Sustainability & ESG Specialist
TenCate
Location: Dalton, GA / Hybrid
Company Overview
TenCate is a global leader in the design, manufacturing, and installation of high-performance synthetic turf systems and sports surfacing solutions. With a strong portfolio of brands and operating companies across North America, TenCate partners with schools, municipalities, universities, professional organizations, and private facilities to deliver innovative, durable, and performance-driven sports construction solutions.
We are seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Sustainability & ESG Specialist to support environmental sustainability, data management, reporting, and compliance efforts across TenCate's U.S. operations.
This role is ideal for a recent graduate or early-career environmental professional who is comfortable working with data, coordinating across multiple sites, and developing expertise in carbon accounting, lifecycle assessments, environmental management systems, and emerging sustainability requirements.
Position Summary
The Sustainability & ESG Specialist will collect, validate, analyze, and report environmental data across TenCate's U.S. operations. The role will serve as the U.S. super user for Watershed, support waste and emissions-reduction initiatives, coordinate lifecycle assessment activities, and assist with environmental and ESG reporting.
The position will work closely with U.S. site and business leaders as well as TenCate's global sustainability teams in the Netherlands. As experience grows, the Specialist will take on greater responsibility for lifecycle assessments, carbon-reduction initiatives, regulatory research, and related sustainability programs.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary U.S. super user and day-to-day coordinator for Watershed, including data collection, validation, user support, issue resolution, and reporting
- Collect, organize, review, and analyze sustainability data from U.S. sites and business units, including energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, recycling, water, materials, and other environmental indicators
- Help establish consistent data definitions, documentation, controls, and reporting processes so sustainability information is accurate, complete, traceable, and prepared for internal or external review
- Support development and implementation of short- and long-term sustainability plans focused on reducing emissions, waste, energy use, and resource consumption
- Coordinate U.S. zero-waste-to-landfill projects, reporting, and verification activities in partnership with site leaders, Operations, EHS, Quality, and external providers
- Identify trends, data gaps, environmental hotspots, and improvement opportunities and translate findings into practical recommendations
- Support energy-efficiency projects and emissions-reduction plans by tracking baselines, targets, project progress, estimated savings, and performance results
- Coordinate lifecycle assessment activities, including data collection, use of Helix or related tools, analysis of product and process impacts, and identification of improvement opportunities
- Assist with sustainability and ESG disclosures using applicable company requirements and recognized reporting frameworks, which may include GRI, SASB/ISSB, customer questionnaires, and regulatory reporting requirements
- Research and monitor relevant environmental, climate, product, and sustainability-related laws, regulations, standards, and customer requirements; summarize potential business impacts for leadership
- Support environmental compliance reviews, internal audits, documentation requests, due-diligence activities, and corrective-action tracking
- Coordinate with site teams on implementation and continuous improvement of applicable ISO management systems, particularly environmental requirements, and support alignment across Quality, Environmental, and Safety programs as assigned
- Partner with TenCate's global sustainability team and other stakeholders to support group sustainability initiatives, stakeholder-engagement projects, and due-diligence procedures
- Create dashboards, reports, presentations, training materials, and communications that make sustainability data and expectations understandable to employees and leadership
- Help evaluate proposed sustainability projects by reviewing environmental benefits, technical feasibility, cost, expected savings, implementation requirements, and return on investment
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Manufacturing, EHS, Quality, Finance, Procurement, IT, Legal, Commercial teams, and global sustainability functions
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Sustainability, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Data Analytics, Business, or a related field required
- Internship, co-op, academic project, or up to three years of professional experience related to sustainability, environmental engineering, environmental compliance, energy, waste, carbon accounting, lifecycle assessment, manufacturing, or data analysis preferred
- Foundational understanding of ESG principles, greenhouse gas accounting, carbon footprints, or Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 emissions, or the ability to learn these concepts quickly
- Experience collecting, cleaning, validating, analyzing, and presenting data from multiple sources
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills required; experience with Power BI, sustainability software, carbon-accounting platforms, or data-visualization tools preferred
- Familiarity with lifecycle assessments, environmental management systems, ISO standards, GRI, SASB/ISSB, or sustainability reporting preferred but not required
- Excellent organization and attention to detail, including the ability to maintain clear supporting documentation and trace data to its source
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify patterns, question inconsistencies, and clearly explain findings
- Effective written and verbal communication skills and the confidence to follow up with employees across multiple sites and levels of the organization
- Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines, work independently, and collaborate effectively in a cross-functional and international environment
- Curiosity, initiative, sound judgment, and willingness to learn evolving sustainability tools, standards, and regulatory requirements
- Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Watershed, Helix, or another sustainability, carbon-accounting, lifecycle-assessment, or ESG reporting platform
- Experience in a manufacturing, materials, chemical, construction, sports-surface, or multi-site operating environment
- Coursework or practical experience involving greenhouse gas inventories, energy management, waste reduction, environmental auditing, or product lifecycle analysis
- LEED Green Associate, GRI certification, TRUE Advisor, ISO internal-auditor training, or another relevant sustainability or environmental credential
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package. Final compensation will depend on experience, education, technical knowledge, and demonstrated capabilities.
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage
- 401(k) with company participation
- Paid time off and company holidays
- Professional development and career growth opportunities
Work Environment & Travel
This is a non-production role that requires regular computer use, review of detailed data and documentation, and frequent virtual and in-person collaboration. Occasional travel to U.S. TenCate facilities, meetings, audits, training sessions, or project sites may be required based on business needs. During site visits, employees may be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment.
Work Authorization
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future employer sponsorship.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Challenger Turf, a TenCate company, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.
