Head of Sustainability

Irwin and Colton - HSE Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading principal contractor in the UK is seeking a Head of Sustainability for their Construction Division. This influential role involves shaping and delivering an integrated sustainability strategy across high-profile projects, ensuring both environmental and social performance are embedded into the organization’s strategy. The candidate must have extensive experience in sustainability and ESG, strong leadership skills, and relevant credentials. The role is based in Greater London, offering a significant opportunity to drive positive change in a respected construction business.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in sustainability, ESG, or environmental leadership within construction or related sectors.
• Ability to influence at board level and translate sustainability into business advantage.
• Proven experience in leading large teams and delivering positive environmental outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of a sustainability strategy across projects.
• Oversee the annual sustainability plan and guide a large multidisciplinary team.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and provide recommendations.
• Foster collaboration with project teams and maintain high standards.

Skills

Influencing at board level

Strong technical knowledge across sustainability strategy

Leading and motivating large teams

Driving performance and embedding a culture of excellence

Education

Relevant degree and professional credentials (e.g. ISO 14001 Lead Auditor)

Job description

Are you interested in leading an industry-defining sustainability agenda within one of the UK's most respected construction businesses?

If the answer is yes. We are working with a leading principal contractor to appoint a Head of Sustainability for their Construction Division. This is a senior, influential role responsible for shaping and delivering an integrated sustainability strategy across complex, high-profile projects, ensuring environmental and social performance is embedded into business strategy, work winning and project delivery as the organisation transitions towards a net zero, nature positive future.

Responsibilities of the Head of Sustainability will include:

• Lead the development and delivery of a sustainability strategy that drives environmental and social performance across projects, business decisions, and work-winning
• Oversee the annual sustainability plan, guiding a large multidisciplinary team and ensuring initiatives deliver commercial and long-term impact
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing insight, data and recommendations to improve performance and embed best practices
• Foster collaboration with project teams, clients, supply chain partners, and SHE functions to maintain high standards and support continual improvement

The successful Head of Sustainability requires:

• Extensive experience in sustainability, ESG, or environmental leadership within construction or a related sector, with the ability to influence at board level.
• Strong technical knowledge across sustainability strategy, carbon, compliance, and social impact, with the ability to translate this into business advantage
• Proven experience leading and motivating large teams, driving performance and embedding a culture of excellence.
• A relevant degree and professional credentials such as ISO 14001 Lead Auditor or other recognised sustainability qualifications, with a genuine passion for delivering positive environmental and social outcomes

For more information on this opportunity or to discuss your next career move, contact Jessica Rowe on or 01923 432 693, or apply here. Refrence JR4319

Irwin and Colton is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion please let us know if we can do anything to make the process more accessible to you.