ESG / CSR Lead - USA

Turnertownsend; New York (NY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Turnertownsend is seeking an ESG leader to drive corporate responsibility and ESG initiatives across the USA. This role is the key in-region CR/ESG lead, overseeing governance, reporting, risk management, and stakeholder engagement to protect people, assets, reputation, and brand.

You will align regional practices with global CR frameworks, manage data and disclosures, and partner with leadership to integrate ESG into programs and projects while ensuring regulatory compliance and ethical

Qualifications

• University degree in Sustainability, Environmental Management, Business, Engineering, or related discipline.
• ESG/sustainability certification desirable.
• Auditor or practitioner training aligned to sustainability and ESG standards.

Responsibilities

• Drive a culture of CR and ESG accountability, and visible leadership commitment, by continually assessing organizational CR and ESG maturity, establishing performance baselines and creating action plans, in partnership with key business stakeholders.
• Act as the key in-region CR/ESG lead, developing and executing regional implementation strategies to support global CR/ESG initiatives and business expectations.
• Implement, embed, and maintain compliance with our Global CR Framework, standards, and regional business practices, to ensure alignment with global commitments, quality management systems (ISO) and the effective management of ESG-related risks.
• Ensure regional CR and ESG practices, reporting, and performance remain fully compliant with applicable country, state, and local legal and regulatory requirements, supporting the identification, mitigation, and management of legal, reputational, and commercial risk.
• Lead CR and ESG performance and KPI measurement, data, governance, and reporting across the region, ensuring accuracy, consistency, traceability, and audit-readiness.
• Coordinate regional inputs into global CR and ESG disclosures and reporting requirements, including reporting against CR Framework KPIs and Sustainability/ ESG Reports.
• Continually assess CR and ESG risks and opportunities impacting regional operations and project delivery, including environmental impacts, social value, DEI, ethical conduct, and responsible supply chain practices.
• Provide direct and timely counsel to regional leadership on CR and ESG performance, trends, emerging risks, regulatory developments, and client expectations.
• Support bid teams and account leadership by providing CR and ESG inputs into RFPs, proposals, frameworks, and client due-diligence responses.
• Lead and govern regional CR programs, including community engagement, volunteering, and charitable initiatives and Making the Difference Fund applications - ensuring social impact is measured, controlled, and reported.
• Provide strategic leadership and governance for regional environmental and social/community networks, ensuring accurate and timely data reporting to the Global Corporate Responsibility team
• Assess and update relevant trackers and enhance standard processes to ensure appropriate and timely data submissions.
• Engage with ESG ratings agencies, assessors, industry initiatives, and client benchmarking exercises where required.
• Support ESG audits, internal reviews, and external assurance activities and drive continuous improvement across ESG systems, tools, and practices.
• Lead CR/ESG champions to drive global and regional CR strategy.
• Report progress against CR framework to executives.
• Report monthly country / regional CR data into regional leadership and global CR team.
• Liaise with local supplier diversity lead to drive partnerships and business opportunities
• Coordinate with the Health and Safety lead to align related policies and procedures.
• Facilitate and manage relationships with external partners and organizations.
• Align strategic efforts with Vision 2030 and Global Corporate Responsibility Framework.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to maximize fundraising activities and the impact of philanthropic funding sources.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

English proficiency

ESG data platforms

Stakeholder influence

Education

University degree in Sustainability, Environmental Management, Business, Engineering, or related discipline

ESG certification (desirable)

Job description

Working closely with Global, regional and local stakeholders, this role is responsible for driving our Corporate Responsibility and ESG agenda across the USA.

It is the key ESG leadership position within the region , supporting the business to drive a culture of responsible, ethical, and sustainable delivery to protect people, assets, reputation, and brand.

This role is accountable for compliance with the governance, management, and reporting of CR and ESG performance across people, offices, supply chain, as well as CR and ESG compliance within delivery of programs and projects, including compliance, risk management, and the mitigation and control of ESG‑related impacts.

Reporting Line

Reports into the Director of Economic and Social Impact/ Operations Lead, with a dotted line into the Americas CR Board Sponsor, Regional Executive Leadership and Global CR, ESG & Sustainability Leads.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Drive a culture of CR and ESG accountability, and visible leadership commitment, by continually assessing organizational CR and ESG maturity, establishing performance baselines and creating action plans, in partnership with key business stakeholders.
• Act as the key in-region CR/ESG lead , developing and executing regional implementation strategies to support global CR/ESG initiatives and business expectations.
• Implement, embed, and maintain compliance with our Global CR Framework , standards, and regional business practices, to ensure alignment with global commitments, quality management systems (ISO) and the effective management of ESG‑related risks.
• Ensure regional CR and ESG practices, reporting, and performance remain fully compliant with applicable country, state, and local legal and regulatory requirements, supporting the identification, mitigation, and management of legal, reputational, and commercial risk.
• Lead CR and ESG performance and KPI measurement, data, governance, and reporting across the region, ensuring accuracy, consistency, traceability, and audit‑readiness.
• Coordinate regional inputs into global CR and ESG disclosures and reporting requirements, including reporting against CR Framework KPIs and Sustainability/ ESG Reports.
• Continually assess CR and ESG risks and opportunities impacting regional operations and project delivery, including environmental impacts, social value, DEI, ethical conduct, and responsible supply chain practices.
• Provide direct and timely counsel to regional leadership on CR and ESG performance, trends, emerging risks, regulatory developments, and client expectations.
• Support bid teams and account leadership by providing CR and ESG inputs into RFPs, proposals, frameworks, and client due‑diligence responses.
• Lead and govern regional CR programs, including community engagement, volunteering, and charitable initiatives and Making the Difference Fund applications - ensuring social impact is measured, controlled, and reported.
• Provide strategic leadership and governance for regional environmental and social/community networks, ensuring accurate and timely data reporting to the Global Corporate Responsibility team
• Assess and update relevant trackers and enhance standard processes to ensure appropriate and timely data submissions.
• Engage with ESG ratings agencies, assessors, industry initiatives, and client benchmarking exercises where required.
• Support ESG audits, internal reviews, and external assurance activities and drive continuous improvement across ESG systems, tools, and practices.
• Lead CR/ESG champions to drive global and regional CR strategy.
• Report progress against CR framework to executives.
• Report monthly country / regional CR data into regional leadership and global CR team.
• Liaise with local supplier diversity lead to drive partnerships and business opportunities
• Coordinate with the Health and Safety lead to align related policies and procedures.
• Facilitate and manage relationships with external partners and organizations.
• Align strategic efforts with Vision 2030 and Global Corporate Responsibility Framework.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to maximize fundraising activities and the impact of philanthropic funding sources.

Requirements

• University degree in Sustainability, Environmental Management, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Relevant ESG / sustainability professional certification (desirable).
• Auditor or practitioner training aligned to sustainability and ESG standards (e.g. GRI, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISSB or equivalent).

Skills & Attitudes:

• Outstanding interpersonal skills, communication skills (oral & written) with a strong client-centric and commercially aware approach.
• Proficient in English; additional languages may be beneficial depending on regional and country requirements.
• Experience using ESG data platforms, reporting tools, and management systems.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive change within a matrixed professional services environment.
• Strategic mindse