Manager, Sustainability

The role of the Sustainability Manager is to lead on initiatives and activities to deliver Expo City’s sustainability strategy, and vision towards carbon neutrality. The activities will range across a diverse portfolio of strategic and operational initiatives.

The Sustainability Manager will have had experience in programme management of sustainability projects, with end-to-end responsibilities to drive performance. This also includes practical field experience, actively engaging stakeholders to deliver results.

The main responsibilities for this role include:

Strategic Responsibilities

• Ensure and enable Expo City Dubai’s sustainability management strategy and policy are developed in line with ISO 20121, PAS 2060 and regional and global Net Zero ambitions.
• Accountable for the implementation and certification of ISO 20121:2012 Event Sustainability Management system.
• Responsible for the implementation and certification of PAS 2060 Carbon Neutrality Standard and Certification.
• Establish and maintain a structured approach to enhancing sustainable procurement at Expo City Dubai.
• Manage and advance attainment of ISO 20400 as a long-term responsible procurement objective.
• Strengthen direct active participation to sustainability concepts at Expo City Dubai, to ensure company-wide sustainability KPIs are achieved such as the enhancement of a green supply chain and the uptake of circular economy principles.
• Engage and collaborate with Expo City’s procurement and contract functions to enhance sustainable supply chain efforts, taking part in strategic evaluations of proposals against internal sustainability requirements.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a sustainability reporting framework to ensure compliance with GRI reporting requirements. Steer all internal and external sustainability-related communication initiatives to maintain and enhance Expo City’s reputation as a sustainable, smart city and a space equipped to host COP 28.
• Advance and facilitate the development, implementation and adherence to sustainability operational requirements across Expo City Dubai’s external stakeholders.

Operational Requirements

• Plan and identify project scope, deliverables, create schedules, project timelines, defined tasks and required resources in line with achieving ISO 20121 and PAS 2060 certifications.
• Encourage positive steps and establish an action plan in-house and with suppliers with the objective of promoting socially and ecologically responsible procurement.
• Monitor & report on programme level KPIs and project specific KPIs specifically related to sustainable certification, reporting and procurement activities.
• Lead on quality assurance to ensure all of Expo City Dubai’s sustainability activities are conducted in line with ISO 2021 and PAS 2060 requirements.
• Contribute to and support on other sustainability reporting requirements e.g. GRI as well as other sustainability certification requirements e.g. LEED or CEEQUAL by way of provision of data and administrative functions.
• Contribute to the development of sustainability content to routinely enhance staff, visitors and tenant’s knowledge of sustainability reporting, certification and procurement.
• Work closely with Expo City Dubai’s internal functions as well as external stakeholders to ensure compliance to the organisation’s operational sustainability requirements.
• Identify and engage potential sustainable collaborations and partnerships opportunities related to enhancing Expo City Dubai’s reporting and certifications roster and that feed into Expo City’s sustainability agenda.
• Develop relevant sustainable guidelines, manuals, operational plans and audit plans to enhance and support in the actualisation of Expo City Dubai’s sustainability strategy and objectives.
• Develop improvement plans and prepare key presentations required by senior management, tracking performances and lessons learnt for continuous improvement.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and regularly adapt to change.

People Responsibilities

• Own the development and delivery of a particular task assigned, and report back to upper management in a clear, concise and timely manner.
• Cultivate and foster an environment that places Expo City’s sustainability strategy at the centre of all executed endeavours.
• Ability to leverage Expo City sustainability targets and manage relationships with internal departments, external consultants and partners in line with strategic sustainability objectives of Expo City Dubai.
• Work closely with upper management to develop an Expo City Sustainability team equipped to take on responsibilities of hosting COP 28, implement and advance Expo City’s sustainability strategy.
• Promote Expo City sustainability awareness, by building up partnerships and feeding into stakeholder relationships that support Expo City in achieving scalable sustainable targets geared for the long-term vision of Expo City and for a successful COP28 event in the short term.

7+ years of professional experience in sustainability project management as well as:

• A degree and/or post graduate education in environmental science, sustainable development, geography, environmental economics, public policy, engineering or other relevant degree
• Structured and analytical with complex problem-solving capabilities
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative analysis capabilities
  Superb track record of project leadership and end-to-end project management
• Superior persuasion skills with the ability to diplomatically communicate sustainability amongst diverse stakeholders (youth, leadership, experts, and business professionals etc.)
• Excellent ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and collaborate with other specialists and teams beyond core practice field.
• Practical understanding of international and national sustainability frameworks
• Knowledge in international sustainability reporting standards and certification processes
• Experience in sustainable supply chain managementbility to evaluate technical information and provide concise informed advice
• Strong planning and organization skills
• Creative, curious, and proactive in driving sustainability across the organisation
• Superior written and spoken English, with attention to detail in required report writing
• Passionate about climate change, and progressing knowledge in the field
• Ability to collaboratively work with internal team, and cross-cultural integration