Sustainability/ESG Director (Manufacturing)—Environmental Leadership

Table of Contents

Manufacturing sustainability ESG director environmental leadership

The Sustainability Leader: ESG Director

Manufacturing ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) directors lead sustainability initiatives—carbon reduction, waste management, social responsibility. They earn ₹1,15,000-1,90,000/month, advancing to ₹2,10,000-3,60,000+/month as chief sustainability officer.

What Sustainability Directors Do

Environmental Strategy (40%):

  • Define sustainability vision and strategy
  • Carbon reduction targets and plans
  • Waste and water management strategy
  • Energy efficiency programs
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Life cycle assessment

Program Implementation (30%):

  • Lead sustainability initiatives
  • Implement energy efficiency programs
  • Waste reduction and recycling programs
  • Supply chain sustainability
  • Product sustainability
  • Facility sustainability

Stakeholder Engagement (20%):

  • Communicate ESG to stakeholders
  • Regulatory and compliance interface
  • Supplier engagement on sustainability
  • Employee engagement
  • Community programs

Measurement & Reporting (10%):

  • Track sustainability metrics
  • ESG reporting (GRI, SASB)
  • Board reporting
  • Certification (ISO 14001, B Corp, etc.)
ESG director responsibilities in manufacturing

Critical Skills

  • Environmental compliance and regulations
  • Sustainability strategy and planning
  • Carbon accounting and reporting
  • Project management of sustainability initiatives
  • Financial analysis (cost-benefit of sustainability)
  • Stakeholder communication
  • Supply chain sustainability knowledge

Salary Expectations

Sustainability Manager:
₹85,000 – ₹1,30,000/month

Sustainability Director:
₹1,30,000 – ₹2,00,000/month

Chief Sustainability Officer:
₹2,00,000 – ₹3,80,000+/month

Entry Requirements

  • 10-12 years environmental/sustainability experience
  • Engineering or environmental science background
  • Sustainability knowledge and certifications
  • Project leadership experience
  • Understanding of manufacturing operations
  • Executive communication skills
  • Passion for sustainability​
Sustainability director career path to CSO

The Bottom Line

Sustainability directors lead environmental and ESG initiatives. Entry ₹1,15,000-1,90,000 → CSO level ₹2,00,000-3,80,000+. Growing importance. Corporate leadership trajectory. Clear path to C-suite sustainability roles.

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