Overview
Sustainability Managers (also called ESG Leads, CSR Heads, Climate & Sustainability Managers) drive environmental and social performance at organisations. India's corporate sustainability mandate has tightened sharply — SEBI's mandatory BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting) for top 1000 listed companies, plus the rising investor focus on ESG metrics, plus the corporate emissions-reduction commitments tied to India's net-zero by 2070 target. Major employers: Reliance, Tata Group, Mahindra, ITC, HUL, plus the Big 4 sustainability consulting practices.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Develop corporate sustainability strategy and ESG roadmap; manage GHG emissions inventory and reduction programmes; lead BRSR / GRI / SASB / TCFD reporting; coordinate with board on ESG matters; manage CSR programmes per Companies Act Section 135; engage with ESG rating agencies (CDP, Sustainalytics, MSCI ESG, S&P Global); develop science-based emission reduction targets (SBTi); manage supply-chain sustainability (modern slavery, supplier audits); conduct climate-risk assessment (TCFD); communicate sustainability story to investors, employees, regulators.
Skills required
- Sustainability reporting frameworks (BRSR, GRI, SASB, TCFD, IFRS S1/S2)
- GHG accounting (Scope 1, 2, 3) per GHG Protocol
- Carbon markets and net-zero strategy
- CSR project management
- ESG investor communication
- Climate-risk assessment
- Supplier sustainability assessments
- Indian Companies Act Section 135 (CSR mandate)
Education path
MBA Sustainability Management, MBA Environmental Management, MBA Energy Management, or Master's in Environmental Studies / Climate Change. Top programmes: TERI School of Advanced Studies, IIM Calcutta (sustainability electives), ISB (sustainability minor), Symbiosis Institute of International Business, IGNOU MA Environmental Studies. International programmes: LSE Climate Change, Yale FES, Oxford SBS Sustainability Leadership Programme.
Career progression
- 1Sustainability Analyst (0-3 yrs)
- 2Sustainability Manager (3-7 yrs)
- 3Senior Sustainability Manager (7-12 yrs)
- 4Head of Sustainability / Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) (12-18 yrs)
- 5Group CSO / Board ESG Committee member (18+ yrs)
Top employers in India
Useful certifications
- GHG Protocol Corporate Standard certification
- CDP Reporting Specialist
- GRI Certified Sustainability Professional
- TCFD Reporting Practitioner
- IGBC AP / LEED Green Associate
- BRSR Reporting Specialist (Indian focus)
- Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) practitioner