Technical Lead, Sustainability

Schellman

2d • Remote

About The Position

Schellman is expanding its sustainability assurance practice and is seeking Technical Leads who possess a blend of deep greenhouse gas measurement and/or audit expertise with genuine technical capabilities. Technical Leads are primarily responsible for hands-on, technical project execution, dedicating over half their time to working directly within client data lakes and systems environments. This role requires individuals who are part auditor, part sustainability subject matter expert, and part business intelligence engineer and developer. Experienced Technical Leads with deep specialization in sustainability assurance and data engineering will be assigned to relevant sustainability projects and report to a specific Service Delivery Principal responsible for their development. Daily activities are closely supervised by project management teams, and Technical Leads may supervise associates and/or senior associates when part of a project management team. This role is crucial for organizations needing to measure, validate, and report their sustainability performance, as many companies lack the technical infrastructure and expertise to reliably capture this data. The Technical Lead acts as a bridge between non-technical sustainability teams and their complex data ecosystems, translating client needs into system capabilities and helping them build the necessary infrastructure for credible sustainability impact measurement and reporting.

Requirements

• Strong proficiency in Python, SQL, or similar languages for data manipulation and automation; ability to write, implement, and debug code independently.
• Experience with data engineering, ETL processes, data modeling, and working in cloud-based data environments (data lakes, data warehouses).
• Deep knowledge of sustainability reporting frameworks (SASB, IIRC, TCFD, GRI) and how they translate to technical data and system requirements.
• Strong experience providing assurance and audit services related to sustainability and non-financial reporting on environmental and social metrics.
• Expertise in business intelligence, analytics, and data visualization; ability to use tools and code to identify patterns and anomalies in large datasets.
• Ability to understand complex data systems, evaluate data quality, and recommend technical solutions to sustainability measurement challenges.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Superior time management, self-motivation, and proactivity with the ability to manage multiple technical projects and priorities.
• Ability to work independently in technical environments, collaboratively within teams, and effectively with diverse client stakeholders.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and debugging capabilities with meticulous attention to data accuracy and detail.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted development tools and comfort learning new technical platforms and languages quickly.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, challenging environment and thrive in continuous learning situations.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Computer Science, Data Science, or related field.
• 3-5+ years of professional services experience in controls auditing, assessment, or compliance with a focus on non-financial reporting and sustainability.
• Demonstrated proficiency in at least one programming or scripting language (Python, SQL, etc.).
• Solid understanding of data engineering concepts, including data modeling, ETL processes, and data quality assessment.
• Experience evaluating information technology systems, data processes, and controls.
• Knowledge of sustainability reporting frameworks (SASB, IIRC, TCFD, GRI) and how they translate to technical and system requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Licensed CPA with demonstrated technical and data engineering skills.
• Experience with cloud data platforms (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Snowflake, etc.).
• Experience with business intelligence or analytics tools (Tableau, Power BI, Looker, etc.).
• Background in sustainability accounting, carbon accounting, or environmental data measurement.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted code development tools and LLM-based development.
• Experience with data visualization and creating technical documentation for non-technical audiences.
• Experience managing or mentoring technical team members.

Responsibilities

• Work directly in client data lakes and systems environments using AI tools (Claude, etc.), Python, and SQL to build sustainability data infrastructure, automation, and analytics.
• Design and build data intake forms, data models, and ETL processes that enable accurate sustainability measurement and assurance processes.
• Combine qualitative subject matter expertise with technical skillset to determine what to build and how.
• Conduct data discovery, analysis, and quality assessment to identify gaps, inconsistencies, and optimization opportunities in client sustainability data systems.
• Build sustainability assurance analytics and automation—including variance analysis, emissions calculations, data reconciliation, spend-to-emissions mapping, and anomaly detection.
• Evaluate client systems for data integration, automation, and optimization; recommend technical improvements to enhance sustainability data reliability and controls.
• Develop sustainability-specific testing procedures and controls documentation that translate sustainability reporting requirements into technical implementations.
• Act as a technical expert for non-technical client teams, explaining data architecture, system integration, and data governance concepts in accessible terms.
• Execute assigned testing procedures, perform detailed analysis of sustainability data and systems, and document findings per professional audit standards.
• Establish high-quality relationships and rapport with client personnel—both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Complete assigned duties in a timely manner with strong attention to detail and audit integrity.
• Develop an expert knowledge of sustainability reporting frameworks (SASB, IIRC, TCFD, GRI) and professional standards relevant to sustainability assurance.
• Contribute to Schellman's thought leadership through articles, webinars, and public speaking on sustainability data, technology, and assurance practices.
• Adhere to professional and regulatory standards relevant to sustainability assurance and audit practices.
• Promote Schellman's company culture and exemplify Schellman's values.
• Comply with Schellman's code of ethics and professional conduct, methodologies, policies, and procedures.
• Train and acclimate project team members to Schellman's methodologies and best practices.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work remotely
• Some travel annually for Internal Service Delivery roles, which can include in-person training, team meet-ups, and strategy meetings.
• Travel based on business and client needs for Service Delivery team members.
• Promotions only from within.
• Ability to contribute and be heard.
• Great work-life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level