Principal/Senior Sustainability Consultant - Defence

Turner & Townsend Plc.; Leeds; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking experienced sustainability consultants to join their dynamic team. This role focuses on delivering high-impact consultancy services, particularly in the defence sector. You will help clients develop and implement Net Zero strategies, manage sustainability projects, and ensure compliance with environmental standards. With a commitment to fostering an inclusive culture, this innovative firm offers a supportive environment where your expertise will contribute to transformative sustainability initiatives. Join a team dedicated to making a real difference in the world and empowering your career growth.

Benefits

Flexible working environment

Health and wellness programs

Professional development opportunities

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Experience in sustainability consultancy, especially in defence sector.
• Degree level education in relevant field is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver sustainability strategies for clients.
• Manage sustainability services within budget and deadlines.
• Support clients in achieving Net Zero outcomes.

Skills

Sustainability Consultancy

Project Management

Energy Efficiency

Carbon Management

Climate Resilience

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in a relevant subject

Tools

BREEAM

ISO14001

Job description

Principal/Senior Sustainability Consultant - Defence

• Full-time

At Turner & Townsend we’re passionate about making the difference – we are committed to delivering Sustainable Net Zero outcomes for our clients, helping our people to realize their potential, and doing our part to create a prosperous society. Every day we help our major global clients deliver ambitious Net Zero programmes from over 112 offices worldwide.

Our Team

Our team is dynamic, innovative, and client-focused, supported by an inclusive and supportive company culture. Our clients value our proactive approach, depth of expertise, integrity, and the quality we deliver. As a result, our people get to enjoy working on some of the most exciting projects in the world across a variety of sectors.

Our sustainability team specialises in helping client organisations to measure, manage and reduce energy consumption, carbon emissions and achieve wider sustainability aims. Our services include, but are not limited to:

• Delivery of city/regional carbon reduction programmes;
• Development of carbon management strategies, including Net Zero strategies;
• Carbon footprint and greenhouse gas reporting, and associated ESG disclosures;
• Identification and assessment of energy saving opportunities and investment case support;
• Green building certification assurance on real estate capital projects;
• Estates decarbonisation plan and heat decarbonisation plans;
• Net Zero programme management and delivery.

We are seeking experienced and highly motivated sustainability specialists at Principal and Senior levels to work in our Sustainability Unit to support service delivery across a range of programmes in our Defence division. The roles will seek to offer high impact consultancy support across the wide range of sustainability services as part of our expanding capability offering.

These positions offer exciting opportunities to work with our high-profile defence sector clients as part of a large cross-cutting team within Turner & Townsend. The roles are based in the Sustainability Business Unit of Turner & Townsend.

• Provide Principal and Senior level consultancy, project management and delivery services in one or more of the following disciplines: Net Zero Carbon, Planning and Sustainability Appraisal/Environmental Impact Assessment, Design for Environment/BREEAM, Circular Economy, Climate Resilience, Natural Capital, Sustainable Procurement, Social Value, Life Cycle Analysis and Sustainability Training/Culture & Behaviours.
• Effectively manage the provision of sustainability services to deadlines and budget as part of a cross-functional team within Turner & Townsend and with partner consultancies.
• Provide a leading role in supporting our clients to develop and deliver sustainability strategies across projects and programmes throughout the asset lifecycle, including scoping, business case, procurement, contract management/troubleshooting, monitoring & verification.
• Develop internal stakeholder relationships with other parts of Turner & Townsend, liaising with Key Account Managers and Sector Leads with a view to developing business opportunities and strategic pursuits.

Responsibilities (Duties)

Successful candidates will provide support and expert input into cross-cutting sustainability programmes. At Principal and Senior levels, responsibilities may include any combination of the following:

• Developing net zero strategies, whole building or estate efficiency strategies;
• Energy efficiency consultancy – including through audits and technical advice, Energy efficiency and carbon emissions reductions for existing assets;
• Providing consultancy services to the client on Energy Performance Contracts;
• Natural Capital delivery and biodiversity assessment and planning;
• Climate Resilience and Risk Planning and mitigation;
• Support to planning through EIA/Sustainability Appraisal;
• Implementation of Design for Environment capability including BREEAM/DREAM/LEED;
• Delivery of Sustainable Procurement and Social Value programmes through supply chain management;
• Delivery of Environmental Management Systems and ISO14001 compliance and certification;
• Establishment and rollout of Sustainability Behavioural change programmes, capacity building, training and cultural change campaigns.

Senior level experience in programme management and leadership, strategy/project delivery experience in the built environment, coordinating activities across various partners and working as part of multi-disciplinary teams would be beneficial. A key competency and skillset for all our people is to ensure client requirements are effectively identified, scoped and delivered to high quality standards.

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Security clearance for working in the Defence sector highly desirable (with current or lapsed clearance).
• Professionally qualified member of a recognised institution, ideally at Chartered level (e.g. IEMA / CIBSE / CIWEM or similar) (desirable).

Knowledge / Experience

A covering of the knowledge and skills below is required, though candidates aren’t necessarily expected to have experience in all areas:

• Significant experience of delivering sustainability support for clients is essential, ideally with experience in the defence sector.
• Experience of working in Real Estate and/or manufacturing/industrial sectors, in particular for energy.
• Strong understanding of the defence sector operation and challenges when it comes to reducing carbon emissions from the defence estate.
• Good working knowledge of relevant environmental legislation and climate and sustainability issues.
• Familiarity with Energy Performance Contract, tendering and contract management (desirable).
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams and matrix management organisations on major projects and programmes.
• Excellent communication including writing and presentation skills – including ability to communicate with clients and other key stakeholders on global, national and regional issues.
• Able to build strong, professional client relationships and proactively identify and resolve client’s issues.
• Confident leading and working alone or as part of a team, with ability to adapt as required.
• Attention to detail in service delivery, communications and ways of working with others.

The successful candidates will need to be able to competently deliver sustainability consultancy advice.

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are actively seeking to create a diverse team.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.