Sustainability Consultant/Senior Sustainability Consultant - Corporate Reporting

at  Black Sun Ltd

OVERVIEW

The Black Sun Global Advisory team is looking for candidates with strong sustainability and corporate communications skills, combined with advisory experience in the ESG and sustainability space, to join our reporting and communications team and advise our exceptionally strong client base of FTSE 100 and FTSE250 companies primarily on their reports and online communications.
The Advisory team works closely with regulators, industry bodies and clients to provide the highest standards of advice and support on all aspects of corporate and sustainability communications and reporting, helping companies navigate the regulatory landscape from ISSB, TCFD, CSRD to CSDDD.
The successful candidate will be a key member of our 11-strong team, focusing on Sustainability reporting and communications, including conducting CSRD-aligned Double Materiality Assessments. He/she will also work closely with all parts of the Black Sun business – helping to win new business, developing strategic roadmaps for clients, and contributing to Black Sun’s award-winning thought leadership and best practice consultancy services.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• At least 5 years’ of relevant work experience in-house or agency-side, with a focus on sustainability
• Solid understanding and knowledge of sustainability standards and frameworks, including but not limited to TCFD, ISSB, CSRD, CSDDD, etc. keeping up to date with latest developments in the mandatory and voluntary space
• Solid experience in researching, reviewing and evaluating companies’ external communications (e.g. Annual Reports; ESG/Sustainability Reports etc.)
• Good experience in facilitating workshops, stakeholder interviews with clients and internally (not a requirement)
• Strong knowledge of key trends in sustainability reporting – key issues, engagement channels, stakeholder needs
• Rounded individual that brings a good mix of attention to detail, people skills and proactiveness, eager to learn and progress professionally
• Can-do attitude that embraces teamwork while being able to handle projects individually

The role of a (Senior) Sustainability Consultant is to own client accounts and provide consulting and advisory work primarily on their sustainability reports, transition plan reports and sustainability communications.
He/she will also lead internal workstreams and engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders (including external organisations and partners).

Client work and business development

• To research, assess and review companies’ external communications and disclosure (e.g. Sustainability, Annual and Transition Plan reports and Sustainability website content) and provide advice on their reporting strategy and communications with a focus on sustainability.
• To work with clients in shaping their sustainability disclosures and strategies, in line with current and forthcoming disclosure requirements, with an excellent understanding of the rapidly evolving regulatory reporting landscape.
• To provide best practice strategic advice on sustainability strategy, ESG and reporting strategy, climate-related disclosures and wider communication to clients, using their expertise and knowledge to drive debates and meet client expectations
• To lead strategic communications presentations, peer analysis, benchmarking, workshops and content audits/guidelines
• To conduct deep dive research into the corporate communications of Black Sun clients to assess their current communications approach, content and overall effectiveness on sustainability
• To lead engaging client workshops, presentations and external events on best practice communication with a particular focus on topics such as strategy, ESG, climate, and relevant regulations.
• To work on double materiality assessments, that are CSRD-aligned
• To be passionate about sustainability and be an advocate both to clients and internal stakeholders
• To co-lead (with account team or Director) client relationships and business development initiatives
• To co-lead pitching for new business and developing sustainability communication and consultancy products
• To contribute to Black Sun’s thought leadership and editorial productions and external relations

Team

• Support knowledge share, education, guidance within teams, within department and between departments
• Co-Lead on internal workstreams and projects, convening others