Competitive pay
Head of ESG
Location: UK / Remote - with expected nationwide travel
Competitive salary + £6,900 Car Allowance
Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (40 hours/week, Mon–Fri)
About the role:
Are you ready to do something bold, different, and meaningful?
We’re seeking a visionary and hands-on Head of ESG to lead the development and delivery of our Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy across Mears Group. This is a brand-new, high-impact role that will shape our sustainability journey, drive responsible business practices, and deliver measurable impact - environmentally, socially, and financially.
You’ll be the driving force behind our ESG ambitions, embedding them into the heart of our operations and culture. From strategic planning to transparent reporting, stakeholder engagement to regulatory compliance, you’ll ensure our ESG approach is proactive, ethical, and future-ready.
This is your opportunity to bring energy, ambition, and commitment to a role where you can truly do something different - and be able to look back and say,
Duties:
1. Develop and lead short, medium, and long-term ESG strategy aligned with Group objectives
2. Engage and influence internal and external stakeholders to embed ESG across the business
3. Represent Mears at ESG-related events, conferences, and client meetings
4. ‘Lead internal ESG related reporting in liaison with business leads (e.g. demonstrating ESG strategy progress, ESG Board, Mears Group PLC Board updates etc)’
5. ‘Lead external ESG related reporting in liaison with the Net Zero team and other departments as required (e.g. TCFD, UK SDS transition, SDGs, MSCI, FTSE4Good, Sustainalytics, CSRD, GRI, Mears Group PLC Annual Report and others as required)
6. Collaborate with and support workstream leads on Healthy Planet, Improving Lives, and Good Governance
7. Manage relationships with sustainability ratings agencies and drive score improvements
8. Support delivery of our Net Zero strategy and social housing retrofit services
9. Develop and implement a strategic approach to Social Value across the Group
10. Partner with the Mears Foundation to support community priorities
11. Champion ESG culture change through communication, training, and leadership
12. Chair and manage the ESG Board to ensure our ESG strategy is effectively delivered and continuously evolves
13. Undertake and maintain an ESG materiality assessment as part of our ESG strategy approach
14. Act as a strategic advisor to the Board, translating ESG risks and opportunities into actionable insights that drive long-term value creation
15. Ensure ESG strategy is future-proofed, agile, and responsive to emerging global trends, regulatory shifts, and stakeholder expectations
16. Align ESG strategy with client expectations, contractual obligations, and sector-specific sustainability goals
17. Lead the integration of ESG principles across all business functions, ensuring consistency and cohesion in delivery
18. Develop ESG frameworks and toolkits to support operational teams in embedding best practices
19. Monitor and evaluate ESG performance across the Group, identifying gaps and driving continuous improvement
20. Collaborate with Bid and Commercial teams to embed ESG into tenders, proposals, and client-facing materials
21. Provide ESG input into investment decisions, risk assessments, and strategic planning processes
22. Oversee ESG-related data governance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and readiness for audit or assurance
23. Build internal capability through mentoring, knowledge-sharing, and development of ESG champions
24. Stay ahead of industry developments, regulatory changes, and innovation in ESG to inform strategy and maintain competitive advantage
25. Foster partnerships with external organisations, NGOs, and academic institutions to enhance ESG impact and credibility
26. Lead ESG due diligence for acquisitions, partnerships, and major projects
27. Ensure alignment between ESG strategy and other Group priorities, including DE&I, digital transformation, and workforce development
Experience / Qualifications
28. Proven track record in ESG strategy development, implementation, and reporting
29. Experience with sustainability frameworks and reporting (e.g. TCFD, UK SDS transition, SDGs, MSCI, FTSE4Good, Sustainalytics, CSRD, GRI)
30. Strong stakeholder engagement and investor communication skills
31. Background in customer-focused services and project delivery
32. Line management and cross-functional leadership experience
33. Preferred: Experience in PLCs and PLC Annual Reporting, social housing, or government sectors
34. Deep expertise in ESG, sustainability, and governance
35. Strategic thinker with operational agility
36. Excellent communicator across all levels
37. Skilled in data analysis, impact measurement, and risk mitigation
38. Ability to influence, negotiate, and lead change
39. Comfortable working in matrix environments and cross-functional teams
40. ESG/sustainability related qualification
41. Membership of a relevant professional body
42. Full UK driving license
Personal attributes:
43. A self-starter with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
44. Deeply passionate about sustainability and social impact
45. Resilient, adaptable, and emotionally intelligent in a fast-paced environment
46. Skilled at managing competing priorities and tight deadlines with composure
47. Collaborative and creative, with a commitment to continuous improvement
48. A strategic thinker who can see the big picture and connect the dots
49. An exceptional communicator and influencer across all levels
50. Energetic, driven, and unwavering in your commitment to making a difference
Benefits we can offer you:
51. 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
52. Private Medical Care for you and your family
53. Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
54. Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
55. Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
56. Family friendly policies
Ready to lead the charge in building a better future?