Director of ESG & Sustainability

About the position

Foreground is partnering with a leading Saudi industrial and infrastructure investment group to appoint a purpose-driven and results-oriented Director of ESG & Sustainability, based in Riyadh. This role carries strategic weight at the group level and comes at a time when the company is expanding its visibility among public-private stakeholders and aligning with national sustainability goals under Vision 2030.

Role Purpose

To develop and lead the execution of the groups ESG and sustainability strategy, embedding environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and governance transparency into corporate decision-making, project delivery, and stakeholder reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a comprehensive ESG roadmap that reflects the groups operational footprint, sector exposure, and long-term strategic ambitions.
• Lead the groups ESG reporting cycle, ensuring compliance with relevant local and international frameworks, including Tadawul ESG Disclosure Guidelines, GRI, SASB, and TCFD.
• Define and track KPIs related to environmental impact (carbon, energy, water), social contribution (diversity, local content, community programs), and governance (policies, risk management, board reporting).
• Build ESG risk assessment models to support investment evaluations, new project screening, and operational compliance.
• Collaborate with procurement and operations teams to drive sustainable sourcing, waste reduction, and supply chain resilience.
• Serve as the groups representative in ESG-related forums, investor briefings, regulatory discussions, and industry benchmarking exercises.
• Oversee internal awareness campaigns, reporting dashboards, and sustainability training for relevant departments.
• Coordinate ESG audit preparation and third-party assurance processes as required by regulators or investors.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 10+ years of experience in sustainability, ESG strategy, or CSR, including 3+ years in a leadership or group-level role.
• Proven experience designing and delivering ESG programs for large-scale industrial, infrastructure, or capital-intensive organizations.
• Strong understanding of Saudi Arabias regulatory landscape, Vision 2030 priorities, and evolving ESG expectations from investors and public entities.
• Bachelors degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Sustainability, or Business; Masters or ESG certification (GRI, LEED, ISO 14001) preferred.
• Experience engaging with external stakeholders such as sovereign funds, ESG auditors, or capital markets is a strong advantage.

Preferred Skills & Traits

• Strategic, structured, and highly credible in cross-functional and board-level settings.
• Passionate about ESG outcomes, with a pragmatic understanding of industrial and investment realities.
• Strong project management and communication skills, capable of translating data into meaningful narratives.
• Fluent in English; Arabic preferred for regulatory and governmental engagement.

Place of work