Principal Sustainability Lead

Shirley Parsons; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm in the UK is seeking a Principal Sustainability Lead to drive sustainability certifications across high-profile projects. This senior leadership role involves defining the global strategy for LEED and BREEAM certifications and providing expert technical leadership. Candidates should have significant experience in sustainability certifications and advanced professional accreditations. This position offers a competitive salary and flexible working arrangements, emphasizing a commitment to innovative sustainable practices.

Benefits

Flexible working

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Experience delivering sustainability certifications across global frameworks.
• Ability to interpret certification standards at an enterprise level.
• Demonstrated leadership in the sustainability sector.

Responsibilities

• Lead global strategy for sustainability certifications across projects.
• Act as the senior authority and expert in sustainability.
• Design and govern enterprise-level compliance systems.

Skills

Sustainability certifications expertise

Advanced professional accreditations

Communication and influencing skills

Education

Technical background in sustainability or related fields

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 is 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.

Vacancy Reference: PR/028802