Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an Emissions Analyst

🎯 Role Definition

The Emissions Analyst is a critical role at the intersection of data science, environmental compliance, and corporate strategy. You will be the go-to expert for quantifying, analyzing, and reporting our organization's greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint. This position involves managing the entire lifecycle of emissions data, from collection and validation to modeling and external disclosure. Your work will directly inform our decarbonization strategy, ensure regulatory compliance, and support our commitments to stakeholders, investors, and the public. This is a highly visible role that collaborates across functions like Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to drive meaningful environmental impact.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Junior Environmental Scientist or Consultant
Data Analyst with a passion for sustainability
Recent graduate with a Master's in Environmental Management or a related field

Advancement To:

Senior Emissions Analyst or Carbon Strategist
Sustainability Manager or ESG Program Manager
Director of Decarbonization or Climate Strategy

Lateral Moves:

ESG Analyst
Energy Analyst or Manager
Sustainability Reporting Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Manage the end-to-end development and maintenance of the corporate greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, ensuring alignment with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard.
Lead the comprehensive data collection process for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions across all business units, operational facilities, and the global value chain.
Perform complex calculations, data transformations, and quantitative analyses to accurately determine the organization's carbon footprint and other environmental metrics.
Develop, document, and continuously improve methodologies, data collection systems, and internal controls to enhance the accuracy, completeness, and auditability of emissions data.
Prepare and submit timely and accurate environmental reports to regulatory bodies, such as the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) and various state and international agencies.
Act as the primary point of contact and subject matter expert during third-party verification and assurance processes for GHG emissions data and sustainability reports.
Create sophisticated models to forecast future emissions scenarios, track progress against science-based targets (SBTs), and assess the impact of potential abatement projects.
Analyze and interpret complex datasets to identify key emission sources, trends, and anomalies, providing actionable insights to senior leadership and operational teams.
Author compelling narratives and data visualizations for inclusion in annual sustainability reports, TCFD disclosures, and other corporate communications.
Manage and respond to data requests from key external stakeholders, including investors, rating agencies, and ESG frameworks like CDP, EcoVadis, and Sustainalytics.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance, to integrate sustainability metrics into business processes.
Evaluate the financial and environmental impact of emissions reduction initiatives, such as energy efficiency projects, renewable energy procurement, and supply chain engagement.
Stay at the forefront of evolving global carbon accounting standards, regulatory changes, and emerging best practices in climate-related financial disclosure.
Administer and leverage specialized carbon accounting software platforms (e.g., Persefoni, Workiva, Watershed) to streamline data management and reporting.
Conduct detailed Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for key products or services to understand their full environmental impact from cradle to grave.
Support the strategic procurement and retirement of environmental commodities, including Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) and voluntary carbon offsets.
Develop and deliver training programs and guidance materials to educate internal stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities in emissions data collection and management.
Investigate and quantify the impact of business activities, such as mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, on the corporate GHG inventory.
Perform rigorous data quality assurance and uncertainty analysis to build confidence and transparency in our public-facing environmental claims.
Research and analyze carbon market dynamics, policy impacts, and emerging technologies that could influence the company's decarbonization pathway.
Translate complex technical and regulatory information into clear, concise, and business-relevant terms for a non-technical audience, including executive leadership.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer pressing business questions related to environmental performance.
Contribute to the organization's broader data governance strategy and roadmap, advocating for data quality and accessibility.
Collaborate with business units and IT to translate sustainability data needs into technical requirements for data systems and engineering teams.
Participate in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and other agile ceremonies within the sustainability and data analytics teams.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

GHG Accounting Expertise: Deep understanding of the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, including Scope 1, 2, and market- and location-based Scope 2 accounting. Familiarity with Scope 3 accounting across all 15 categories is highly preferred.
Advanced Excel Proficiency: Mastery of Microsoft Excel for data manipulation, analysis, and modeling, including pivot tables, complex formulas, lookups, and macros.
Regulatory Knowledge: Working knowledge of key environmental regulations and reporting frameworks, such as EPA GHGRP, EU ETS, TCFD, CSRD, and CDP.
Data Analysis & Querying: Experience with SQL for querying relational databases and/or proficiency in a data analysis language like Python (with pandas) or R.
Carbon Accounting Software: Hands-on experience with at least one major carbon management platform (e.g., Persefoni, Watershed, Workiva, Sphera, Enablon).
Data Visualization: Ability to create clear and impactful dashboards and reports using tools like Power BI, Tableau, or similar business intelligence software.
Financial & Emissions Modeling: Skill in building models to forecast scenarios, track performance against targets, and evaluate project ROI.

Soft Skills

Analytical & Quantitative Mindset: A natural ability to break down complex problems, work with large datasets, and derive meaningful, data-driven insights.
Exceptional Attention to Detail: A meticulous and precise approach to data collection, calculation, and reporting to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
Effective Communication: The ability to clearly articulate complex technical concepts and findings to both technical and non-technical audiences, both verbally and in writing.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: A proven track record of working effectively with diverse teams across an organization to achieve shared objectives.
Problem-Solving: Proactive and resourceful in identifying issues, analyzing root causes, and developing and implementing effective solutions.
Project Management: Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, stakeholders, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a relevant quantitative or environmental field.

Preferred Education:

Master’s Degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability Management, Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science / Engineering
Sustainability Studies
Data Science / Analytics
Finance / Economics
Chemical / Mechanical Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-7 years of professional experience in a directly related role, such as environmental consulting, corporate sustainability, or GHG/air emissions analysis.

Preferred:

Direct, hands-on experience managing a corporate GHG inventory for a publicly-traded company.
Experience successfully navigating a third-party assurance process for sustainability data.
Demonstrable experience in building emissions models and conducting Scope 3 analysis from the ground up.