Operational Sustainability Lead

Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom; Swansea; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Civil Service Pension 28.97%

25 days leave

Bank Holidays + Privilege Day

Staff discount portal

Professional qualifications paid

Flexible working

Job summary

Department for Transport (DfT) in the United Kingdom seeks a Sustainability Performance Lead to drive operational sustainability across the DfT and its agencies. You will lead the development, delivery and reporting of the Operational Sustainability Strategy and Greening Government commitments across a national estate.

You will supervise sustainability reporting, contribute to annual reports and TCFD disclosures, and collaborate with government, contractors and property teams to improve

Qualifications

• Significant professional expertise in management roles leading on environmental issues in the real estate and FM/property industry.
• 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 applying them to a multi-sited, multi-stakeholder organization.
• Experience of managing complex projects from start to finish with contract management and stakeholder leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead sustainability management, improvement and reporting across DfT Group and ALBs, ensuring compliant reporting to Greening Government Commitments.
• Develop the Sustainability section of the Annual Report and Accounts, including the TCFD return.
• Maintain and renew the Operational Sustainability Strategy with policies, standards and targets communicated across the organization and suppliers.
• Keep abreast of industry trends and legislation on carbon, waste and the environment; represent DfT in cross-Whitehall forums.
• Manage sustainability data and reporting; identify improvements in renewals and contracts.

Skills

Environmental management

FM/Property experience

Governance & regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Contract management

Policy/reporting experience

Job description

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 4th October 2026

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%

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

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 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

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• 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