Sustainability Manager

Cooley is seeking a Sustainability Manager to join the Social Impact & Sustainability department.

Position summary: The Sustainability Manager is responsible for implementing strategies that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across our supply chain. This role will support the Director of Social Impact and Sustainability and collaborate closely with our procurement and operations teams to drive innovative solutions that reduce our environmental impact, improve supplier performance, and enhance the sustainability of our business practices. The sustainability manager will play a key role in engaging Cooley attorneys and business professionals in our firmwide sustainability efforts and help support our internal sustainability champion network alongside the Director. Specific duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities: 

• Implement data-driven sustainability strategies that align with organizational goals and procurement objectives
• Lead efforts to assess, monitor, and improve the sustainability performance of key suppliers
• Build internal processes, governance structures, and tools to support the long-term scaling of sustainability programs
• Support the firm’s internal sustainability engagement efforts, including the employee sustainability champion network
• Manage supplier sustainability criteria, scorecards, and ongoing evaluation frameworks
• Collaborate with procurement to embed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations into supplier selection and management processes
• Support the delivery of sustainability training and resources to suppliers to support compliance and innovation
• Conduct and support life cycle assessments (LCAs) to inform sourcing decisions and identify high-impact emissions reduction opportunities
• Track, analyze, and report greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), with a strong focus on supply chain (Scope 3) emissions
• Contribute to the firm’s annual ESG disclosures and sustainability reporting efforts, including CDP, EcoVadis, and science-based targets
• Partner with internal stakeholders across Legal, Technology, Facilities, and HR to integrate sustainability into business operations
• All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:  

Required:

• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
• Ability to travel, as required
• 5+ years direct applicable experience (e.g., corporate sustainability or supply chain sustainability, preferably in a professional services or global business environment)
• Senior level candidates must have 7+ years applicable experience in the field with 2+ years of exempt/management experience in relevant roles
• Expertise in GHG Protocol, carbon accounting, and supply chain decarbonization strategies
• Demonstrated experience managing supplier sustainability programs and engaging vendors to improve ESG performance
• Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks and platforms (e.g., CDP, GRI, EcoVadis)
• Understanding of U.S. and international sustainability regulations and compliance frameworks (e.g., SEC climate disclosure rules, CSRD, California SB 253/261)

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree in sustainability, environmental science, supply chain management, or related field

Competencies:

• Ability to communicate complex sustainability topics clearly to internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication skills to develop internal and external networks
• Strong event management, leadership, and team building skills
• Empathetic and self-motivated professional that can excel in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to build rapport quickly, and influence internal and external entities
• Demonstrated ability to build, implement and evolve sustainability programs
• Strong business acumen with a broad experience of sustainability reporting and corporate communications
• Strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Passion for innovation, continuous improvement, and building a low-carbon future
• Detail-orientated, organized and process driven
• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and coordinate multiple projects at once in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of firm information
• Strong problem solving skills
• Team player with the ability to form independent relationships across multiple departments and lead collaborative efforts across different locations and departments

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices.

EOE.

The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $115,000 - $170,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate. Senior level candidates may be considered for this position and would be eligible for a higher salary range based on experience.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 21 days of Paid Time Off (“PTO”) and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.