Senior Specialist - Sustainability Standards & Compliance

Low Carbon Contracts Company; Leeds, Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 68,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sustainability organization is seeking a Senior Specialist in Sustainability Standards & Compliance in Leeds/Birmingham. This role involves providing technical expertise for biomass assurance activities and working collaboratively with various teams. Candidates should have extensive experience in the Woody Biomass supply chain and a Bachelor's in a STEM subject. The position offers a competitive salary, flexible working options, and numerous employee benefits including annual bonuses and generous leave policies.

Benefits

Annual performance-based bonus, up to 10%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Up to 8% pension contribution

Professional development support

Employee referral scheme

Enhanced maternity and parental leave

Employee assistance program

Volunteer days

Travel loans and other savings schemes

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in biomass technologies and compliance.
• Direct experience in the Woody Biomass supply chain is essential.
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving relevant to the role.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise to the Verification Team.
• Work with teams to provide MRV guidance on schemes.
• Collaborate with suppliers for effective assurance activities.
• Underpin validation activities leading to substantial subsidy payments.
• Develop biomass assurance across existing and upcoming schemes.

Skills

Technical competency in low carbon technologies

Leadership skills

Strong interpersonal skills

Experience in Woody Biomass supply chain

Knowledge of energy supply chains

Extensive experience applying compliance standards

Knowledge of forestry management standards

Understanding of UK energy regulations

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a STEM subject

Job description

Senior Specialist - Sustainability Standards & Compliance

Application Deadline: 14 December 2025

Department: Ops Hub

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Birmingham/Leeds

Description

Contract type: Permanent

Hours: 37.5 / week

Salary: circa £68k depending on experience

Location: Leeds or Birmingham city centres

WFH policy: Employees are required to attend the office 2 days/week

Flexible working: Variety of flexible work patterns subject to line manager discretion e.g. Compressed 9-day fortnight.

Reports to: Lead Operational Assurance Manager

Deadline Note: We reserve the right to close the advert before the advertised deadline if there are a high volume of applications.

The Sustainability Standards and Compliance (SS&C) team plays an important role in managing multiple assurance services that apply to a range of strategic schemes across the business, including for biomass, including woody biomass, in the Contracts for Difference (CfD), Hydrogen (HPBM), Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and other emerging schemes. The assurance services are pivotal to ensuring compliance with contractual sustainability standards and maintaining value for money for the business.

As a Senior Specialist within this team, you will be responsible for providing experienced technical contribution to key work streams including the Assurance programme for the Low Carbon Dispatchable Agreement, leading our expertise in woody biomass.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing technical expertise to the Verification Team for Woody Biomass and other Biomass Assurance activities
• Working with internal/external teams to provide MRV guidance on upcoming schemes, especially focused on the Woody Biomass Supply Chain.
• Working with producers/ emitters/ generators to implement appropriate assurance programmes, particularly in the Woody Biomass Supply Chain.
• Collaborating with trusted third-party suppliers to enhance and sustain systems and services that enable effective assurance activities.
• Responsible for underpinning validation and verification activities for Woody Biomass which directly lead to payment of over £1 billion of subsidy.
• Providing expertise for biomass verification activities, and cross-cutting best practice into other schemes..
• Ongoing biomass assurance development across LCCC existing and upcoming schemes.

Skills Knowledge and Expertise

• Extensive technical competency in low carbon technologies activities, notably biomass technologies.
• Be highly competent in application of standards and compliance requirements.
• Be a team player, with strong interpersonal skills, working collaboratively towards a shared vision for the future.
• Proven leadership skills to provide enable development of other team members.
• Direct experience in industry of the Woody Biomass supply chain and related certification schemes is essential for this role.
• Extensive knowledge of energy supply chains including biomass/biofuels, hydrogen and other energy vectors.
• Extensive experience applying compliance standards.
• Proven knowledge of biomass supply chain and forestry management standards and certification schemes including SBP, FSC and SFI
• Understanding of relevant regulations for energy production and emissions reductions in the UK and internationally such as RO, FiT, RHI, ETS, CBAM and others.
• Bachelors Degree in a STEM subject or alternativeshowing analytical thinking, problem-solving, or technical understanding relevant to the role.

Employee Benefits

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. Key benefits that may be available depending on the role include:

• Annual performance based bonus, up to 10%
• 25 days annual leave, plus eight bank holidays
• Up to 8% pension contribution
• Financial support and time off for study relevant to your role, plus a professional membership subscription
• Employee referral scheme (up to £1500), and colleague recognition scheme
• Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity leave and shared parental leave
• Free, confidential employee assistance, including financial management, family care, mental health, and on-call GP service
• Three paid volunteering days a year
• Season ticket loan and cycle to work schemes
• Family savings on days out and English Heritage, gym discounts, cash back and discounts at selected retailers
• Employee resource groups