Climate Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Senior Manager, Climate Strategy

Cushman & Wakefield is seeking a Senior Manager, Climate Strategy to lead the strategy, execution, and governance of the firm’s global net zero and science-based target (SBT) commitments. This role will sit within the Corporate Sustainability team and will be responsible for driving enterprise-wide decarbonization across operations and value chain emissions. This leader will own the development and implementation of net zero strategy and environmental performance tracking, and partner with stakeholders across the business to deliver measurable emissions reductions. The role will combine strategic leadership, technical expertise, and program management, and will oversee junior resources including a Net Zero Analyst.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead development of enterprise-wide Net Zero and Science Based Target (SBT) strategy, including roadmap development and execution planning
• Develop and manage decarbonization and environmental initiatives across operations, supply chain, business travel, and real estate portfolio
• Support internal control design, governance processes, and KPI frameworks to ensure the integrity, consistency, and auditability of performance tracking and reporting against environmental sustainability goals
• Partner cross-functionally with Real Estate, Procurement, Finance, HR, and business lines to embed sustainability into operations and relevant services
• Oversight responsibility across Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions accounting process, ensuring alignment with GHG Protocol standards
• Operational and strategic oversight responsibility for climate-related technology stack including GHG accounting tools, related APIs tool and building energy tools, as applicable
• Oversee data analytics, modeling, and scenario analysis to inform decision-making and emissions reduction strategies
• Manage external partnerships including consultants, auditors, and data providers
• Lead contributions to environmental disclosures including CDP, GRI, SBTi, and annual reporting
• Support business development and client engagement with sustainability thought leadership
• Build and lead education and change management initiatives across the organization

• Directly manage and develop Net Zero Analyst
• Set priorities, provide coaching, and ensure high-quality analytical outputs
• Build scalable processes, tools, and playbooks for sustainability program delivery
• Work with relevant business and operational leaders and stakeholders to drive partnership and collaboration for climate transition actions

• 7+ years of experience in sustainability, ESG, climate strategy, or related field
• Strong expertise in GHG accounting, climate frameworks (SBTi, CDP, GRESB, GRI), and decarbonization pathways
• Proven experience managing complex, cross-functional programs and implementing change management initiatives
• Advanced analytical and data management capabilities (Excel, Power BI, or similar tools)
• Experience in commercial real estate or professional services preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or relevant certifications preferred

• Strategic thinker with ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Excellent written, presentation, and communication skills
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, global environment
• Highly collaborative, self-motivated, and results-driven

Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work. In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on factors such as whether the position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement, the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The company will not pay less than minimum wage for this role.

The compensation for the position is: $ 134,725.00 - $158,500.00

Cushman & Wakefield is an Equal Opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Discrimination of any type will not be tolerated.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position at Cushman & Wakefield, please call the ADA line at 1-888-365-5406 or email Accommodations@cushwake.com. Please refer to the job title and job location when you contact us.

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”