How to apply for ESG and Sustainability Associate Director

About Orbis Advisory

Orbis Advisory is a specialized consultancy that helps clients integrate sustainability into their core business and asset decisions, rather than treating ESG as a compliance checkbox. As a remote-first firm, they offer the flexibility to work from anywhere while tackling complex, high-impact sustainability challenges across diverse industries. This is an opportunity to join a nimble, entrepreneurial team where your contributions directly shape client outcomes and the firm's growth.

About the role

As an ESG and Sustainability Associate Director, you will lead the design and delivery of Orbis Advisory's client engagements, translating sustainability strategy into actionable solutions for key assets and business operations. You'll also play a key role in business development, team mentorship, and shaping the firm's service offerings in a rapidly evolving ESG landscape. This is a high-visibility, hands-on leadership role ideal for someone who thrives in an entrepreneurial, remote-first environment.

A typical day

Your day might start with a client call to discuss progress on an ESG integration project, followed by internal team check-ins to guide junior consultants on data analysis or report drafting. In the afternoon, you could be developing a proposal for a new client, researching emerging regulations, or brainstorming innovative service offerings with colleagues. As a remote-first role, you'll balance deep work with virtual collaboration, all while driving impact for clients and the firm.

Who Orbis Advisory is looking for

• 8+ years of progressive ESG/sustainability experience, ideally spanning both consulting and in-house roles, with a track record of leading complex client projects.
• Tech-savvy and digitally fluent—comfortable using data analytics platforms, ESG software, and collaboration tools to drive efficiency and insight in a remote setting.
• Entrepreneurial self-starter who can identify new business opportunities, build client relationships, and innovate service offerings without heavy oversight.
• Proven people leader who can mentor a distributed team, foster collaboration, and cultivate a culture of growth and accountability.

Tips for this application

• Highlight specific examples of how you've helped clients integrate sustainability into business decisions or asset management—quantify outcomes where possible.
• Demonstrate your tech-savviness by mentioning tools you've used (e.g., ESG reporting platforms, data visualization software, or custom digital solutions) and how they improved project delivery.
• Show entrepreneurial impact: describe initiatives you've launched, new client accounts you've won, or service lines you've developed.
• Emphasize remote team management experience—explain how you've kept distributed teams engaged, productive, and aligned on goals.
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to Orbis Advisory's focus on 'key assets' and 'better decisions'—use their language to show you understand their approach.

What to cover in your cover letter

["Your ability to lead ESG strategy and execution for client assets, with concrete examples of projects you've directed from concept to completion.", "Your entrepreneurial mindset: how you've identified opportunities, built offerings, or grown accounts in previous roles.", 'Your proficiency with digital tools and how you leverage technology to enhance ESG analysis, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.', 'Your experience managing and mentoring teams in a remote or hybrid environment, and how you foster collaboration and growth.']

Research before applying

• Explore Orbis Advisory's website and case studies to understand their service lines, client sectors, and the types of assets they focus on.
• Research the backgrounds of the leadership team—look for their LinkedIn profiles, published articles, or speaking engagements to understand their expertise and vision.
• Identify recent ESG trends or regulations affecting the industries Orbis serves (e.g., CSRD, SEC climate disclosure) and think about how you could help clients navigate them.
• Check if Orbis Advisory has any public reports, whitepapers, or blog posts that reveal their methodology or thought leadership—reference these in your application.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach developing an ESG strategy for a client's key asset (e.g., a manufacturing plant or real estate portfolio)?
• Describe a time you identified a new business opportunity in the ESG space and turned it into a successful engagement.
• What digital tools or platforms have you used to streamline ESG data collection, analysis, or reporting? How did they add value?
• How do you manage and motivate a remote team to ensure high performance and professional development?
• Can you share an example of a challenging client situation where you had to balance sustainability goals with business constraints? How did you navigate it?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Being too generic about ESG experience—failing to show how you've applied it to specific business decisions or assets.
• Underplaying tech skills: claiming to be tech-savvy without concrete examples of tools or digital approaches you've used.
• Neglecting to demonstrate entrepreneurial initiative—coming across as someone who waits for direction rather than proactively creating opportunities.