Sustainability Project Specialist

Title : Sustainability Project Specialist Duration : 8+ months contract Role may be based in Bannockburn, IL or Cambridge, MA, with hybrid flexibility; remote candidates within U.S. time zones will also be considered Around 30 hours work week Objectives/Purpose: • The Client’s Sustainability team is seeking a highly motivated Contract Sustainability Project Specialist to provide temporary support with project management, analytics, and sustainability subject‑matter expertise. • This role requires someone who can independently drive project execution while also bringing strong working knowledge of Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions, waste reduction, reuse, and recycling to accelerate sustainability initiatives across Client’s global network. • The ideal candidate will be able to rapidly integrate into ongoing work, manage cross‑functional inputs, support data‑driven decision‑making, and contribute analytical and strategic insights that advance Client’s environmental sustainability goals. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES: Project Management • Jump in quickly to manage or co-manage active sustainability projects, ensuring milestones, timelines, and deliverables remain on track. • Support cross functional coordination across operations, engineering, quality, procurement, and corporate sustainability. • Proactively identify project risks, escalate issues, and recommend solutions to maintain progress. Sustainability Strategy & Insights: • Provide subject matter expertise on sustainability topics including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, waste management, and circularity. • Conduct landscape scans and benchmarking to support strategic decision making. • Translate analytical findings into actionable insights, mitigation strategies, and implementation plans as needed. Communication & Stakeholder Engagement • Prepare leadership ready materials including presentations, dashboards, and written summaries. • Support recurring updates, cross-functional meetings, and documentation needs. • Synthesize complex data into clear, decision ready outputs tailored to technical and nontechnical audiences. QUALIFICATIONS: Required: • Demonstrated project management expertise, including managing timelines, deliverables, stakeholders, risks, and cross-functional coordination across multiple workstreams. • Demonstrated experience in sustainability, environmental management, ESG, or related analytical fields. • Strong working knowledge of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions accounting and mitigation approaches, waste management strategies, and sustainability reporting methodologies. • Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, data modeling, and data visualization tools. • Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across functions and present findings at all organizational levels. • Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong attention to detail. Preferred: • Experience in biopharmaceutical, healthcare, manufacturing, or related sectors. • Experience working with large data systems, operational datasets, or environmental compliance information.