ESG Programme Implementation Lead

ESG Programme Implementation Lead - Education Sector Location: Hybrid, Bangalore The ESG Programme Implementation Lead is responsible for turning ESG strategy and priorities into action. This is a hands-on delivery role for someone who takes ownership, creates momentum and ensures initiatives are effectively implemented across an international business. The role requires strong project leadership, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills, with accountability for taking initiatives from planning through to implementation, adoption and measurable outcomes. Success will be measured by what is implemented, adopted and achieved — not simply by the quality of project plans, trackers or reporting. The post holder is expected to act with integrity, treat colleagues and stakeholders with care and respect, work collaboratively across teams and locations, use resources responsibly, and remain committed to continuous learning and improvement. Key Responsibilities Implementation & Project Delivery Lead the end-to-end implementation of key ESG initiatives, taking accountability for agreed outcomes, timelines and impact. Translate strategic priorities into practical delivery plans, taking ownership of the approach, defining actions, resources, and dependencies. Drive implementation across locations and external partners, removing barriers and resolving issues to maintain momentum. Identify risks, dependencies and emerging challenges, implementing mitigation actions and escalating decisions where required. Lead the onboarding of new entities into ESG framework, sustainability practices and energy reporting requirements, from initial engagement through to adoption and ongoing compliance. Monitor implementation effectiveness and identify opportunities to improve, standardise and scale ESG initiatives. Stakeholder Engagement & Capability Building Develop and implement stakeholder engagement and communication approaches that support adoption of ESG initiatives. Build effective relationships with regional teams and senior stakeholders, influencing teams to secure commitment and deliver agreed actions. Lead the ESG Community of Practice and other knowledge-sharing forums to drive adoption, share learning and build implementation capability. Facilitate training, workshops and knowledge-sharing sessions to enable effective implementation of ESG processes, tools and best practice. Capture project outcomes, lessons learned and impact to support case studies, organisational learning and sustainability reporting. Strategic Project Support & Governance Provide proactive strategic and operational support to the Group Head of ESG and wider sustainability team, translating priorities into action and maintaining momentum across key initiatives. Lead critical projects and ad hoc initiatives, bringing structure, pace and accountability to delivery. Prepare high-quality presentations, recommendations and materials for leadership teams, steering committees and other stakeholders. Support Board and shareholder reporting, GHG audits, assurance processes and other strategic ESG activities, ensuring information is accurate, timely and evidence-based. Project Management & Process Improvement Establish appropriate project management approaches, tools and governance to provide visibility and accountability for delivery. Maintain project plans, dashboards and reporting that clearly track actions, owners, dependencies, risks, decisions and deadlines. Coordinate project meetings and working sessions, ensuring clear decisions, actions and follow-up. Develop and maintain practical process documentation, user guides and standard operating procedures to support consistent implementation. Identify and implement opportunities to simplify, improve and standardise processes across the organisation. Use data, stakeholder feedback and lessons learned to evaluate effectiveness and drive continuous improvement. Skills, Qualifications And Experience Project leadership: Significant proven experience leading complex programmes across multiple sites or institutions, from scoping through to implementation and completion, with a strong track record of delivering outcomes. Implementation & delivery: Proven ability to translate strategy into action, manage risks and dependencies, solve problems and drive initiatives through to measurable results. Stakeholder management: Strong experience engaging and influencing stakeholders at different levels and across functions, cultures and geographies, including senior leadership. Facilitation & Capacity Building: Confident facilitator with experience designing and delivering training, workshops, and peer learning networks. Strategic and operational thinking: Able to understand the strategic objective while determining the practical actions, resources and decisions required to deliver it. Problem solving & judgement: Solutions-focused and comfortable navigating ambiguity, making sound decisions and taking action without requiring detailed direction. Project governance & process improvement: Experience establishing effective project management processes, monitoring delivery and implementing improvements to increase efficiency and impact. Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience producing clear reports, presentations and communications for senior stakeholders. ESG or sustainability reporting experience is desirable. ESG / sustainability: Experience in ESG, sustainability or a related field is desirable, particularly within a complex or multinational organisation. Organisation & adaptability: Highly organised and adaptable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively within a small, agile team. Sustainability mindset: Demonstrates a genuine interest in sustainability and social impact, with a strong focus on practical delivery and meaningful outcomes. Additional requirements Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Sustainability or a related discipline preferred. Relevant professional experience may be considered in place of a degree. Project management or business analysis certification such as PMP, PRINCE2, Agile or CBAP is desirable. Fluent written and spoken English; Spanish is desirable.