Sustainability Reporting Director

WomenTech Network; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in business technology is seeking a Sustainability Reporting Director to spearhead their non-financial reporting strategy in Newcastle, UK. In this pivotal role, you will oversee sustainability disclosures, engage with senior leadership, and ensure compliance with global standards. The ideal candidate will have substantial expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks and strong communication skills. Competitive benefits include a generous pension scheme and enhanced parental leave.

Benefits

Up to 8% matched pension contribution

25 days of paid annual leave plus additional days

Paid volunteer days through Sage Foundation

Enhanced parental leave

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

Work away scheme

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks including GRI, SASB, and CDP.
• Proven track record in senior sustainability roles within global organizations.
• Excellent communication skills; able to influence at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the sustainability disclosure strategy and monitoring regulatory changes.
• Deliver Sage’s annual sustainability reporting suite including legal verification.
• Engage with Board and executive leadership on sustainability matters.

Skills

Sustainability reporting frameworks expertise

ESG regulatory understanding

Leadership and influence

High data literacy and analytical capability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science

Postgraduate qualification

Job description

At Sage, we’re building a more sustainable future for small and mid-sized businesses worldwide. We’re now looking for a Sustainability Reporting Director to lead our global non‑financial reporting strategy and help shape how Sage is seen, trusted, and understood by regulators, investors, customers, and society.

The Role

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of Sage’s sustainability and net‑zero ambitions, with direct exposure to Executive Leadership Team and Board‑level stakeholders.

You will own the design and delivery of Sage’s multi‑year sustainability disclosure strategy, ensuring our reporting meets evolving global standards, regulatory requirements, and stakeholder expectations.

You will lead the end‑to‑end delivery of Sage’s non‑financial disclosures – from data governance and regulatory horizon scanning to content development, assurance, and board engagement. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will bring clarity, technical depth, and leadership to a fast‑evolving and strategically critical area of the business.

You’ll also play a key role in preparing Sage’s disclosures for an AI‑enabled future, ensuring they are machine‑readable, credible, and ready to be interpreted by large language models (LLMs).

This is a hybrid role that will work in the office 3 days a week and 2 from home.

Responsibilities

• Lead Sage’s sustainability disclosure strategy
  
  • Design and execute a pragmatic, forward‑looking sustainability reporting roadmap.
  • Monitor and interpret evolving global regulations and standards (ISSB, CSRD).
  • Lead regulatory horizon scanning and engagement with external stakeholders.
  • Socialise and align disclosure strategy changes with senior governance forums.
• Deliver best‑in‑class sustainability reporting
  
  • Own the delivery of Sage’s annual sustainability reporting suite, including:
    • Non‑Financial Statement
    • Impact Book
    • Pay Gap reports
    • Sustainability content for the Annual Report & Accounts and website
  • Lead cross‑functional data gathering and content development.
  • Ensure robust legal verification, audit readiness, and pre‑assurance processes.
  • Manage relationships with external partners (creative agencies, auditors, advisors).
• Strengthen data, governance, and controls
  
  • Champion high‑quality, consistent, and transparent ESG data.
  • Enhance data collection and monitoring processes, including tooling and automation.
  • Oversee internal controls related to impacts, risks, and opportunities (IROs).
  • Partner closely with Risk, Finance, Legal, and Internal Audit teams.
• Board, ELT, and investor engagement
  
  • Draft and present reporting and regulatory papers for the Audit & Risk Committee and Board.
  • Support VP and EVP Sustainability in shareholder and investor ESG engagements.
  • Advance sustainability literacy and accountability at ELT and Board level.
• Materiality, insight, and continuous improvement
  
  • Lead regular updates to Sage’s materiality assessment using best‑in‑class practices.
  • Establish an ESG horizon scanning and monitoring capability.
  • Act as Sage’s technical expert on sustainability reporting and assurance.
• AI‑ready reporting
  
  • Ensure disclosures are machine‑readable and aligned with AI requirements.
  • Develop and execute an AI‑enabled reporting roadmap.
  • Identify skills gaps and drive knowledge‑sharing across the business.
  • Deliver measurable efficiency and quality improvements.
• Policy and public affairs engagement
  
  • Work closely with Public Affairs to engage with the UK Government, EU institutions, and OECD.
  • Lead on consultations and advocacy for simplified reporting standards for SMEs.
• Leadership
  
  • Sit on Sage’s Sustainability Leadership Team.
  • Lead and develop a small, international sustainability reporting team.

What We’re Looking For

• Essential experience
  
  • Deep expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks, including GRI, SASB, and CDP.
  • Strong understanding of ESG regulatory and legislative processes.
  • Proven track record in senior sustainability or environmental leadership roles within complex, global organisations.
  • Extensive experience delivering high‑quality sustainability disclosures.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
  • Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire beyond direct reporting lines.
  • High level of data literacy, analytical capability, and attention to detail.
  • Clear business acumen, linking ESG strategy to commercial priorities.
  • Active membership of a relevant professional body or evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Preferred
  
  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or a related field.
  • Postgraduate qualification preferred.

Your benefits (Only Applicable for UK Based Roles)

• Benefits video –
• Generous bonuses and pension scheme: Up to 8% matched pension contribution plus 2% top‑up by Sage.
• 25 days of paid annual leave with the option to buy up to another 5 days.
• Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation.
• Enhanced parental leave.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year.
• Access to various helpful memberships for finances, health and wellbeing.

Director Sustainability Reporting • Newcastle, United Kingdom