What is an Interim Sustainability Manager?

We’ve probably all noticed that in recent years, sustainability has simultaneously become more complex, and more important. 

New legislation like the CSRD, CSDDD, Green Claims Directive, and others have added to the sustainability challenge, while also essentially making sustainability a legal requirement. 

To rise to this double-barreled challenge (sustainably produced barrels of course!), putting the right sustainability management structure in place is essential. 

And we do mean structure. To cover the vast sustainability landscape that exists today, many different types of sustainability managers are usually required. The exact combination you choose to put in place depends on your company’s particular circumstances. 

Whatever manager types you need though, hiring them on an interim basis could be the best option for you. Interim sustainability managers have become very popular lately across numerous industries due to the added benefits they offer. 

But what are we talking about exactly, when we say interim sustainability manager? 

What is an Interim Sustainability Manager?

Often in the world of sustainability, new processes or requirements pop up out of nowhere, and companies are completely unprepared. They urgently need to manage these new challenges, but they don’t have the knowledge or expertise to do so. This is why interim sustainability managers can be so valuable. 

Interim sustainability managers are sustainability managers that can be hired on a temporary basis. It’s possible to hire any type of sustainability manager in this way, and they will offer the same capabilities as their full-time counterparts.  

If you’re in urgent need, you can quickly onboard an interim sustainability manager. They will use their specialized expertise to help you overcome whatever sustainability challenge you need help with. Then, with your sustainability worries extinguished, you can part ways without the need for a full-time commitment. 

Interim sustainability managers can also be used to seamlessly fill knowledge gaps when permanent managers are on leave. 

It is this flexibility and cost-effectiveness that has convinced so many companies recently to choose the interim option. 

We wonder, could it be time for you to do the same? 

When You Should Consider Hiring an Interim Sustainability Manager

Whether you have a pressing sustainability issue that needs solving fast, or you have a temporary gap in your sustainability expertise, interim sustainability managers are on hand to help.

If you ever find yourself in any of these tight sustainability spots, you should consider bringing  an interim sustainability manager on board:
 

Urgent Projects

That sustainability report needs to be ready by yesterday. We’ll never hit our emissions target if we don’t switch to renewable energy by the end of the quarter. As you can onboard them so quickly, both of these situations sound like they’re tailor-made for an interim sustainability manager.

Hiring one is a good idea if you need to quickly address any kind of urgent or short-term sustainability project.

Specialized Expertise

Seeking interim help also makes sense if you’re in need of specific skills or expertise. 

If you’re trying to comply with new sustainability regulations like the CSRD for example, you can quickly hire an interim CSRD specialist to focus on that specifically. Or if you’re pursuing a sustainability certification like LEED or B Corp, hiring the right interim manager can instantly boost that process. 

It’s also possible for your interim manager to transfer their expertise to your internal team during these projects. Meaning you can obtain long-term knowledge for a short-term outlay. 

Added Support for Existing Sustainability Director/Chief Sustainability Officer

Interim sustainability managers don’t necessarily have to be brought in as project leaders. There will always be times when your existing sustainability director or chief sustainability officer might need a little extra support.

Hiring interim help during these times is the perfect way to take the pressure off, and ensure that everything continues to run smoothly.
 

Expansion into New Markets

Just because you have your sustainability game on point in one market, doesn’t mean that will easily translate to another. If you decide to enter a new market or region, it’s likely that sustainability regulations will differ there. Interim sustainability managers can help you navigate the local laws and practices during the early days of such a venture.
 

Crisis Management

Nobody enjoys a crisis, but if you’re facing a sustainability-related crisis, you’ll enjoy it a whole lot more with the right interim sustainability manager on board. They will instantly provide you with the experience and guidance needed to control the situation, and limit any negative consequences.
 

Perfect for Maternity Cover and Sick Leave

Maintaining strong sustainability performance today usually requires having a team of specialists and experts in place. Each one focused on a particular aspect of sustainability. Inevitably, at some point these specialists will need to take time off, whether that’s for maternity leave or for medical reasons. 

Suddenly, a significant expertise gap appears, and the company needs to fill it fast. Interim sustainability managers are perfect in these situations. You can hire them quickly, fill the expertise gap seamlessly, and part ways when your permanent manager returns. You’ll barely even remember they left in the first place. 

But that’s only if you hire the right interim manager for the job. 

What to Look for in an Interim Sustainability Manager

To find the perfect interim solution, you should look for several key traits while considering candidates.

Proven Experience

Of course, the first thing you should look for is a proven track record. What projects has each candidate worked on before? What results did they achieve? How satisfied are their past clients? 

Don’t be afraid to ask each candidate for references, and to contact those references. That is the best way you can determine the level of work each candidate is likely to deliver. 

Relevant Expertise

To deliver quality work, your interim manager will need to have a high level of relevant expertise. 

They should be familiar with your company’s sector, and your unique sustainability challenges, opportunities, and regulations. And they should also have an extensive understanding of the specific sustainability area they will be focusing on. 

So for example if you’re hiring an interim sustainable supply chain manager, they should have specialist knowledge about sustainability within the supply chain. Not just sustainability in general. 

Project Management Skills

In many cases when you bring an interim sustainability manager on board, it will be to complete a specific project. It goes without saying then that you will want to hire somebody with strong project management skills. 

They should be able to instigate and guide a project from start to finish, delivering results in a short space of time.

Communication and Leadership

But how can somebody come into a new organization, take charge of a project that likely spans multiple departments, and promtly deliver results? By being a strong communicator and effective leader, that’s how! 

So make sure to hire an interim sustainability manager with excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership skills.

Adaptability

Ultimately, you should look for an interim manager who can adapt easily to your company’s culture and processes, while also effectively driving change. 

Did we just say you should look for? 

Well actually there’s no need for that. We already have the perfect solution for you within the Dazzle network.

Let Dazzle Find Your Perfect Interim Sustainability Manager 

Dazzle is a platform that offers the world’s best sustainability freelancers on-demand. 

We have all types of sustainability managers available, and they have all been carefully pre-screened. This means that they all come with a proven track record and extensive expertise.

For maximum flexibility, you can choose to work with our freelancers on a project-based, on-demand, or interim basis. So no matter what your situation is, we’ve got you covered. 

Contact us today, and we can send you multiple candidates within hours. We are sure we can find you the perfect solution without fuss.