Principle Consultant - Resources (Carbon & Circularity)

BRE Group; Watford; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched

Life assurance – 4x basic salary

Enhanced maternity package

HealthPartners cashback scheme

Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursey

Job summary

BRE is seeking a technical lead for Carbon & Circularity within the BREEAM Science Team to develop and maintain methodologies for embodied carbon, whole-life carbon and circularity. You’ll work with science, product and digital colleagues to keep BRE’s standards scientifically robust and industry-aligned.

This varied role blends technical development, stakeholder engagement, research and thought leadership. Mostly remote with occasional travel to Watford for meetings (2–3 times per month).

Qualifications

• Experience in sustainability, built environment, or related consultancy sectors.
• Strong understanding of embodied and whole-life carbon, WLCA, and LCA.
• Experience interpreting or developing technical methodologies and guidance.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to diverse stakeholders.
• Experience managing projects or technical workstreams.
• Knowledge of sustainability standards such as BREEAM, ISO, UK Net Zero.
• Professional memberships or sustainability certifications are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and improvement of carbon and circularity methodologies across schemes.
• Develop criteria, benchmarks, guidance, and technical content for embodied carbon and circular economy.
• Act as the technical authority for complex queries from assessors and clients.
• Support methodology changes within digital platforms and tools.
• Produce technical guidance and knowledge base content.
• Monitor industry trends, legislation and best practice.
• Lead research projects strengthening evidence behind BREEAM methodologies.
• Represent BREEAM at industry events and standards forums.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to keep methodologies practical and commercially relevant.
• Provide technical mentoring and quality assurance across the team.

Skills

Sustainability

Embodied carbon

Whole-life carbon (WLCA)

Life cycle assessment (LCA)

Communication of complex information

Project management

Technical writing

Mentoring

Education

Degree in Sustainability

Tools

Standards interpretation

Job description

Make your mark at BRE!

BRE is a world-leading global organisation for innovation, science and data in the built environment. For over 100 years, we have supported governments, businesses and industry with pioneering research, testing and expertise. We are focused on growth, scale and expanding our global impact with products, services, standards and qualifications that address the challenges of a changing world. Driven by our purpose of helping everyone, in every building, everywhere, we are creating a safer, more sustainable built environment for people and planet.

Your role at BRE

As the technical lead for Carbon & Circularity within the BREEAM Science Team, you'll be responsible for developing and maintaining the methodologies, criteria and guidance that underpin BREEAM's approach to embodied carbon, whole-life carbon and circularity.

Working closely with colleagues across Science, Product and Digital teams, you'll help ensure BREEAM remains scientifically robust, practical to implement and aligned with evolving industry standards and best practice.

This is a varied role that combines technical development, stakeholder engagement, research, industry collaboration and thought leadership. You'll be the go-to expert for complex carbon and circularity topics, while helping shape the future direction of BREEAM's sustainability standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of BREEAM's carbon and circularity methodologies across multiple schemes.
• Develop and update criteria, benchmarks, guidance and technical content relating to embodied carbon, whole-life carbon and circular economy principles.
• Act as the technical authority for complex queries from assessors, clients and national scheme operators.
• Support the implementation of methodology changes within digital platforms and tools.
• Produce technical guidance, knowledge base content and supporting documentation.
• Monitor emerging industry trends, legislation, standards and best practice.
• Lead and contribute to research projects that strengthen the evidence base behind BREEAM methodologies.
• Represent BREEAM at industry events, working groups and standards forums.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure methodologies remain practical, robust and commercially relevant.
• Provide technical support, mentoring and quality assurance across the wider team.

What we are looking for

• Experience working within sustainability, the built environment, engineering, construction, environmental assessment or related consultancy sectors.
• Strong understanding of embodied carbon, whole-life carbon assessment (WLCA), life cycle assessment (LCA) or circular economy principles.
• Experience interpreting, applying or developing technical methodologies, standards or guidance.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information to a range of stakeholders.
• Experience managing projects, research activities or technical workstreams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and technical writing skills.
• Knowledge of sustainability standards and frameworks such as BREEAM, RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment, ISO standards, UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard or similar.
• Experience participating in industry working groups, standards development or thought leadership activities.
• Experience providing technical guidance, quality assurance or mentoring others.
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Sustainability, Environmental Science, Engineering, Construction, Architecture or a related discipline.
• Relevant professional memberships or sustainability-related certifications would be advantageous.

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched contribution

• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary

• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more

• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform

• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Work Location Options

Mostly Remote – This role is primarily home-based, with occasional travel to our head office in Watford for planned meetings (2 - 3 times per month).

Our Recruitment Process

As part of our recruitment process we will be conducting 10-30 minute phone screening calls via an AI recruiter called Ryan with all shortlisted candidates. The information gathered from this screening will be used to help assess your suitability for the position.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.