Environmental Efficiency Strategy Lead

Government Recruitment Service; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A governmental organization in Glasgow seeks a Senior Practitioner to lead its Net Zero and Sustainability strategy. This role involves managing the Environmental Efficiency Strategy team, ensuring compliance with regulations, and developing innovative solutions to reduce carbon emissions. Ideal candidates will have experience with sustainability initiatives, strong leadership skills, and proficiency in data management. Join us to make a significant impact on the environment and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Public sector benefits

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in leading Net Zero or sustainability initiatives.
• Strong understanding of environmental legislation and best practices.
• Proficiency in data analysis and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Drive the development of the Net Zero strategy.
• Manage the Environmental Efficiency Strategy team.
• Ensure compliance with Net Zero policies and standards.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on sustainability projects.

Skills

Strategic Energy Management

Environmental Compliance

Data Management

Leadership

Education

Relevant degree in Environmental Science or related field

Tools

Project Management Software

Data Analysis Tools

Job description

For jobs located in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is one of the government’s largest public service departments with a sizeable annual budget, serving over 20 million citizens.

The estate spans 1.4 million square metres across 800+ sites and supports around 78,000 colleagues.

Our vision includes DWP colleagues, supply chain, partners and, most fundamentally, the customers the Department exists to serve. They are the reason for our existence.

We are responsible for the day-to-day operation of our vast Estate by managing a private sector supply chain that delivers essential services such as Security Guarding, Maintenance, Property and Leasehold Management, Construction, Cleaning and Facilities Management.

DWP Estates is not just about maintaining buildings - it’s about transformation. Our strategic goals include:

• Transitioning to a smaller, more affordable, and adaptable estate to meet future needs
• Investing in infrastructure through planned replacement works
• Embedding sustainability in line with Government Greening Commitments (GGCs)
• Delivering cost-effective services while maintaining high standards
• Creating a professional, best-in-class working culture across the Government Property profession

Our Estates strategy ambitions have been refreshed to take us through to 2030:

• OPTIMISE: Continue to transition to a more affordable and adaptable DWP estate that creates productive environments
• INVEST: Investment in an improved environment that better meets the needs of customers and colleagues and minimises service disruption
• SUPPORT the drive for sustainability throughout DWP
• DELIVER: Expertly deliver improving, cost-effective services for DWP
• THRIVE: Continue to develop a working culture for DWP Estates that is best in class across government

There is no better time to join the award winning DWP Estates team.

Reporting to Head of Energy and Sustainability, this role will drive the strategic direction and development of DWPs programme to meet the longer-term Net Zero and Sustainability goals and through influencing major change programmes in DWP. This role will interface closely with cross-government and cross-DWP Estates stakeholders and groups, FM Teams and Energy Managers.

The role will also line manage the Net Zero Manager and other posts to be determined. This role will be critical in positioning the organization as a leader in sustainability. By driving carbon reduction and net zero strategy development, the role will contribute to operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and the achievement of long‑term environmental objectives.

Career Framework

• Job Family – Strategic Asset Management
• Core Role – Property Data Management
• Level – Senior Practitioner

Key Accountabilities

• Responsible for all DWPE Energy & Carbon Reduction strategy development; developing, managing and delivering the estates strategy for Net Zero (all scopes). Develop and implement frameworks to support net zero transition, including energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and sustainable resource management.
• Advise the DWP Estates Senior Leadership Team on all aspects of Net Zero ensuring an appropriate level of understanding and providing management and business insight reporting against Net Zero.
• Responsible for ensuring that appropriate policies, standards and targets are in place and communicated across the organisation and suppliers relating to Net Zero and Utilities reduction, building optimisation and engagement.
• Lead and manage the Environmental Efficiency Strategy team.
• Ensure immediate team and supply chain have the right skills, capabilities, objectives and resources to meet objectives and performance manage these to ensure delivery against these objectives.
• Develop, manage and maintain a Net Zero action plan to deliver the strategy including the development of a Net Zero Project Management Office to track delivery establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress against carbon reduction and net zero targets.
• Keep abreast of and ensure current and new industry trends, developments, and legislation on carbon, waste and the environment is communicated and acted upon as required ensuring the appropriate personnel (internal and supply chain) are trained appropriately and can ensure compliance.
• Ensure that all areas of property management are driving towards the reduction of environmental impact and supporting the government’s sustainability agenda and target.
• Working with key stakeholders, the wider Energy & Sustainability team, colleagues, and supply chain, develop targets, and supporting project activities that will deliver on long term objectives e.g. (Net Zero and Greening Government Targets).
• Be responsible for the overall data, MI and reporting related to Net Zero and carbon reduction driving continuous improvement. Ensure accurate and timely reporting is provided to the relevant stakeholders and ensure any statutory, internal or external reporting is provided on time, validated and accurate.
• Work closely with the DWPE FM services supplier and wider DWP stakeholders to ensure all process and data flows relating to Energy and Sustainability are accurate and robust delivering valuable insight as required.
• Work cross-DWP to ensure a Net Zero approach is embedded in all DWP estate activities at a strategic level ensuring specifications support meet or exceed the latest standards and best practice.
• Encourage the use of renewable and sustainable energy resources across the portfolio, driving innovation and championing industry best practice.
• Ensure that horizon scoping on new techniques and technologies by making and maintaining key working relationships cross-government and through the private sector and attending workshops and conferences.
• Manage related compliance activities including but not limited to Net Zero policies, MEES, Heat Networks Regulations, etc. as well as government-specific requirements.
• Establish a culture driving innovation, staying abreast of technology advances and bringing them to the table for new projects, capital investment programmes etc.
• Maintain awareness of funding opportunities, developing business cases, writing grant funding applications and spending review bids, working closely with the Environmental Efficiency Delivery Lead.
• Build strong relationships with and work closely with FM Teams, Energy Managers etc. to ensure policies, processes are in place and followed and wider engagement is achieved.