Manager, Sustainability

1P284 THE CARLYLE GROUP EMPLOYEE CO., LLC; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 105,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Wellness programs

Discretionary incentive

Job summary

The Carlyle Group is seeking a highly commercial, execution‑oriented Sustainability US Value Creation Lead to drive tangible business outcomes across its US Private Equity, Real Assets, and Infrastructure portfolio. This in‑house strategy/ops role partners with portfolio company management to translate ESG insights into actionable business strategy and measurable EBITDA impact.

You will independently lead engagements with senior executives, design scalable value creation programs, and develop

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; finance/economics/ESG related strongly preferred.
• 5–8+ years in management consulting, private equity value creation, or similar strategy/operations role.
• Proven track record delivering measurable business outcomes (cost savings, revenue growth, operational improvements).
• Familiarity with sustainability/ESG topics as business levers, not just reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead ESG‑Driven Value Creation Across Portfolio Companies.
• Independently lead engagements with portfolio company management teams to identify, prioritize, and execute value creation opportunities.
• Translate ESG topics into clear commercial strategies that drive EBITDA impact.
• Design and implement initiatives that deliver cost savings, operational efficiencies, risk reduction, and revenue enhancement.
• Act as a trusted advisor to C‑suite and senior operators with limited oversight.
• Build and operationalize scalable value creation programs across asset classes.
• Develop roadmaps, KPIs, and implementation plans with accountability through execution.
• Ensure initiatives are embedded into core business operations, not standalone ESG efforts.
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration within portfolio companies to execute programs effectively.
• Support ESG diligence for new investments with focus on value creation opportunities.

Skills

Management consulting

PE value creation

Strategy & ops

ESG as lever

Stakeholder management

Senior exec engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Position Summary

The Carlyle Group is seeking a highly commercial, execution‑oriented Sustainability US Value Creation Lead to drive tangible business outcomes across its US Private Equity, Real Assets, and Infrastructure portfolio. This role focuses on designing and delivering value creation initiatives that enhance portfolio company performance through sustainability‑driven levers, including cost optimization, risk mitigation, and revenue growth. The position operates as an in‑house strategy and operations consultant, working directly with portfolio company management teams to build and implement high‑impact programs. The ideal candidate will independently lead engagements with senior executives, translate ESG insights into business strategy, and operationalize initiatives that drive measurable financial value. The candidate will be passionate about business innovation and demonstrate leadership in using AI to advance sustainability outcomes and improve team operations. A strong track record of driving innovation and adopting emerging technologies is desired.

Responsibilities

• Lead ESG‑Driven Value Creation Across Portfolio Companies
• Independently lead engagements with portfolio company management teams to identify, prioritize, and execute value creation opportunities
• Translate ESG topics (e.g., energy, supply chain, workforce, product positioning) into clear commercial strategies that drive EBITDA impact
• Design and implement initiatives that deliver cost savings, operational efficiencies, risk reduction, and revenue enhancement
• Act as a trusted advisor to C‑suite and senior operators, with limited oversight
• Program Design & Execution: build and operationalize scalable and bespoke value creation programs across asset classes
• Develop clear roadmaps, KPIs, and implementation plans, and drive accountability through execution
• Ensure initiatives are embedded into core business operations, not treated as standalone ESG efforts
• Lead cross‑functional collaboration within portfolio companies to execute programs effectively
• Investment Lifecycle Integration (Selective, High‑Impact): support ESG diligence for new investments with a focus on value creation opportunities and commercial upside
• Translate diligence findings into actionable 100‑day plans and ownership‑ready value creation strategies
• Thought Leadership & Platform Building: develop practical playbooks and toolkits that enable repeatable value creation across the portfolio
• Identify emerging trends and innovative approaches to sustainability‑driven value creation
• Support internal knowledge sharing and capability building across deal and operating teams

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, required; concentration in finance, accounting, economics, or other business‑or ESG‑related discipline strongly preferred
• 5–8+ years of experience in management consulting, private equity value creation, or a similar strategy/operations role
• Demonstrated experience leading workstreams or projects independently, ideally with direct exposure to senior client stakeholders
• Proven track record of driving measurable business outcomes (cost savings, revenue growth, operational improvements)
• Experience working with or advising portfolio companies or operating businesses strongly preferred
• Familiarity with sustainability/ESG topics as business levers (not just reporting frameworks)

Core Capabilities

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to connect ESG initiatives to financial performance
• Exceptional problem‑solving and analytical skills; able to structure ambiguous problems and drive to execution
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence engaging senior executives
• Ability to operate independently in a fast‑paced, unstructured environment with high expectations
• Demonstrated ability to move from strategy to execution and deliver results

Mindset & Attributes

• Highly proactive, ownership‑driven, and execution‑focused
• Naturally curious and innovative, with a passion for building and scaling programs
• Comfortable challenging management teams and influencing without authority
• Strong judgment on when to elevate or operate independently
• Strong team‑player mentality and ability to operate in a global environment

Benefits / Compensation

The compensation range for this role is specific to Washington, DC and takes into account a wide range of factors including but not limited to the skill sets required/preferred; prior experience and training; licenses and/or certifications. The anticipated base salary range for this role is $105,000 to $115,000.

In addition to the base salary, the hired professional will enjoy a comprehensive benefits package spanning retirement benefits, health insurance, life insurance and disability, paid time off, paid holidays, family planning benefits and various wellness programs. Additionally, the hired professional may also be eligible to participate in an annual discretionary incentive program, the award of which will be dependent on various factors, including, without limitation, individual and organizational performance.