2026 Sustainability Graduate – Responsible Business – Manchester
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At Mace Consult, we combine leading‑edge practical expertise with programme and project delivery consultancy skills to unlock the potential in every project, every place, and every person. From iconic skyscrapers to sustainable communities, we turn ambitious ideas into reality.
Our two‑year Graduate Programme gives you a chance to contribute to meaningful projects from the very start. Whether it’s shaping sustainable places, creating smarter infrastructure, or helping clients solve complex challenges, you’ll play a real part in projects that make a lasting difference – to people, to places, and to the planet.
The opportunity: At Mace Consult, you’ll help shape the projects and programmes that change skylines and communities. Working closely with clients and partners, you’ll bring ideas to life through smart thinking, collaboration and innovation. No two days are the same – it’s a changeable environment where adaptability, curiosity and integrity drive everything we do.
The Responsible Business sector helps clients deliver climate‑resilient projects, reduce carbon and create lasting social value. By combining global sustainability expertise with local knowledge, we provide strategies, pathways and measurable outcomes across ESG, decarbonisation and social impact. With a collaborative, data‑led and practical approach, we make every project more sustainable while leaving a positive legacy for communities.
Join us in Responsible Business and you’ll help drive positive change, support clients on their net‑zero journey and build a more sustainable future for everyone.
Note: While you’ll start in a specific team, client‑facing roles naturally evolve over time, offering the chance to work with different clients, teams and sectors across Mace Consult as projects and priorities change.
What you’ll do
Responsibilities
* Supporting research and development of client climate‑change, sustainability and/or social‑value strategies on individual projects
* Developing knowledge as a technical expert and promoting innovation in a particular area of sustainability, such as waste, energy/carbon, water, responsible sourcing of materials, sustainable buildings, etc.
* Becoming a proactive generalist, able to cover all major issues of sustainability with relevant stakeholders; supporting the drive for Mace to be a leader in climate‑change and sustainability
* Demonstrating knowledge of sustainable building design, including embodied and operational carbon and energy reduction, in new build and refurbishment projects, including programme, cost and operational impacts of Net Zero Carbon strategies
* Supporting design teams to understand and respond to environmental constraints and opportunities to maximise positive environmental benefits
* Developing knowledge/interest in one or more sustainability topics (waste, water, energy, carbon, responsible sourcing, building design, biodiversity, etc.)
* Translating technical topics to varied audiences and articulating the value of sustainability
* Being supportive of sustainability and encouraging behavioural change throughout the business
* Developing innovation and best practice, including clearly communicating these to the wider business and clients
* Supporting the translation of best environmental management systems practices from one area to another, including analysing reporting needs to simplify the process
* Establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with clients and stakeholders including design team members, contractors, subcontractors, and regulators
You will also work towards gaining professional membership of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) or another relevant professional body; this is fully funded and supported by Mace.
What we can offer you
* A permanent role from the moment you join
* Fully funded professional membership of an association relevant to your role
* 22 days annual leave + bank holidays + 2 further ‘Mace Days’ off + 3 extra days over Christmas, with the option to purchase additional leave
* Volunteering day each year
* Pension scheme (with up to 7% matched funding from Mace Consult)
* Life assurance, private medical insurance cover, and annual health assessment
* Season ticket loan, cycle‑to‑work and green car scheme
* Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
* 24/7 access to health and wellbeing experts via our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
* Discounts and savings portal for hundreds of retailers, gyms, cafés, restaurants, and cinemas
* A range of other adaptable benefits to suit you
About You
* A future or recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree or higher in any subject
* 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English (or equivalent qualifications)
Given the nature of our work, adaptability is key. Our projects and clients are based in various locations, so you should be prepared to travel frequently to different project sites or Mace Consult offices. To support this, Mace offers travel expense reimbursements for business travel, including mileage, public transport fares, and, where necessary, accommodation.
We’re looking for ambitious people who want to make a difference. Proactive individuals who think creatively, embrace change, and deliver with integrity. You should share our values and demonstrate the behaviours and competencies that help us shape the industry.
Values
* Safety first
* Client focus
* Create opportunity
* Integrity
Behaviours
* Curious
* Collaborators
* Contributors
* Champions of inclusion
Competencies
* Build effective teams
* Embrace change
* Solving problems
* Build trusted relationships
A world of opportunity
At Mace Consult, you have the power to build a career that could take you across sectors and across the globe. From London to Nairobi, Hong Kong to New York, we partner with clients around the world to shape cities and build sustainable communities that meet the needs of the future.
Future opportunities
On completion of your graduate programme, you’ll have access to our Global Opportunities Portal – helping you explore the next step, whether that’s a new sector, a new role or a new country.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We respect equality, value diversity and encourage individuality – accepting and appreciating all views and beliefs and providing an environment for ideas to come alive. Our strength lies in broad perspectives, diverse experience and global expertise. It’s why we continue to grow and the basis of our reputation as a leading programme and project delivery consultant.
Our Employee Resource Groups focus on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, disability, parents and military. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer, a champion of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme, and signatories of the Care Leaver Covenant and Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter. Our commitment has been recognised with the Clear Assured Gold Standard for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
The Disability Confident scheme encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how we recruit, retain and develop disabled people. We support this initiative by offering adjustments and support during recruitment, such as extra time for tasks or video interviews, or providing information in alternative formats. To request adjustments, please contact us.
Apply now
If you’re ready to build a career while making a real difference for our clients, communities and society, we want to hear from you. Join us in turning ambitious ideas into reality and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – apply today!
We review applications on a rolling basis and may close a role once enough candidates have applied. To give you the best chance, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, even if a deadline has been advertised.
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