Sustainability Reporting Director

Sage; Winnersh; Hybrid; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in the UK is seeking a Sustainability Reporting Director to lead its global non-financial reporting strategy. This senior leadership position involves direct collaboration with executive leaders and the Board. Key responsibilities include designing sustainability disclosure strategies, preparing reports, and enhancing ESG data quality. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in reporting frameworks and strong leadership capabilities, coupled with excellent communication skills. The role offers a hybrid working environment and generous benefits.

Benefits

Generous bonuses and pension scheme

25 days of paid annual leave

Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer

Enhanced parental leave

Comprehensive health coverage

Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks

Access to various memberships for wellbeing

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks including GRI, SASB, and CDP.
• Proven track record in senior sustainability or environmental leadership roles within complex organizations.
• Experience delivering high-quality sustainability disclosures.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver a multi-year sustainability disclosure strategy.
• Lead delivery of Sage's annual sustainability reporting suite.
• Champion high-quality, consistent, and transparent ESG data.

Skills

Expertise in sustainability reporting frameworks (GRI, SASB, CDP)

Understanding of ESG regulatory processes

Strong communication skills

Leadership skills

Data literacy and analytical capability

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field

Postgraduate qualification preferred

Job description

Job Title

Sustainability Reporting Director

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.

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.

The Role

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.

Key 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 (e.g. 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.

Benefits

Benefits video - https : / / youtu.be / TCMtTYUUiuU

• 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.