Shift in the role of Sustainability Managers: From agenda-setters to facilitators of company-wide responsibility. 

• Probability: High
• Financial Impact: Mixed

The evolving role of sustainability managers reflects a deeper integration of ESG into organizational culture. In 2024, the role of sustainability managers is expected to transition from pushing the sustainability agenda to facilitating a company-wide approach where every employee is responsible for contributing to sustainability goals. This will require a cultural shift and a re-evaluation of the metrics used to measure the function’s success. New leadership skills are needed to build the enabling conditions to embed sustainability company-wise¹. 

Companies should prepare for these changes by:

• Redefining the job descriptions and responsibilities of sustainability managers to emphasize their role as facilitators and integrators of ESG across the organization. 
• Developing training modules focused on ESG awareness and implementation strategies for employees at all levels.
• Incorporating ESG-related goals and objectives into senior leaders’ and middle management’s performance evaluation metrics.
• Equipping sustainability managers with advanced data analytics tools to effectively measure and monitor ESG performance.
• Ensuring strong support and active involvement from top management. 
• Fostering an environment where employees are encouraged to propose innovative ideas and continuous improvement for sustainability. 

Sources:

1. https://www.ftadviser.com/ftadviser-focus/2023/12/14/how-social-responsibility-can-be-a-key-part-of-business-strategy/?page=1 ↩︎