets, while HR supports workforce-focused ESG elements such as compliance, diversity, and culture. Together, these efforts create a cohesive approach, embedding sustainability into the organization’s broader priorities.

Skills to prioritize for effective growth

Building a sustainability team is as much about prioritizing key skills as it is about defining roles. Having supported the growth of sustainability teams, we recommend focusing on these essential skills to drive impact as your team scales:

1. Data management: Essential for tracking and organizing metrics, from compiling baseline reports to supporting impact assessments, ensuring reliable data for varied ESG needs.
2. Effective communication: Crucial for translating complex ESG insights, whether drafting sustainability statements, aligning internal teams, or engaging external stakeholders with clear, compelling information.
3. Proficiency with digital tools: Familiarity with reporting platforms, carbon tracking, and other ESG software streamlines data collection, analysis, and reporting, providing a flexible foundation as needs evolve.
4. Regulatory awareness: Staying current with relevant frameworks ensures compliance and prepares the team to adapt to new regulations, supporting both current and future reporting obligations.

By building these skills, your team will be equipped to handle immediate ESG demands and establish scalable processes that align with organizational goals.

“An effective ESG team turns sustainability goals into company-wide progress by bridging strategy and daily operations.”

Ted Paulus, Senior Director at Position Green

Lessons from the Nordic approach

Nordic companies provide a mature model for scaling sustainability teams, rooted in a long history of government regulations, rigorous standards for environmental and social accountability as well as strict reporting criteria. With decades of experience, they have developed a deeply integrated approach to sustainability that offers a proven example for others to follow.

Sustainability teams in the Nordic region often prioritize integrated roles, seeking candidates who bring expertise in both sustainability and core business functions to ensure alignment of team goals with wider organizational objectives.

Adaptability is equally valued, with early hires typically expected to manage a range of responsibilities to support a team structure that will expand with evolving priorities.

A collaborative culture further embeds sustainability across departments, fostering shared responsibility and driving company-wide progress on sustainability goals.

Addressing challenges in team expansion

Expanding a sustainability team brings valuable opportunities but also distinct challenges that require careful navigation. From balancing skill sets to standardizing practices, here are key obstacles to consider as your team scales:

• Balancing specialized and versatile roles: Finding the right mix of expertise can be challenging; versatile hires who adapt to multiple ESG needs are often valuable in early stages.
• Establishing accountability: As teams grow, assigning clear responsibility for ESG metrics prevents overlap and misalignment.
• Standardizing reporting practices: Ensuring consistent data tracking and reporting is essential as the volume of ESG data increases.
• Aligning with departmental goals: Expanding ESG functions means integrating with departments like finance and operations to support cohesive progress.

Supporting your team with the right tools

As your sustainability team expands, equipping them with robust tools is essential for managing complex ESG data and driving impactful initiatives. Position Green offers scalable software solutions tailored to your organization’s evolving needs, ensuring seamless integration and efficient data management. By leveraging our platform, your team can focus on strategic growth, confident that their data is managed securely and effectively.

Book a 1-2-1 intro to our software with one of our experts.