ESG Business Manager — Data Management

Job Title:
ESG Business Manager — Data Management & Ratings Agency Location: Lagos

Reports To:
Head of ESG / CEO

Role Summary

Lead the commercial, operational, and strategic management of the agency's ESG data and ratings business. You will define and grow ESG product offerings, ensure high-quality ESG data and methodology governance, manage client relationships and commercial activity, and coordinate cross-functional teams (research/analysts, data engineering, product, legal/compliance, sales) to deliver timely, accurate, and regulatory-compliant ESG solutions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy & P&L

· Define and execute go-to-market and growth strategy for ESG data, scores, ratings, and analytics products.

· Own product PCL, pricing, packaging, and commercial negotiations to meet revenue and margin targets.

· Identify new market opportunities, partnerships, and product extensions (e.g., climate metrics, transition risk, ESG benchmarks).

2. Product & Roadmap Management

· Own lifecycle for ESG product portfolio: concept, roadmap, prioritization, and go-to- market.

· Translate client use cases and regulatory developments into product requirements and release plans.

· Work with product, UX, and engineering teams to deliver APIs, data feeds, dashboards, and integration options.

3. ESG Methodology & Governance

· Coordinate development and operationalization of ESG scoring and rating methodologies in partnership with research and analytics teams.

· Maintain transparent methodology documentation, version control, audit trails, and change-management processes.

· Ensure independent governance, conflict-of-interest controls, and periodic methodology reviews.

4. Data Sourcing, Operations & Quality

· Oversee ESG data sourcing strategy (public disclosures, filings, third-party providers, alternative data) and vendor selection/management.

· Implement data governance and QA frameworks: validation rules, completeness/consistency checks, reconciliation, and remediation workflows.

Drive automation and scalability of data ingestion, normalization, and distribution pipelines.

5. Regulatory & Standards Alignment

· Maintain deep knowledge of ESG regulatory requirements and standards (e.g., SFDR, EU Taxonomy, CSRD, ISSB/IFRS S1/S2, TCFD).

· Ensure products support client regulatory needs.

· Work with legal/compliance to prepare disclosures, audit support, and regulatory reporting capabilities.

6. Client Engagement & Commercial Support

· Manage key client relationships: institutional investors, asset managers, corporates, and intermediaries.

· Lead RFPs, proposals, demos, and commercial negotiations; support renewals and upsell initiatives.

· Collect client feedback and market intelligence to inform product improvements and thought leadership.

7. Cross-Functional Leadership & Vendor Management

· Lead cross-functional initiatives (product launches, large client implementations, methodology updates).

· Manage third-party data vendors and service providers; negotiate SLAs and track vendor performance.

. Mentor and develop direct reports (if applicable).

8. Performance Measurement & Reporting

· Define and track ESG-specific KPIs: product adoption, revenue, client retention, data quality metrics, coverage, and time-to-market.

· Produce regular business updates and present performance to senior leadership and external stakeholders.

Required Qualifications & Experience

· Bachelor's degree in Sustainability, Environmental Science, Finance, Economics, Data Science, Business, or a related field.

· Postgraduate degree (MBA, MSc in Sustainability/Climate) desirable.

· –10+ years' experience in ESG data, sustainability research, ratings, or

product/operations roles in financial services, ratings agencies, data vendors, or asset management.

· Demonstrable experience launching and commercializing ESG products or solutions.

· Strong working knowledge of ESG frameworks and regulations (e.g., SFDR, EU Taxonomy, CSRD, TCFD, ISSB).

· Experience with data lifecycle and governance practices; vendor management and SLA oversight.

· Familiarity with data tools and platforms (SQL, APIs, cloud data warehouses, BI tools); scripting (Python/R) advantageous.

Skills & Competencies

· Strong commercial acumen and strategic thinking specific to ESG market dynamics.

· Excellent stakeholder management and client-facing skills; able to engage with senior institutional clients.

· Robust project management and prioritization skills; delivers under tight timelines.

· High attention to detail and commitment to data quality, transparency, and regulatory compliance.

· Excellent communication skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.

· Leadership and team development capability.

Preferred Certifications (Optional)

· CFA Certificate in ESG Investing, SASB FSA, GRI Certified, IEMA, or related sustainability qualifications.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

· Revenue growth and margin for ESG products.

· Client acquisition, retention, and Net Promoter Score (NPS).

· Coverage and completeness of ESG data (universe coverage %).

· Data quality: accuracy rate, error reduction, mean time to resolve.

· Time-to-market for product roadmap items and methodology releases.

· Vendor performance vs. agreed SLAs.

How to Apply:

If you are a motivated and experienced records management professional looking for a challenging role, please submit your application, including your resume, cover letter, and relevant certifications to
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. We look forward to hearing from you.