Sustainability Officer: Role and Responsibilities

Executive Summary

Sustainability officers—also known as sustainability managers or CSR managers —are key drivers in the implementation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives within companies. They develop strategies, coordinate initiatives, ensure regulatory compliance, and report on progress. In addition to internal roles, companies can also rely on external sustainability officers to flexibly integrate expertise and capacity—an approach that Five Glaciers Consulting, as a boutique consulting firm, actively supports.

What are sustainability officers?

The term "sustainability officer" refers to the person responsible for sustainability and climate issues within an organization. This role has become increasingly important in recent years as regulatory requirements (e.g., CSRD, ESRS) and stakeholder expectations continue to rise.

Common synonyms include:

• Sustainability Manager
• CSR Manager (Corporate Social Responsibility)
• ESG Manager (Environmental, Social, Governance)
• Environmental and Climate Protection Officer (in the narrower sense)
  

At its core, the goal is to systematically integrate sustainability into business models and processes.

Responsibilities of a Sustainability Officer

The role of a sustainability officer is multifaceted and combines strategic, operational, and communication-related responsibilities. Typical duties include:

• Strategy Development: Developing a company-wide sustainability strategy, including climate targets (e.g., net zero, SBTi-aligned).
• Data Management & Reporting: Preparation of GHG inventories in accordance with the GHG Protocol, preparation of CSRD/ESRS reports, and completion of CDP questionnaires.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring compliance with requirements such as the EU Taxonomy, CSRD, EUDR, or national climate protection laws.
• Stakeholder management: Communication with customers, investors, regulatory authorities, and employees.
• Implementation of measures: Introduction of energy management, supply chain analyses, CO₂ reduction measures, and ESG training.

Legal and Regulatory Context

While the term “sustainability officer” is not a protected or legally defined term in Germany, clear requirements arise from regulatory frameworks:

• CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive): Starting in 2025, companies will be required to report in accordance with ESRS standards—makinga sustainability officervirtually indispensable.
• Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG): Companies above a certain size must assess human rights and environmental standards—typically under the oversight of the sustainability department.
• EU Taxonomy & SFDR: Financial market and real economy companies need sustainability expertise to demonstrate eligibility for support and investment.

Distinction from related roles

While CSR managers have traditionally focused heavily on social responsibility, sustainability officers today cover the entire ESG spectrum.

This also represents a clear distinction from more specialized roles, such as the environmental officer, which focus on clearly defined areas. The environmental officer is often required by law, for example under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) or the Closed-Loop Economy Act (KrWG), and handles tasks related to emissions, waste management, resource conservation, and compliance with environmental regulations.

In contrast, the sustainability officer takes an integrated approach that goes beyond purely environmental issues: she combines ecological considerations with social responsibility, governance requirements, and strategic corporate development. While the environmental officer focuses more on operational and compliance-related tasks, the role of the sustainability officer is more strategic, interdisciplinary, and forward-looking.

This distinction shows that sustainability management does not replace traditional functional roles, but rather coordinates and complements them—so that environmental officers, energy managers, and compliance officers can work together effectively to contribute to holistic ESG performance.

External sustainability officers – a flexible solution

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular often lack the resources to create a full-time position dedicated to sustainability. This is where hiring external sustainability officers can be a viable option.

The benefits of outsourcing:

• Technical depth: Access to specialized knowledge in carbon accounting, reporting, or regulation.
• Flexibility: Support tailored to your needs without long-term staffing costs.
• Best Practices: Leveraging experience from other projects and industries.
  

Conclusion

Today,a sustainability officerplays a key role for companies that want to implement sustainability in a serious and credible manner. Whether the role is filled internally or outsourced, neither regulatory compliance nor credible ESG positioning is possible without this function.

Our team at Five Glaciers Consulting serves as an external sustainability advisor on a wide range of projects—from developing a climate strategy and preparing a sustainability report to providing support for SBTi targets. In doing so, we combine strategic consulting with operational expertise.

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