Five Sustainability Roles Set to Be in Demand Over the Next 12 Months

The sustainability sector is not standing still; the roles are evolving.

Sophie Smith, Sustainability Careers Consultant at Shirley Parsons, explores five roles she expects to see in growing demand as sustainability recruitment continues to evolve.

Sustainability recruitment is becoming much broader than traditional ESG job titles.

Organisations are not only looking for people who can shape sustainability strategies and commitments. They increasingly need specialists who can translate those ambitions into practical action across reporting, data, risk, procurement and project delivery.

Looking ahead over the next 12 months, here are five roles I think could see particularly strong demand.

1. Carbon and Decarbonisation Managers.

Setting net zero targets is one thing. Delivering the carbon reductions needed to meet them is another. Organisations need professionals who can turn commitments into practical programmes, from reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions to addressing the more complex challenge of Scope 3.

This will create demand for people who can combine carbon expertise with programme delivery, stakeholder engagement and an understanding of how decarbonisation can be embedded across an organisation.

2. Sustainability and ESG Reporting Specialists.

Sustainability reporting is not going away, but expectations surrounding data, assurance and governance are becoming more sophisticated. Professionals who understand reporting requirements and are also comfortable working with the underlying data will be particularly valuable.

Organisations need people who can establish effective reporting processes, work across different business functions and ensure that sustainability information is accurate, consistent and ready for scrutiny.

3. Social Value Managers, particularly in Construction.

Social Value is one area in which I have seen a significant increase in activity, particularly within construction. It is becoming more embedded in procurement, tendering and project delivery, covering areas such as local employment and skills, community engagement, apprenticeships and support for local economies.

Importantly, the focus is moving beyond simply making commitments. There is increasing emphasis on measuring and demonstrating the outcomes that have actually been delivered. This creates a growing need for Social Value professionals who can shape credible commitments, coordinate their delivery and demonstrate their impact.

4. Climate Risk and Resilience Professionals.

Climate risk is becoming increasingly difficult for businesses to treat as a distant scenario. I expect continued demand for professionals who can assess physical and transition risks and translate their findings into practical business decisions.

Organisations need people who can explain what climate-related risks mean for their operations, assets and supply chains, helping leaders identify priorities and determine how best to respond.

5. Sustainability Data and Analytics Specialists.

Sustainability teams are collecting huge amounts of information, but collecting data is only half the challenge. Professionals who can analyse and validate that information before turning it into meaningful business insight are going to become increasingly valuable.

By combining sustainability knowledge with data management, analytics and visualisation, these specialists can help organisations monitor progress, improve reporting and make more informed decisions.

Sustainability Roles Are Evolving.

The common theme across all five roles is that the strongest growth may not necessarily be found within traditional “ESG” job titles. Instead, demand is likely to centre on people who can combine sustainability expertise with another discipline, whether that is data, engineering, procurement, risk, construction, operations or community engagement. That is what makes the market so interesting.

The sustainability sector is not standing still; the roles are evolving.

For professionals considering their next move, developing expertise at one of these intersections could create valuable career opportunities. For employers, it means thinking carefully about the combination of knowledge and practical skills their sustainability teams will need next.

Planning Your Next Sustainability Hire or Career Move?

Whether you are looking to strengthen your sustainability team or considering the next step in your career, Sophie Smith, can provide insight into the roles, skills and opportunities shaping the market.