Environmental Initiatives Lead, Sustainability

Google; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 170,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking an Environmental Initiatives Lead to drive the company-wide decarbonization roadmap and translate high‑level commitments into low‑carbon computing solutions. You will manage site development through operations, coordinating across offices, time zones, and teams to keep milestones on track.

As part of the Global Sustainability team, you will lead strategies on carbon, circular economy, water, and reporting, collaborating with stakeholders to advance enterprise climate goals and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of program or project management experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop regional and site-level sustainability action plans and coordinate cross-initiative efforts.
• Collaborate with Data Center Energy and Power teams on procurement and agreements to support 24/7 carbon-free goals.
• Synthesize complex data into clear narratives and actionable plans.
• Establish program frameworks with milestones and risk mitigation for tight timelines.
• Work with cross-functional teams to address emissions escalations and deliver solutions.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

Stakeholder communication

Emissions data analysis

Sustainability program management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Job description

Applicants in San Francisco: Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Note: By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following: Chicago, IL, USA; Mountain View, CA, USA; New York, NY, USA; San Francisco, CA, USA.

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience in program or project management.

Preferred qualifications

• 12 years of community engagement, environmental, or similar experience.
• 10 years of experience in climate science, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) standards, and accounting.
• 10 years of experience in management consulting, business operations, business strategy, or corporate advisory with a focus on energy and sustainability.
• 4 years of experience in Data Center design, construction, and contracting pipelines.

About the job

A problem doesn't truly solved until it's solved for all. That's why Googlers build products that help create opportunities for everyone, whether down the street or across the globe. As a Program Manager at Google, you'll lead complex, multi-disciplinary projects from start to finish - working with stakeholders to plan requirements, manage project schedules, identify risks, and communicate clearly with cross-functional partners across the company. Your projects will often span offices, time zones, and hemispheres. It's your job to coordinate the players and keep them up to date on progress and deadlines.

As the Environmental Initiatives Lead, you will drive critical execution across Google's company-wide decarbonization roadmap. Embedded within the full lifecycle of site development through operations, you will lead environmental strategies and serve as a key partner in translating high-level commitments into low-carbon computing solutions.

The Global Sustainability team enables Google to build a more sustainable future for everyone by driving strategy and solutions. We drive the development and implementation of Google's global sustainability strategy to further empower action, ensure alignment and prioritization, identify leadership opportunities, and mitigate risks. We drive sustainability strategy and programs on carbon, circular economy, water, product integration, reporting, and employee engagement, while serving as a sustainability leadership advocate internally and externally. Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

US: $188000 - $274000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Responsibilities

Learn more about benefits at Google .

• Develop regional and site-level sustainability action plans to minimize community impact. This includes collaborating across initiatives in watershed stewardship, nature-based solutions, biodiversity preservation, circular resource flows, carbon removal, and local community benefit programs.
• Partner directly with the Data Center Energy and Power team throughout the commercial agreement flow to inform power procurement, infrastructure agreements, and behind-the-meter generation agreements aligned with Google's 24/7 carbon-free energy goals.
• Synthesize complex technical, regulatory, and emissions data into clear narratives and impact plans.
• Establish program frameworks, milestone tracking, and risk mitigation models to execute complex site sustainability strategies under tight commercial timelines and changing constraints.
• Collaborate cross-functional with sustainability teams to resolve customer-specific emissions escalations and co-develop technical solutions to help enterprise clients achieve their climate goals.

Google is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. See also Google's EEO Policy and EEO is the Law. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by completing our Accommodations for Applicants form .