Operational Sustainability Lead

Department for Transport; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension 28.97%

25 days annual leave

Bank holidays + Privilege Day

Staff discount portal

Career development support

Job summary

Department for Transport is seeking an Operational Sustainability Lead to drive sustainability performance across its estate and agencies. You will develop and deliver the Operational Sustainability Strategy and oversee key reporting, including TCFD disclosures.

You will collaborate with government stakeholders, contractors and property teams to influence policy, manage complex projects and embed environmental objectives into operations.

Qualifications

• Significant expertise in sustainability across large estates or FM/property sectors.
• Experience in government reporting, including Greening Government Commitments.
• Ability to co-develop policy and reporting documentation with government departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead on sustainability management, improvement and reporting across DfT Group; ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
• Develop the Sustainability section of the Annual Report and Accounts, including the TCFD return.
• Maintain and renew the Operational Sustainability Strategy and communicate targets to organisation and suppliers.
• Stay updated on carbon, waste and environmental legislation; represent DfT at cross-government forums.
• Oversee sustainability data and reporting; manage data requirements in contracts.

Skills

Sustainability leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven reporting

Contract management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Environmental/Public Administration

Tools

Data management systems

Contract management software

Job description

Operational Sustainability Lead

Department for Transport

Location: Birmingham, Hastings, Leeds, London, Swansea (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

Salary: National Minimum Salary - £57,515, London Minimum Salary - £62,034

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Available Positions: 1

As Sustainability Performance Lead, you will play a pivotal role in driving operational sustainability across the Department for Transport and its family of agencies and Arm's Length Bodies. You will lead the development, review and delivery of the Operational Sustainability Strategy, ensuring meaningful and achievable targets are in place to support ambitious sustainability objectives and Greening Government Commitments.

You will oversee key sustainability reporting, including contributions to the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, TCFD disclosures and quarterly performance returns. Working closely with stakeholders across government, contractors and property teams, you will lead sustainability and environmental projects, influence strategic decision-making and help improve environmental performance across a diverse national estate.

The role holder will provide strategic leadership on sustainability performance across the Department’s estate and wider organisation, ensuring environmental objectives are effectively embedded into operational activities. They will build strong relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, drive continuous improvement through data-led decision making, and identify opportunities to enhance sustainability outcomes. The postholder will also lead the delivery of environmental projects, provide expert advice and assurance, and support the Department in meeting its corporate sustainability and environmental commitments.

Top Responsibilities

• Lead on sustainability management, improvement and reporting across DfT Group (including Arm’s Length Bodies); ensuring compliance with Greening Government Commitments reporting requirements.
• Lead on the development of the Sustainability section of the Annual Report and Accounts, including the TCFD return.
• Maintain, manage, review and renew the DfT Operational Sustainability Strategy and ensure appropriate policies, standards and targets are in place and communicated across the organisation and suppliers.
• Keep abreast of all industry trends, developments, and legislation on carbon, waste and the environment and represent DfT at the cross-Whitehall Sustainability Forum.
• Manage the sustainability data and reporting across DfT. Utilising existing data management contracts, identify improvements and manage any sustainability data requirements in renewed or relet contracts

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

• Significant professional expertise in management role/s leading on environmental issues in the real estate and FM/property industry and knowledge of complying with related regulatory frameworks
• Experience in government reporting, including experience with the Greening Government Commitments reporting
• Experience of working with government departments to co-develop policy/reporting documentation
• Experience of understanding environmental options and how to apply them to a multi-sited and multi-stakeholder organisation.
• Experience of managing complex and innovative projects from start to finish and associated contract management. Influential and able to lead key senior stakeholders, colleagues and customers towards commercial solutions that give a balance of optimal performance and environmentally sustainable solutions that support the business strategy

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 4th October 2026