Head of Sustainability

Southern Housing; London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 104,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Southern Housing as the Head of Sustainability to lead their award-winning team and drive forward sustainability initiatives. You'll be responsible for developing corporate sustainability strategies and engaging stakeholders in impactful environmental projects. This hybrid role offers competitive compensation and fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration.

Benefits

Pension

Life assurance

Healthcare cash plan

Eyecare & dental

Birthday leave

Retail discounts

Cycle to work

Buy & sell annual leave

Season ticket loan

In-house academy & career development

Flexible working

Qualifications

• Proven success in delivering corporate sustainability strategies for large asset portfolios.
• Deep understanding of energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and environmental legislation.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, funding applications, and strategic reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team focused on sustainability.
• Secure stakeholder buy-in and funding for sustainability projects.
• Embed environmental best practices across operations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Analytical Skills

Innovative Thinking

Education

Degree in Environmental Science or related field

Membership of relevant professional bodies (e.g., IEMA, RICS, CIOB, CIEH)

Job description

Head of Sustainability

c. GBP90k pa + benefits

Farringdon, London – hybrid working

Southern Housing is seeking a dynamic and passionate Head of Sustainability to lead our multi-disciplinary team and drive our sustainability framework forward.

You'll lead a highly specialised and award-winning team, recognised through significant achievements internally and externally including Landlord and Housing Team of the Year, SHIFT Gold Standard for six years in a row, a sector-leading Biodiversity Pathway, and an exemplar in resident engagement and co-creation, with a focus on improving diversity and supporting ecosystems within our estate, including a Green Flag Award for one of our community gardens.

As the organisation's lead on sustainability, you will provide expert guidance, foster innovation, and embed environmental best practices across our operations. With a focus on strategy, compliance, and stakeholder engagement, you will play a crucial role in ensuring our services enhance the environment and support residents' wellbeing.

This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact by shaping Southern Housing's sustainability strategy, securing stakeholder buy-in and funding for projects, and advancing commitments aligned with SHIFT, ESG, SECR, and UNSDGs. If you are ready to lead an outstanding team and champion sustainability, we want to hear from you.

Join us if you have the passion and drive to match our ambitious plans for a more sustainable future!

The successful candidate must be able to travel between sites as required. This is a hybrid role requiring a minimum of two days per week working from one of our offices.

What you'll need

Knowledge & Experience:

• Proven success in delivering corporate sustainability strategies for large asset portfolios.
• Deep understanding of energy efficiency, carbon reduction, and environmental legislation.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement, funding applications, and strategic reporting.

Skills & Abilities:

• Strong leadership, communication, and influencing skills.
• Ability to analyse complex data and develop actionable strategies.
• Innovative mindset with a collaborative and customer-focused approach.

Qualifications:

• Degree in Environmental Science or related field.
• Membership of relevant professional bodies (e.g., IEMA, RICS, CIOB, CIEH).

Closing date: 25th June 2025 at 23:59. We may close the advert early if we receive a suitable number of applications.

We value authenticity and personal effort in applications. To ensure fairness, we discourage the use of AI in applications and request submissions be personally written.

About us

At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the UK's largest housing providers with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we serve over 167,000 people. We understand the impact of safe, secure, and affordable homes.

A career with us offers the chance to make a difference daily, face new challenges, and grow professionally.

What's in it for you

• Pension
• Life assurance
• Healthcare cash plan
• Eyecare & dental
• Birthday leave
• Retail discounts
• Cycle to work
• Buy & sell annual leave
• Season ticket loan
• In-house academy & career development
• Flexible working

Inclusion and Diversity

We promote a diverse and inclusive culture where all are respected. We celebrate differences in thought, experience, and perspective, aiming for colleagues to feel comfortable, belong, and be valued for their contributions in our One Team approach.