Corporate Environmental & Sustainability Manager
Worthington Steel · Columbus
The Environmental & Sustainability Functional Leader provides strategic direction, functional leadership, and governance for environmental compliance, environmental risk management, and sustainability activities across WS operations. The leader establishes standards, guides and challenges environmental performance, and evaluates material risks and changes in the business and the regulatory environment. Facility and operating leaders retain direct accountability for local compliance execution. The role oversees sustainability reporting and disclosures, environmental systems, acquisition integration, and the development of a capable centralized team.
Key Position Results:
Strong environmental compliance performance and proactive reduction of material environmental risks.
Successful maintenance of permits and all other environmental reporting requirements across the company.
Clear governance, environmental standards, escalation protocols, and operating accountability.
Credible environmental and sustainability reporting and disclosures.
Effective systems, compliance assurance, and environmental performance programs.
Successful integration of acquired operations and appropriate global alignment.
Resilient functional talent, knowledge transfer, and technical capability across the operating network.
Key Duties & Responsibilities:
Environmental Compliance, Risk Management & Governance
Set consistent environmental compliance standards, expectations, and functional guidance across North America.
Provide oversight, challenge, and escalation through Regional EHS and facility leadership without direct operating authority.
Establish risk-based compliance assurance, assessments, audits, management reviews, and corrective-action follow-up.
Advise on material permitting, enforcement, regulatory interpretation, capital projects, and environmental liabilities.
Coordinate shared ownership of product environmental compliance with applicable business and corporate functions.
Sustainability Reporting, Disclosures & Environmental Performance
Set pragmatic sustainability reporting priorities focused on compliance, customer requirements, and credible disclosures.
Oversee GHG accounting, environmental metrics, data quality, limited assurance, and reporting controls.
Direct coordination of annual sustainability reporting, applicable regulatory disclosures, CDP, and EcoVadis.
Evaluate emerging reporting obligations and recommend proportionate business responses.
Partner with operations on practical emissions, waste, and resource-efficiency improvements.
Environmental Systems, Programs & Continuous Improvement
Provide functional oversight for Cority, Metrio, and related environmental systems.
Strengthen obligation tracking, compliance calendars, corrective-action systems, and reporting processes.
Lead continuous improvement of Green Star and other environmental performance initiatives.
Standardize processes, documentation, and knowledge management to reduce single-person dependencies.
Functional Leadership, Talent & Organizational Capability
Lead the centralized team, define roles, establish priorities, and manage performance and resources.
Develop talent, succession coverage, cross-training, and knowledge-transfer practices.
Build environmental capability in Regional EHS and plant teams through coaching and guidance.
Direct the Senior Environmental Compliance Manager, Environmental & Sustainability Engineer, and additional positions as the structure evolves.
Business Partnership, Integration & Strategic Initiatives
Advise executive leadership, Operations, Legal, and Business Units on significant environmental risks and decisions.
Support acquisition due diligence, integration priorities, and legacy environmental risk management.
Align selected governance and reporting expectations with global stakeholders where appropriate.
Support major investments and operational changes requiring environmental expertise.
Critical Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Environmental regulatory expertise and risk-based judgment in industrial operations.
Ability to influence and drive accountability across matrixed teams without direct facility authority.
Knowledge of sustainability reporting, GHG accounting, and environmental management systems.
Strong technical communication, executive judgment, coaching, and project prioritization.
Software Used
Microsoft Office; Cority or comparable compliance platforms; Metrio or comparable environmental reporting tools.
Education / Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field; typically 10–15+ years of progressive environmental experience in manufacturing or regulated industry; multi-site leadership and matrix influence required. Acquisition integration and relevant professional credentials preferred.
Hesitant to apply because you may not meet every specific requirement? If this role is something you are interested in, but your previous experience doesn’t exactly align, we encourage you to apply! At Worthington Steel we are dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We recognize that individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds are essential to our success. You may be the perfect candidate for this role or others within our organization.
Worthington Steel (NYSE:WS) is a metals processor that partners with customers to deliver highly technical and customized solutions. Worthington Steel’s expertise in carbon flat-roll steel processing, electrical steel laminations and tailor welded solutions are driving steel toward a more sustainable future.
As one of the most trusted metals processors in North America, Worthington Steel and its approximately 6,000 employees harness the power of steel to advance our customers’ visions through value-added processing capabilities including galvanizing, pickling, configured blanking, specialty cold reduction, lightweighting and electrical lamination. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington Steel operates 37 facilities in seven states and 10 countries. Following a people-first Philosophy, commitment to sustainability and proven business system, Worthington Steel’s purpose is to generate positive returns by providing trusted and innovative solutions for customers, creating opportunities for employees and strengthening its communities.
Worthington Steel Inc., and its subsidiaries, is an equal employment opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered regardless of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, disability or veteran’s status.