Sustainability Associate Director

Management Consultant – Associate Director Level***We are Grant Thornton. We go beyond business as usual, so you can too.***Grant Thornton is Ireland’s fastest growing financial services firm delivering innovative solutions to clients across the country. Our Advisory Division brings industry specific expertise to support our clients in navigating Regulatory, Strategic, Digital and Change management challenges. At Grant Thornton our focus is on people; both building deep client relationships and investing in our staff to help them to realise their potential and achieve their ambitions.In 2020, Grant Thornton Ireland took a strategic decision to establish a sustainability practice within Consulting. Recognising sustainability is a multidisciplinary field, we set about building a diverse team that would blend the best scientific and industrial experience with our existing advisory expertise. Through targeted hires, and internal transfers, we are proud to have grown a partner lead, dedicated, passionate, and practical team of all the talents which work together with our other services lines to delivery pragmatic actionable solutions to our clients***At Grant Thornton Ireland we don’t just predict your future, we build it.*****A Career at Grant Thornton**If you are looking for a more fulfilling role in professional services, at Grant Thornton, we do things differently. We value fresh thinking, collaboration and diversity, building an inclusive working environment open to all. We are here to support you in the development of your career, provide flexibility where required and respect and value your experience.We want you to bring your authentic self to work and be at your best – it’s how it should be.**Job Description & Summary**We are currently looking for experienced individuals to join our expanding Advisory Sustainability Practice. You will be self-motivated, capable of working off your own initiative and can lead with the delivery of Programme/Project milestones. This advertisement seeks people with experience in one or more of the following areas: Regulatory, Strategic, Sustainability and Change Management challenges.This is a challenging but fulfilling role, where you will be required to operate as a key member of our team, playing a lead role in the delivery of business focused solutions to a wide range of Financial and Non-Financial clients, as well supporting the strategic development of the wider Consulting business.**Roles** **& Responsibilities**Collaborate within a multi-disciplinary team to successfully deliver and manage projects across a range of key areas.**Client Responsibilities*** Successful and effective end-to-end delivery of external client projects;* Develop a comprehensive understanding of client and work stream operations, processes, and business objectives and utilise this knowledge on assignments/projects;* Demonstrate excellent attention to detail and an ability to work to strict deadlines;* Work and communicate effectively with senior management, team members and clients, providing relevant summary updates and escalations as appropriate;* Manage reporting requirements, project plans, project status reports, RAID logs, management updates and other reports as required; and* Building client relationships and interacting proactively with key stakeholders to gather information, resolve issues, and provide analysis to inform client deliverables.**Internal Responsibilities*** Assisting in client account management activities such as recruitment for the project team, managing financial aspects of client engagements, and quality and risk management;* Leading and supporting presentations and proposals for elements of medium to high complex projects to prospective and existing clients;* Communicating effectively with senior management and working to build, manage and motivate high-performing teams;* Building strong internal relationships and network within Consulting and across other services lines;* Supporting team development activities, including but not limited to management, coaching, and mentoring activities;* Conducting performance reviews and contributing to performance feedback;* Contributing to people initiatives including recruiting, retaining and training activities; and* Understanding, following and communicating workplace policies and procedures.**Skills and Experience**Education and Certifications* Master’s degree in sustainability, environmental science, engineering, or a related field is required* Minimum of 10+ years direct experience in advising clients across sectors on climate and environmental risks at both strategic and operational levels, including scenario analysis, adaptation planning, and regulatory alignment* Demonstrable experience supporting organisations to assess and communicate how climate-related risks and opportunities influence business resilience, investment decisions, and long-term value* Significant experience in greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), emissions inventories, carbon reduction planning, and supporting organisations on net zero target setting and implementation* Demonstrated understanding of carbon markets and experience with carbon credit registries or trading schemes* Strong knowledge of climate disclosure frameworks (e.g., TCFD, ISSB, CDP)* Knowledge of evolving sustainability regulations (e.g., California SB 261, SB 253, TNFD)* Proven ability to quickly grasp complex topics beyond core areas of expertise and apply critical thinking to develop practical, tailored solutions* Deep understanding of the relationship between climate change, business risk, and value creation, with a focus on integrating this into core business functions* Strong commercial background with expertise in business strategy, operations, and the quantification of environmental and social impacts* Experienced in identifying opportunities for growth and supporting business development, including through tender responses and client proposals**Skills and Attributes*** Communication: Skilled in stakeholder engagement and communication, with the ability to translate technical concepts into accessible, outcome-oriented language* Analytical skills: Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with experience applying them to assess sustainability risks, model impacts, and support data-driven decision-making* Leadership and Team Building: Committed to building team capability through coaching, knowledge-sharing, and supporting development of junior colleagues* Organisation: Scheduling and facilitating meetings, including Agendas and Minutes* Attitude: Strong work ethic, proactive attitude to issue resolution, delivering excellence, managing deadlines and being comfortable leading a team* MS Office: MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills**Life at Grant Thornton****Reward** **and benefits:**Our reward and benefits are designed to create an environment where our people can flourish. We are committed to building a culture where our people have access to the necessary benefits to help promote a healthy lifestyle and thrive.We offer an excellent range of rewards and benefits to suit your lifestyle:* Performance based bonus scheme bonus once probation (6-month period) is completed prior to December.* Employer Pension Contributions* Career progression with an annual promotion cycle (dependent on eligibility)* Professional subscriptions paid* Health insurance group scheme discount* Annual flu vaccination* Employee assistance programme* Be Well initiative* Funded sports and social events* Life assurance scheme* Employee discountsFind out more about the benefits at Grant Thornton here: .Flexible working environment:At Grant Thornton we promote a flexible working environment and are currently support a hybrid working model. We also offer employees the opportunity to avail of a compressed working week the Friday before each
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