Sustainability Managers in Germany
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Meet FRATCH Sustainability Managers
Oliver Schulz
Last position:
SAP Sub-Project Lead (SCM, MM, EWM) at Brunata Wärmemesser Hagen GmbH & Co KG
- Responsibility for time, budget and quality targets of the sub-project
- Creation and maintenance of the sub-project plan including dependencies to FI, CO, PP, SD
- Definition of work packages, resource planning and progress monitoring
- Risk and change management within module scope
- Analysis of as-is processes in procurement, logistics and warehouse management
- Design of to-be processes according to SAP standard (EWM warehouse processes such as goods receipt, put-away, picking, goods issue)
- Coordination with key users and specialist departments
- Support for interface development with external warehouse systems and supplier portals
- Organization of test data, error tracking and test documentation
- Support for deployment preparation and key user training
- Participation in the cutover plan (data migration, go-live preparation)
- Support of the department during the hypercare phase after go-live
- Assistance in mapping EWM core processes
- Management of external service providers
- Use of Jira, Confluence, Signavio, MS Teams, Aqua ALM
Mark Wieczorrek
Last position:
Manager & Product Owner Sustainability (ESG) at EGC Eurogroup Consulting AG
- Designing, consulting, and managing strategic transformation projects for banks, insurers, and financial associations with a focus on efficiency, digitalization, and ESG
- Owning market positioning in sustainability through professional publications, whitepapers, and presentations at the top management level
- Developing and executing targeted acquisition strategies for ESG transformation projects and the insurance market, including identifying market opportunities and creating proposals in collaboration with executive management
Niklas Witte
Last position:
Freelance Consultant / CEO at NEVERMINDTHEGAP
- Offered ESG strategy development and implementation
- Performed ESG reporting
- Implemented EMAS, ISO 14001 & 50001
- Commercialised ESG products and services
- Conducted employee ESG training
- Managed internal and external communication (B2B & B2C)
- Provided subject matter expertise for sustainability assurance to auditors
- Executed ESG reporting according to CSRD / ESRS, GRI, VSME and DNK
- Completed materiality analysis and stakeholder consultation
- Defined ESG strategy, vision, targets and actions
- Developed decarbonisation roadmaps
- Initiated sustainable procurement initiatives
- Devised sales strategy for sustainable products and services
- Delivered sustainability assurance services
- Provided employee and leadership ESG awareness training
- Served clients including Tchibo GmbH, Zooplus SE, Basler AG and Schryver Logistics
Denis Schäfer
Last position:
Consultant Sustainability Management at BNWD Consulting GmbH
The aspects listed here outline the different roles and activities that I have taken on or am currently taking on in my work in sustainability management for companies across a wide range of industries:
- External sustainability manager role
- Training and workshops for (international) teams on sustainability topics
- Responsibility for building CSRD reporting structures
- Responsibility for building CBAM reporting structures
- Responsibility for implementing a LkSG risk management system
- Responsibility for implementing an EUTR/EUDR risk management system
- Implementation and operation of compliance reporting systems
- Preparation of greenhouse gas inventories according to international standards
- Monitoring political and regulatory sustainability-related developments
- Support with funding controlling and grant applications
Through my work, I have gained experience in companies from a wide range of industries. My clients include, for example:
- international corporate group in the clothing industry
- securing funding and implementing international projects
- group company in the automotive sector
- family-run group of companies in the tobacco goods sector
- owner-managed company in the food sector
- internationally active laboratory group
- family-run group of companies in the special items sector
- family-run company in the food sector
- group of companies in the retail sector
- IT services with a focus on the public sector
Expertise in sustainability reporting (especially CSRD):
- main focus of work since the end of 2023
- identification of the regulatory sustainability-related requirements for sustainability reporting
- development of a concept / project roadmap for setting up and implementing compliant sustainability reporting
- coordination and implementation of the materiality analysis in line with ESRS
- coordination and implementation of the stakeholder dialogue incl. development of a materiality questionnaire
- identification of material ESRS topic areas and derivation of the relevant reportable data points
- coordination of data collection and preparation
- ensuring compliant documentation of all relevant process steps
- coordination with audit firms
- management of cross-departmental teams for data collection and management
Expertise in sustainability ratings (especially Ecovadis):
- assessment of the status quo
- derivation of improvement areas to achieve the desired rating result
- identification of company-specific thematic rating priorities
- development of a concept for preparing and carrying out the sustainability rating
- preparation of new documents to meet the rating requirements, e.g. in the areas of policies and reporting
- coordination of data collection and preparation as well as measures in the defined improvement areas
- management of cross-departmental teams to implement the requirements
- carrying out the questionnaire-based rating
Expertise in deforestation-free supply chains (EUTR and EUDR):
- identification of the company-specific regulatory sustainability-related requirements of EUTR & EUDR
