Sustainability, otherwise referred to as ESG, has become more and more important in business. ESG stands for Environment, Social, and Governance. This is intended to cover the different aspects of being a sustainable business. Another common term is the triple bottom line: people, planet, and profit. 

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An interim sustainability manager is a professional who can step in for in-house employees (for example, during maternity leave or unexpected turnaround) or can be helpful for an organization that is going through a change, is expanding their sustainability strategy, or when it is necessary to get specific skills or experience level on board. 

An interim Sustainability Manager can start immediately and bring with him/her experience, confident leadership, and the ability to implement the needed changes.

Interim sustainability managers help organizations navigate the change they're going through. The exact activities will largely depend on the circumstances within the team. In essence, interim sustainability managers have the experience and skills to take over from the previous in-house managers. Alternatively, they can lead a team that might lack the necessary skills or experience. Interim sustainability managers bridge the gap that the company has identified, whether that is due to maternity leave, a turnaround or other circumstances that lead to this need for support. 


This work is often done by experienced sustainability professionals. With Dazzle, we give you access to the best freelance sustainability talent. In this overview, we will talk you through: 

- The skills & and qualifications of interim sustainability managers
- How they can support your organization in times of need
- How your collaboration with a freelancer could look like

The interim sustainability managers on our platform have a background in sustainability strategy or ESG reporting in large organizations, as a freelancer or even at big 4 consultancies. Many of them have since moved to the freelance community, either to have more freedom or to be able to serve more organizations with their sustainability skills. Interim sustainability managers typically have at least 10 years of working experience. 

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The freelancers on our platform have gone through our assessment process, where we evaluate their skills through an interview and case study. Afterward, the Dazzle freelancers complete a skills inventory that feeds our matchmaking algorithm. 

Interim sustainability managers will have worked with many organizations throughout the years. It's not untypical to have completed ESG reports, sustainability gap analyses, and implementation projects in the past. That means that an experienced interim manager is able to hit the ground running very fast, without a long onboarding period compared to a full-time employee. On our platform, we have a wide range of freelancers, to be able to match your organization, budget, and ambition level. 

Our recommendation would always be to work with senior professionals in the case of interim management. ​

Seniors

Senior sustainability freelancers (with 7+ years of experience as a sustainability professional) can support you completely from becoming compliant to moving beyond basic requirements. They can act as Chief Sustainability Officers as a service to lead the sustainability efforts from the ESG strategy formation all the way up to publishing your annual sustainability report. 

An interim Sustainability Manager is a safe and cost-effective choice when your business is facing a change, a leave of absence, or other situations when you need to level up your sustainability strategy. An Interim Manager can also step in and support the existing team in a specific sustainability project or initiative.

If you have a vacancy you are unable to fill, you can engage an interim sustainability Manager in a short time with rapid results and implement changes during the time you recruit a permanent employee.

- In the event of a transformation
- To carry out a sustainability gap analysis
- When implementing a change in sustainability strategy
- To implement structures and processes
- In case of anxiety/lack of leadership
- If there is a need for support in specific sustainability projects
- In the event of a vacancy, maternity leave or sick leave

Time pressure and urgency

Recruiting employees for a full-time position in your sustainability team can be a timely process. With Dazzle, you can get started in as little as 48 hours. Simply book a discovery call, complete the scoping form and we'll match you to the best possible freelancer. When reports are due,  deadlines are lurking around the corner, and data collection is delaying your progress, working with an interim sustainability manager can fast-track your actions and help you bridge the gap in your team. 

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Understaffed ESG department

The beauty and challenge of sustainability is that it is an extremely broad topic, with more and more sub-topics. Especially in organizations that don't have a fully staffed ESG department, it's almost impossible to expertly cover every single specialty. Sustainability freelancers are a convenient solution to bridge the skills gap that inevitably exists within your organization and get expert advice or implementation support in peak times. 

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Skill gaps and topic-specific expertise

Some extremely complex legislation might be coming your way, which could fall outside of the comfort zone of your core sustainability team. We also regularly see sustainability being covered by HR, Marketing, or Operational departments. Especially senior sustainability advisors can deliver much-needed specialist expertise, for example for complex biodiversity scans, LCAs, or reporting requirements. 

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Local expertise 

If the ESG department has no expertise in a local market but needs to comply with local regulations, it's difficult to find a sustainability advisor to support those cross-border activities. Experienced local sustainability freelancers can supply guidance for local legislation, and reporting requirements, but also culturally sensitive advice on engaging employees in your sustainability efforts.

Flexibility

Instead of hiring someone full-time, working with freelancers allows you to get support only for the hours you really need. 

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Cost-effective

Dazzle can match you with a freelancer that fits within your budget. However, it is important to consider that interim sustainability managers are often senior professionals.

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Specific expertise

Working directly with the individual ensures the level of expertise and experience needed to successfully deliver. Compare resumes and work with interim managers that match your criteria. You can also rest assured that all Dazzle freelancers have successfully completed our vetting system, meaning you'll be working with only the best sustainability freelancers. 

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Depending on the complexity of the assignment and the size of the company, an interim Sustainability Manager can also take on roles such as:

- Sustainability Director
- Sustainability Coordinator
- Head of Sustainability
- Chief Sustainability Officer
- Sustainability Project Manager
- Sustainability Controller
- Head of ESG

And more!