Technical Lead, Sustainability

Role Description

At Schellman, we see a strong parallel between reliable sustainability data, good governance, and our roots as a technology risk firm that specializes in providing attestations around data, systems, and governance-related subject matter. We are expanding our sustainability assurance practice and need Technical Leads who combine deep greenhouse gas measurement and/or audit expertise with genuine technical capabilities.

Technical Leads are primarily responsible for hands-on, technical project execution—spending over half their time working directly in client data lakes and systems environments. You are part auditor, part sustainability subject matter expert, part business intelligence engineer and developer. Experienced Technical Leads have deep specialization in sustainability assurance and data engineering, and are assigned to sustainability projects accordingly. They are assigned to a specific Service Delivery Principal that is responsible for supervising their development. Additionally, Technical Leads' daily activities are closely supervised by the management teams of their assigned projects. Technical Leads may supervise associates and/or senior associates when serving as a member of a project management team.

Why This Role Matters

Organizations increasingly need to measure, validate, and report their sustainability performance—from greenhouse gas emissions to water usage, waste management, supply chain impacts, and social governance metrics. However, most companies lack the technical infrastructure and expertise to reliably capture this data. That's where you come in. This is a unique role that blends sustainability and greenhouse gas measurement expertise with a technical data analytics and data engineering skillset. You'll be the technical bridge between non-technical sustainability teams and their complex data ecosystems, the technical expert translating what the client needs into what their systems can deliver; helping them build the infrastructure they need to credibly measure and report their sustainability impact.

Essential Functions

• 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 your 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.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• 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.

Education, Work Experience and Certifications

• Required: 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.
• Preferred: 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.