- development of a concept / project roadmap for setting up and implementing compliant risk management structures
- coordination and implementation of supplier data requests
- development of supplier templates for data collection
- development of the due diligence regulation
- support in carrying out official notifications
- coordination of the risk management system
- preparation and support for an official audit
- management of cross-departmental teams to implement the requirements
- early identification of further regulatory requirements under EUDR
- handling official communication (e.g. to clarify regulatory uncertainties)
Expertise in the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM):
- identification of the company-specific regulatory sustainability-related requirements of CBAM
- development of a concept / project roadmap for setting up and implementing compliant reporting structures
- coordination and implementation of supplier data requests
- development of supplier templates for data collection
- development of data collection and preparation structures to determine GHG emissions
- registration in the CBAM register and takeover of CBAM reporting
- early identification of further regulatory requirements of CBAM
Expertise in the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act:
- identification of the regulatory sustainability-related requirements of the LkSG
- development of a concept / project roadmap for implementing compliant risk management structures
- coordination and implementation of the risk analysis
- development of prioritization mechanisms to derive risk mitigation and remedial measures
- monitoring of initiated measures with risk suppliers
- development of a Supplier Code of Conduct and a rollout process
- development of a policy statement on human rights and a human rights strategy statement
- implementation and operation of LkSG whistleblowing procedures
- interface and coordination of internal departments and external contacts in operating the LkSG risk management system
Further expertise in sustainability management:
- carrying out opportunity and risk analyses
- defining sustainability strategies
- defining climate targets in line with the SBTi
- answering sustainability-related customer requests
- support in the sustainability-related optimization of existing processes (e.g. operation of the EnMS according to ISO 50001, carrying out audits)
- support in expanding renewable energy in the photovoltaic area
- setup and operation of compliance reporting systems
- preparation of greenhouse gas inventories for Scope 1, 2 and 3 according to the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, GHG Protocol Product Carbon Footprint and ISO 14064 as well as product-specific CO2 inventories
- management of cross-departmental teams to implement sustainability-related requirements
Marcel Maurer
Last position:
Quality Management Expert / Regulatory Affairs at Bereich Zahntechnik
Richard Steiner
Last position:
Senior Manager Supply Chain Sustainability at KION AG
- Integration of Sustainability tools and reporting (EcoVadis IQ & Integrity Next)
- Implementation of new group wide supplier identifier (DUNS Number)
- Scope 3 emission evaluation (spend and weight based)
- Continuous improvement of processes around sustainability within procurement
Christoph Diener
Last position:
Lecturer & Technical Author at AUDfIT Deutschland GmbH
- Training auditors with a focus on the German Commercial Code (HGB) and financial statement audits (JAP)
- Professional training on auditing and preparing financial statements
- Author of technical content and articles on sustainability reporting (CSRD, ESRS, VSME)
- Linking traditional audits with current ESG topics
Daniela Kölsch
Last position:
Guest Speaker within lecture "Digitalization and sustainability in procurement" at Hochschule Niederrhein
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Sustainability Managers statistics
Aggregated from the professional profiles of matched freelancers.
Experience
19 years
Position duration
3 years
Positions per freelancer
9
Top business areas
Sustainability Management, Strategy, Project Management
Top industries
Professional Services, Automotive, Manufacturing
Certification focus areas
Human Resources, Project Management, Sustainability Management
Bachelor's degree or higher
86%
Master's degree or higher
57%
Doctorate
14%
Certifications per freelancer
6
Most common languages
German, English, Spanish
Speak two or more languages
88%
Daily Rate Distribution
The chart shows how the daily rates of freelancers in this role are distributed, based on recent contracts on our platform. Each bar covers a rate range — its height shows how many freelancers charge within that range. Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
Average rates for Sustainability Managers & Seniority distribution
Rates are based on recent contracts and do not include FRATCH margin.
The average daily rate is the mean of all daily rates from recent contracts of comparable freelancers on our platform.
The median daily rate is the middle value of all daily rates — half of comparable freelancers charge less, half charge more. Unlike the average, it is barely affected by outliers.
Actual rates may vary depending on seniority level, experience, skill specialization, project complexity, and engagement length.
About the role
What they do
A sustainability manager turns targets into clear action. They build the reporting setup, coordinate data from operations, finance, procurement, and HR, and translate it into plans a business can actually run. In many companies, the role also covers ESG manager or sustainability lead work.
- Define sustainability goals and internal responsibilities
- Prepare ESG and CSRD reporting inputs
- Set up carbon, energy, waste, and supplier data flows
- Support audits, board updates, and investor requests
Core skills
Strong professionals combine business judgment with reporting discipline. They know how to work with incomplete data, align stakeholders, and keep a process moving without losing traceability.
