Environment and sustainability lead - EU

Meta Transform Ltd; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Meta Transform Ltd, based in Amsterdam, seeks an exceptional Environmental & Sustainability leader to transform environmental performance across a major European operation. You will set direction, strengthen governance, and build a progressive strategy spanning air, water, soil, biodiversity and regulatory compliance.

We require 10+ years in heavy industry leadership, deep CSRD/ESRS knowledge, and the ability to influence from the shop floor to the board.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of environmental leadership in heavy industry or high-hazard sectors.
• Strong knowledge of European environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience with CSRD, ESRS, ESG reporting and external assurance.

Responsibilities

• Lead across air, water and soil emissions, biodiversity, and environmental risk.
• Define and drive sustainability strategy across multiple European sites.
• Influence from frontline to boardroom and ensure governance and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Job description

We are looking for an exceptional Environmental & Sustainability leader to take responsibility for environmental and sustainability performance across a major European industrial operation.

This is not a role for someone who simply wants to maintain what already exists.

We are looking for someone who wants to transform it.

Operating across multiple European sites, you will set the direction for environmental performance, strengthen governance and compliance, challenge existing ways of working and help build a genuinely progressive environmental and sustainability strategy.

You will lead across air, water and soil emissions, biodiversity, environmental risk, sustainability, regulatory compliance, CSRD/ESRS, environmental data and assurance. Environmental & Sustainability Lead_Job Description.docx

What We’re Looking For

We want someone who combines serious technical expertise with exceptional leadership.

Someone who is equally comfortable walking an industrial site, challenging operational teams, engaging with regulators and influencing senior executives.

You will ideally bring:

• 10+ years’ environmental leadership experience within heavy industry, metals, mining, chemicals or another complex/high-hazard sector. Environmental & Sustainability Lead_Job Description.docx
• Strong knowledge of European environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience of emissions to air, water and soil, environmental risk and biodiversity.
• Strong understanding of CSRD, ESRS, ESG reporting and external assurance.
• Experience within Seveso or similarly highly regulated operations would be highly advantageous. Environmental & Sustainability Lead_Job Description.docx
• The ability to influence from the front line to the boardroom.

But technical competence alone isn’t enough.

We Want a Game Changer.

We want someone curious enough to ask why, courageous enough to challenge “we’ve always done it this way”, and experienced enough to know how to turn ambition into results.

Someone who sees technology, data and innovation as opportunities.

Someone who understands that compliance is the starting line, not the ambition.

Someone who can create a strategy — and then make it happen.

If you’re looking for a comfortable role maintaining an established environmental management system, this probably isn’t for you.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to shape, influence and transform environmental and sustainability performance across a major European industrial business, we’d like to hear from you.

The company will remain confidential during the initial stage of the search.