Head of Sustainability

CIWM Group; Chorley; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Enhanced pension contributions

Company car or car allowance

Annual bonus scheme

Job summary

Avove is seeking a Head of Sustainability to shape and drive a sustainable infrastructure agenda across the UK. Hybrid role with travel to offices, sites and client locations.

You will lead environmental strategy, net zero delivery, governance and reporting, turning complex data into clear business insights and value for clients and investors. This is a high-visibility role with scope to influence bids, frameworks and strategic decisions across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership in sustainability within infrastructure, utilities or project-based business.
• Strong technical knowledge of carbon management, environmental impact and procurement.
• Delivery-focused with ability to turn strategy into measurable outcomes.
• Commercial awareness to create client value and support growth.
• Excellent communication to translate data into compelling narratives.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy across environmental impact, net zero, social value, governance and reporting.
• Drive delivery of science-based net zero pathway and Scope 1–3 commitments.
• Influence projects from concept to delivery, embedding sustainability from the start.
• Measure and demonstrate impact across carbon reduction, resilience, biodiversity and resource efficiency.
• Strengthen governance with clear evidence and reporting to executives and clients.
• Support business growth by turning outcomes into stronger bids and proposals.
• Build capability across Avove with leadership guidance.

Skills

Sustainability leadership

Net zero & decarbonisation

ESG reporting & data governance

Commercial acumen

Stakeholder influence

Project-based delivery

Job description

We are looking to appoint a Head of Sustainability to help shape and drive the future of sustainable infrastructure at Avove. Location: Hybrid. Flexible on location within our operating regions, with travel to offices, sites and client locations required as part of the role Avove is looking for an ambitious and driven sustainability leader who is ready to take the next step in their career and make a visible, business-wide impact.

This is a significant opportunity to lead and develop our sustainability agenda at an exciting point in our journey. Over the past four years, we have more than doubled in size, expanding our capabilities, geographic reach and services. Following investment from H.I.G. Capital, we are now entering our next phase of growth, with additional expertise, insight and resources supporting our ambition to become a market-leading infrastructure business. As a leading infrastructure services and engineering business, we design, build and maintain critical water, wastewater and power infrastructure across the UK and Ireland. Our work has a direct impact on network resilience, environmental improvement, communities and the natural environment. Sustainability is therefore fundamental to our future success and to the outcomes expected by our clients, investors and wider stakeholders.

The opportunity:

• Lead our strategy across environmental impact, net zero, social value, sustainable design and procurement, governance and reporting
• Drive delivery of our science-based net zero pathway and Scope 1, 2 and 3 commitments
• Influence projects from concept and design through to mobilisation, delivery and close-out, making sustainability part of the project from the start
• Measure and demonstrate our impact across carbon reduction, pollution prevention, network resilience, biodiversity, resource efficiency, social value and whole-life value
• Strengthen governance through meaningful measures, clear evidence and accurate reporting to our Executive Committee, Board, investors and clients
• Support business growth by turning verified outcomes into stronger bids, client propositions, framework renewals and credible external stories
• Build capability across Avove, giving leaders and teams the direction, tools and confidence to make better sustainability decisions

About you:

You will be a credible and commercially minded sustainability professional who can set direction while remaining close to operational delivery.

You are likely to bring:

• Proven leadership experience in sustainability within infrastructure, utilities, construction or another project-based operational business
• Strong technical knowledge of carbon management, environmental impact, social value, sustainable design and procurement, ESG reporting, data governance and assurance
• A delivery mindset, with evidence that you can translate strategy into measurable outcomes
• Commercial awareness, including an understanding of how strong sustainability performance can create client value, strengthen bids and support responsible growth
• Influence and confidence, enabling you to work credibly with executives, clients, investors and operational teams, and to challenge weak evidence, unclear ownership or unrealistic commitments
• Clear communication skills, with the ability to turn complex data and project outcomes into compelling messages for different audiences

Why join Avove?

Benefits: Private Medical Insurance, enhanced pension contributions, company car or car allowance, and an annual bonus scheme.

You will join a fast-growing business at an important stage in its development, with the platform and backing to take sustainability to the next level.

This role offers genuine scope to shape our approach, influence investment and business decisions, strengthen our market position and demonstrate the positive environmental and social impact delivered through our services.

About us

At Avove, we design, build and maintain essential infrastructure that keeps water flowing, power connected and communities thriving. Working across the water, power and telecommunications sectors, we deliver sustainable engineering solutions for some of the UK's leading utility providers, including Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Welsh Water and Scottish Power Energy Networks.