- ESG reporting and double materiality work
- Carbon accounting and emissions data quality
- Stakeholder coordination across departments
- Clear writing for policies, reports, and presentations
Tools and methods
The right freelancer is comfortable with spreadsheets, reporting templates, and sustainability software. They should understand how to structure source data, build control checks, and document assumptions so reports can stand up to review.
Typical methods include gap analyses, materiality assessments, KPI frameworks, supplier questionnaires, and decarbonization roadmaps. In Germany, they often support international teams that need English reporting while working with local operations, procurement, and legal teams.
When to hire
Companies usually bring in a freelance sustainability manager when the work is urgent, cross-functional, or tied to a reporting deadline. That includes new disclosure requirements, a failed internal handover, a parent-company request, or a need to launch a program without adding a permanent headcount.
Freelance support also makes sense when the job is part strategy, part implementation. A consultant can design the framework, train the team, and help hand over the process once it is stable.
What good looks like
A strong sustainability manager is practical, structured, and calm under pressure. They do not stop at reporting. They help teams turn findings into decisions.
- Builds a clear view of scope, data owners, and deadlines
- Spots weak data and fixes the process, not just the report
- Explains trade-offs in simple language for leadership
- Balances compliance, operations, and commercial reality
Common project types
Freelancers in this role are often asked to support ESG reporting, CSRD readiness, carbon baseline creation, supplier sustainability programs, and internal policy work. They may also help with sustainability strategy, training, or interim coverage during growth and transformation.
For companies in Germany, this can be especially useful when local teams need a fast start but global reporting still has to stay aligned. The best match is someone who can work independently, ask the right questions, and keep momentum across functions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know more? Check out our simple guide about FRATCH
A sustainability manager turns ESG goals into day-to-day work. They coordinate data collection, reporting, and action plans across functions such as finance, procurement, operations, and HR. In many companies, they also manage internal policies and support leadership with decisions.
Look for a mix of reporting discipline and stakeholder management. The person should understand ESG reporting, carbon data, materiality work, and how to build reliable processes from messy inputs. Strong writing and clear communication matter just as much as technical knowledge.
Not always, but the roles often overlap. An ESG manager usually focuses more on disclosure, governance, and reporting, while a sustainability consultant may focus on advisory work and short-term projects. A sustainability manager is often closer to implementation and internal coordination.
Freelance support is a good fit when the need is project-based, deadline-driven, or tied to a temporary gap. It works well for CSRD preparation, reporting setup, or program launches where you need expertise quickly. A permanent hire makes more sense when the role is a stable, long-term function inside the business.
Common deliverables include ESG reporting inputs, gap analyses, materiality assessments, carbon baselines, policies, roadmaps, and management presentations. A good sustainability manager also leaves behind a process the team can keep using. That means documentation, clear ownership, and practical handover materials.
Many work remotely for reporting, analysis, and coordination, then join workshops or key meetings on-site when needed. In Germany, it is common to work with local operations teams while reporting in English for international stakeholders. Good candidates can switch between both contexts without losing clarity.
Ask for examples of similar work, the structure they used, and how they handled incomplete data or internal resistance. A strong sustainability lead explains not only what they delivered, but how they made the process more reliable. You should also check whether they can speak clearly about assumptions, scope, and trade-offs.
A sustainability manager covers a broader scope, including reporting, internal coordination, governance, and strategy. A climate or carbon specialist is usually narrower and focuses on emissions, targets, and reduction measures. If your project needs one person to connect several workstreams, the broader role is often the better fit.
The average hourly rate for Sustainability Managers in Germany is 132 €, which corresponds to a daily rate of about 1,059 € based on an 8-hour working day.
Of the freelancers working as Sustainability Managers in Germany, 86% hold at least a Bachelor's degree, 57% hold at least a Master's degree, and 14% hold a doctorate.
On average, freelancers working as Sustainability Managers in Germany have 19 years of professional experience, with a single engagement typically lasting around 3 years.
The most common languages among freelancers working as Sustainability Managers in Germany are German (88%), English (88%), and Spanish (25%).
The most common industries among freelancers working as Sustainability Managers in Germany are Professional Services (88%), Automotive (50%), and Manufacturing (50%).
The most common business areas among freelancers working as Sustainability Managers in Germany are Sustainability Management (100%), Strategy (75%), and Project Management (63%).
FRATCH Sustainability Managers main locations
Our freelancers and interim experts are at home across the DACH region — available on-site in the major business hubs or fully remote. Choose a location to discover matched specialists, local market insights and up-to-date availability.
Berlin Hamburg Munich Cologne Frankfurt Stuttgart Dusseldorf Leipzig Dortmund Essen Bremen Dresden Hanover Nuremberg Request a Free Demo
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Philipp Thomaschewski
FRATCH CEO
