Environmental Efficiency Strategy Lead

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP); Sheffield; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in the UK seeks a skilled leader to drive its Net Zero strategy, developing and managing frameworks for carbon reduction and energy efficiency. The role involves ensuring compliance with regulations and engaging with stakeholders for optimal performance. With a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, candidates with significant experience in energy management and sustainability are encouraged to apply.

Benefits

Generous annual leave

Flexible working patterns

Support for financial wellbeing

Health and wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in driving energy and carbon reduction strategies.
• Experience in compliance with regulatory frameworks.
• Analytical capability with data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Net Zero strategies.
• Manage the Environmental Efficiency Strategy team.
• Communicate and enforce policies for Net Zero and utilities reduction.

Skills

Leadership in energy management

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Knowledge of energy efficiency

Sustainability frameworks

Education

Degree in Engineering, Environment, or Sustainability

Postgraduate qualification in environmental management

Job description

Job responsibilities

• 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.
• Advises 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.
• Ensures 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.
• Leads and manages the Environmental Efficiency Strategy team.
• Ensures 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.
• Develops, manages and maintains 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.
• Keeps abreast of and ensures 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.
• Ensures that all areas of property management are driving towards the reduction of environmental impact and supporting the government’s sustainability agenda and target.
• Works with key stakeholders, the wider Energy & Sustainability team, colleagues, and supply chain to develop targets and supporting project activities that will deliver on long term objectives e.g. Net Zero and Greening Government Targets.
• Is responsible for the overall data, MI and reporting related to Net Zero and carbon reduction driving continuous improvement. Ensures accurate and timely reporting is provided to the relevant stakeholders and that any statutory, internal or external reporting is provided on time, validated and accurate.
• Works 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.
• Works 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.
• Encourages the use of renewable and sustainable energy resources across the portfolio, driving innovation and championing industry best practice.
• Ensures 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.
• Manages related compliance activities including but not limited to Net Zero policies, MEES, Heat Networks Regulations, etc. as well as government‑specific requirements.
• Establishes a culture driving innovation, staying abreast of technology advances and bringing them to the table for new projects, capital investment programmes etc.
• Maintains awareness of funding opportunities, developing business cases, writing grant funding applications and spending review bids, working closely with the Environmental Efficiency Delivery Lead.
• Builds strong relationships with and works closely with FM Teams, Energy Managers etc. to ensure policies, processes are in place and followed and wider engagement is achieved.
• Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Qualifications

• Considerable demonstrable professional expertise in management role/s leading on energy, carbon and utilities issues with a strong technical background, including in building services.
• In‑depth knowledge and understanding of complying with related statutory, regulatory frameworks and legislative or policy requirements with a preference for the Real Estate and FM/Property industry and Civil Service.
• Influential and excellent communicator, able to lead key senior stakeholders, colleagues and customers towards commercial solutions that give a balance of optimal performance whilst delivering on business and portfolio strategy.
• High level management and proven experience of driving key suppliers in supporting negotiations, managing/escalating issues to resolution, and establishing/engaging in key decision‑making with strategic consequences across a large portfolio.
• Strong knowledge of carbon reduction strategies, energy efficiency, and sustainability frameworks.
• Proven ability to design and deliver complex environmental programs.
• Analytical capability with experience in data‑driven decision making and reporting; degree‑level qualification in Engineering, Environment, or Sustainability or related subjects.
• Postgraduate qualification in relevant subject e.g. environmental management, sustainability, sustainable business.
• Full membership of relevant professional body (e.g. RICS, Energy Institute, Energy Managers Association, ICE or CIOB, ISEP).
• Experience of Energy Performance Contracts, Power Purchase Agreements and sustainable funding an advantage.

Benefits

• Work patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term‑time working, flexi‑time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (prorata for part‑time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest‑free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle‑to‑work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first‑class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family‑friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year of continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry‑recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Salary and Pension

Alongside your salary of £57,946, the Department for Work and Pensions contributes £16,786 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Selection process

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single virtual video interview. The interview will include a 7‑minute presentation at the start of your interview. Details of the presentation and what is required will be supplied as part of the invite to interview.

Currently the sift is scheduled to take place w/c 12th January 2026 and interview dates either w/c 19th or 26th January 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place virtually and dates are subject to change.

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note: if you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part‑Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill‑health). If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. We run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. We also offer a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Reasonable Adjustments – We consider visible and non‑visible disabilities, neuro‑diversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Integrity, plagiarism, Civil Service Principles and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) – The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Examples of plagiarism can include presenting the work, ideas and experiences of others as your own or copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own.

Other information

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Security: Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks. Nationality requirements: This job is broadly open to the groups listed above.

To learn more about the Civil Service Code and recruitment principles, please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (open in a new window). Find out more about prison leaver recruitment (open in a new window). All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single virtual video interview.

Disclaimer

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.