Principal Sustainability Lead

Shirley Parsons; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technical construction firm in the UK is seeking a Principal Sustainability Lead to shape the strategy for sustainability certifications such as LEED and BREEAM across global projects. The ideal candidate should have advanced certifications like LEED AP and a strong technical background in sustainability or environmental engineering. This senior leadership role offers a competitive salary and flexible working arrangements, allowing you to impact sustainability standards globally.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Flexible working

Leadership opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience delivering sustainability certifications across global frameworks.
• Advanced professional accreditations are required.
• Proven ability to interpret and govern certification standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the global strategy for sustainability certifications across diverse projects.
• Act as the senior authority and subject matter expert.
• Provide technical leadership for complex certification challenges.

Skills

Global sustainability certifications delivery

Technical communication

Influencing skills

Education

LEED AP

BREEAM Assessor / AP

Green Star Accredited Professional

Tools

Enterprise-level sustainability systems

Job description

Principal Sustainability Lead – Building Certifications

Partnered with a global leader in technical construction, we’re seeking an experienced sustainability professional to take on a pivotal role in shaping the future of sustainable building certifications. This is your chance to join a fast-growing global function that’s setting new benchmarks for high-performance, future-ready projects.

Our partner operates within the technical construction sector, delivering advanced manufacturing, data centres, logistics, food, and pharmaceutical facilities worldwide. Known for innovation and quality, they are committed to sustainability and have achieved some of the highest-rated BREEAM certifications in Europe.

What you can expect in this role :

• Lead the global strategy for sustainability certifications (LEED, BREEAM, Green Star) across diverse, high-profile projects.
• Act as the senior authority and subject matter expert, influencing corporate decisions and shaping best practices.
• Design and govern enterprise-level systems and processes to ensure consistent compliance worldwide.
• Provide technical leadership and solutions for complex certification challenges, unlocking innovative pathways.
• Represent the organisation externally, maintaining its leadership profile with certification bodies and industry groups.

The ideal candidate will have :

• Demonstrated experience delivering sustainability certifications across global frameworks.
• Advanced professional accreditations (LEED AP, BREEAM Assessor / AP, Green Star Accredited Professional).
• Proven ability to interpret and govern certification standards at an enterprise level.
• A technical background in sustainability, environmental engineering, architecture, or related fields.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills to translate technical insights into strategic business decisions.

This is a senior leadership role offering a competitive salary, flexible working, and the opportunity to shape sustainability standards across a global portfolio. If you’re passionate about driving sustainable outcomes and want to make a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.