Drive the sustainability agenda for high-impact built environment projects, shaping strategies that significantly reduce whole life carbon and enhance building performance. This is a key role for an expert who can bridge design, engineering, and certification frameworks to deliver genuinely sustainable, future-ready assets in a hybrid working environment.
About the Role:
As Sustainability Lead, you will own the sustainability strategy across the project lifecycle, from early concept through delivery and post-occupancy. You will guide multidisciplinary teams on whole life carbon, structural and energy performance, and sustainability certifications to ensure ambitious targets are met. Your work will directly influence design decisions, client outcomes, and the organisation’s reputation as a leader in sustainable design.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead the development and implementation of project-specific sustainability strategies, with a focus on reducing whole life carbon across the building lifecycle.
Advise design and engineering teams on structural and energy performance options to optimise embodied and operational carbon.
Manage and coordinate BREEAM, LEED and WELL certification processes, including setting targets, tracking progress, and overseeing documentation and submission.
Conduct whole life carbon assessments and life cycle analyses, translating findings into clear recommendations for design optimisation.
Review and challenge design proposals, specifications and materials selections to align with sustainability objectives and certification requirements.
Engage with clients and stakeholders to communicate sustainability strategies, performance outcomes and value propositions.
Monitor evolving sustainability standards, regulations and best practices, integrating them into project approaches and internal methodologies.
Mentor and support colleagues in embedding sustainability considerations into their day-to-day project work.
Key Requirements:
Proven experience in a sustainability-focused role within the built environment, leading sustainability strategy on complex projects.
Strong expertise in whole life carbon assessment, including embodied and operational carbon analysis.
Hands-on experience managing BREEAM, LEED and WELL certification processes on live projects.
Solid understanding of structural systems and materials from a sustainability and embodied carbon perspective.
Advanced knowledge of building energy performance, including energy modelling principles and low-carbon design strategies.
Ability to interpret technical data and translate it into clear guidance for multidisciplinary design teams and clients.
Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience influencing decision-makers and driving alignment around sustainability goals.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of technical reports and presentations.
Desirable Skills:
Experience with whole life carbon and LCA software tools and building performance simulation platforms.
Familiarity with circular economy principles, sustainable materials innovation and resource efficiency strategies.
Knowledge of emerging health and wellbeing frameworks beyond WELL, and their integration into building design.
Track record of contributing to internal sustainability standards, tools, or thought leadership initiatives.
Experience working in a hybrid or multi-location project environment, coordinating inputs across dispersed teams.
Qualifications:
Degree in Sustainability, Environmental Engineering, Building Services, Architecture, Structural Engineering, or a related discipline.
Professional sustainability or green building accreditation (e.g. BREEAM AP, LEED AP, WELL AP) strongly preferred.
Additional training or certification in whole life carbon assessment, LCA, or energy modelling is an advantage.
Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIBSE, IStructE, RICS, or equivalent) is desirable.
If you are ready to lead on ambitious sustainability outcomes and shape the future performance of the built environment, we’d like to hear from you