Sustainability Manager - Maternity Leave Cover

The RSB - Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Association - seeks an independent consultant for a maternity leave coverage period to support a growing portfolio of work in GHG accounting, corporate Scope 3 emission reporting, environmental attribute accounting (i.e. book and claim systems) in the context of sustainable materials, chemicals and fuels. Subject to organisational needs, funding availability and mutual interest, this engagement may create opportunities for future employment.

About Us 

Our growing, dedicated team of committed professionals works globally to develop solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. We operate remotely in many countries worldwide, with a robust and collaborative working environment fostering professional development and a healthy work-life balance. Our team allows for individual autonomy and the opportunity to engage with a full spectrum of roles within our stakeholder base's diverse range of organisations. 

RSB is a global, multi-stakeholder organisation dedicated to driving the sustainable development of the bioeconomy based on our best-in-class sustainability framework. Frequently noted as industry leaders in navigating the complexities of supply chain sustainability, we take pride in applying our robust sustainability framework in diverse sectors, including aviation, chemicals, materials, and shipping. 

For more information, visit www.rsb.org 

Your Role 

As Sustainability Manager, you will play a key role in supporting RSB member and non-member clients by delivering projects to accelerate the sustainable transition to circular bio-economy in different business industries and across different topics.

You will report to the Director of Advisory Services and the Sustainability Manager GHG expert, and work closely with the other RSB areas, such as the Programs, Sustainability Foundations, and RSB Secretariat teams. 

You will be responsible for these main areas of work:

Project Delivery 

Contribute to RSB’s Advisory Services Projects assigned to you, including operational, administrative, engagement and content development activities. Support the delivery of multiple client-facing projects based on sustainable feedstocks, biofuels, traceability (incl. Book and Claim systems), and other standard and certification related topics with a special focus on GHG emission savings and LCA approach. This includes but is not limited to: 

• Support the delivery of multiple projects, including their work packages and tasks in compliance with contract timelines and due dates. Develop reports and practical guidelines to document project findings, including results in slide decks for presentation to internal and external clients. Develop training content to diverse audiences.
• Lead, conduct and coordinate LCA and GHG assessments based on relevant regulatory and standard requirements and methodologies, including (but not limited to) RSB, CORSIA, and EU RED.
• Support internal and external knowledge needs on cross-cutting LCA GHG emissions related themes with technical expertise, covering different topics such as feedstocks, bioenergy processes, bioplastics and emerging technologies (e.g., Power-to-X) tied to different sectors (e.g., aviation, fuels and chemicals).
• Support the development and updates of RSB LCA GHG methodologies and contribute to improvements and updates to RSB’s GHG Tool and Standards from a GHG perspective.
• Conduct literature reviews, benchmarks and gap analysis with existing sustainability standards, policies and guidance, touching on bioenergy products and alternative materials.
• Support research on feedstock alternatives, their selection and responsible sourcing of alternative materials, including analysis of trade-offs with other environmental and social impacts, supply chain mapping and land use issues (e.g. degraded land and ILUC).
• Where applicable, facilitate stakeholder engagement processes to ensure robustness and social validation of specific proposals, ensuring engagement records are well documented and up to date.
• Familiarize with RSB standard and certification mechanisms and frameworks, including RSB’s proprietary tools to assess environmental and social risks.

Proposal Development

Contribute to ongoing and future advisory services projects related to biomaterials, by supporting efforts in engaging with clients, identifying their needs and developing proposals according to RSB’s templates, in topics related to:

• Feedstock Assessments.
• Conceptual frameworks on feedstock processing to biofuels and / or biomaterials.
• LCA GHG assessments, including calculations and LCA implementation analysis as aligned to applicable regulatory frameworks.
• Certification and Standard benchmarks and gap analyses.
• Training activities.

Administrative and Management Requirements

Support Advisory Services area in the need of tracking, documenting, archiving, and completing proposal and project related information, including:

• Concept note and proposal templates.
• Contract follow-up, project data updates and invoice tracking.
• Proposal and Project documentation, including digital folder updates.
• Data completion on support digital platforms.
• Where applicable, coordinate with external consultants involved in supporting on-going project delivery.
• Other activities as deemed relevant to Advisory Services purposes, and support to other functional areas if required.

Required - Education, experience, and qualifications  

• Master's degree or equivalent experience in environmental science, environmental engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in LCA GHG calculation and assessment methodologies.
• Experience leading the implementation of complex projects.
• Experience working in one or more of the following sectors:
• Bioenergy / Biofuels
• Chemicals and materials
• Strong analytical and technical writing skills.
• Fluency in English.
• Effective project communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software.

Required - Personal attributes 

• Ability to translate complex technical issues into practical business recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently in a remote, international environment.
• Comfortable operating in evolving methodological landscapes.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to scientific rigor.
• Excellent project management and prioritization skills.
• Resilience under strict project due dates and the ability to manage client needs.
• Interest in market transformation, sustainable fuels, and high-integrity climate solutions.
• Strong interpersonal skills.

Desired  

• Experience with regulatory frameworks, including EU-RED and CORSIA systems, sustainability standards, renewable energy certificates, (e.g., SAF certificates).
• Knowledge of broadly accepted GHG methodologies and tools.
• Familiarity with sustainability certification systems such as RSB.
• Experience working with multinational companies on climate strategy or sustainability reporting. 

While we welcome the use of tools to support your application process, we strongly encourage candidates to submit their own original responses in the cover letter and application questions. Due to the high volume of applications and the increasing similarity of AI-generated responses, it can be difficult to accurately assess and distinguish individual candidates. We therefore encourage you to share your personal experiences, motivations, and perspectives in your own words.