Senior Sustainability Leader

Cambridge Design; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design consultancy in the UK is seeking a Sustainability Consultant to enhance product sustainability across various sectors. Candidates should have a strong background in sustainability regulations, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to engage with clients effectively. The role involves client-facing activities and technical delivery, ensuring impactful sustainability strategies are implemented in product designs. This position offers flexible working, a discretionary bonus, and a solid benefits package.

Benefits

Flexible working

Discretionary bonus

Learning and development opportunities

12% non-contributory pension

Private healthcare

Electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme

Share incentive plan

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Up-to-date knowledge of sustainability regulations and their implications.
• Experience in product-design in consultancy or technology sectors.
• Ability to manage trade-offs between sustainability and product needs.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Business Developers to articulate sustainability value.
• Advise on sustainability implications in product design.
• Deliver and review Life Cycle Analyses across product lifecycle.

Skills

Knowledge of sustainability regulations

Analytical capabilities

Communication skills

Sales opportunity spotting

Attention to detail

Education

Degree-educated or equivalent

Tools

MS Tools

Job description

You will use your in-depth knowledge and interest to make our clients’ products more sustainable across healthcare, consumer and industrial sectors.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Commercial and Client Facing – c.50%

• Partner with Business Developers from first contact to contract signoff. Articulate the value of sustainability, scope programmes, write winning proposals and negotiate commercials.
• Be able to navigate early client discussions with the aim of identifying sustainability opportunities
• Represent CDP at conferences, webinars and networking events; deliver keynote presentations and panel contributions to build brand equity.
• Generate thought-leadership and collaborate with Marketing to create compelling collateral.
• Provide commercial coaching for colleagues to enable them to spot and qualify sustainability opportunities.
• Maintain knowledge of European, US and Global sustainability regulations and trends with the aim of translating them into actionable R&D recommendations and solutions.

Technical Delivery and Capability – c.50%

• Apply your subject matter expertise to influence the design, materials and development roadmap of products across healthcare, consumer and industrial sectors.
• Deliver and review Life Cycle Analyses across the product lifecycle, from early-stage concepts to in-market optimisations; support others to develop their LCA capabilities.
• Advise teams on sustainability implications of component choices, packaging, logistics, supply chain resilience and end-of-life strategies.
• Work with clients to define meaningful and actionable product-level sustainability goals, either building on their strategy or helping shape one.
• Act as a mentor and coach, helping colleagues build their understanding of sustainability principles, tools and best practices.
• Communicate technical findings and strategic recommendations clearly and credibly to a range of client stakeholders through in-person and remote meetings.

About You

Skills and Attributes

• An up-to-date knowledge of current and upcoming sustainability regulations and trends, and the implications they may have on product design.
• Knowledge about the sustainability implications of supply chain, material choices and end of life strategies.
• Ability to spot sales opportunities, write proposals and attend conferences with a view to building up a client database.
• Analytical and innovative capabilities, including the ability to manage trade-offs between sustainability and other product needs.
• Outstanding presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• High achieving sales and marketing efforts where required, such as contributions to proposals or marketing collateral or researching new areas.
• Attention to detail.
• Confident working in a fast-paced environment.
• Working knowledge of MS Tools, and other creative packages.

Experience and Education

• Degree-educated or equivalent.
• Significant product-design experience in one of the following environments: technical/design consultancy; technology start-up; new product development/engineering department.

About Us

Cambridge Design Partnership (CDP) is an end-to-end innovation partner, propelling global brands and ambitious start-ups to success. We build breakthrough products and services – from insight to ideas, prototypes to production – bringing innovation to life. Our teams are multi-disciplinary, uniting scientific rigor, design ingenuity, and engineering excellence for consumer and healthcare clients. People-centred, deeply collaborative, and – above all – expert, we’re uniquely positioned to shape the future for consumers, patients, and industry. Even our ownership model is innovative: We’re 100% owned by our employees, ensuring an open culture and a total commitment to our projects’ success. As part of our benefits package we offer:

• flexible working
• a discretionary bonus
• excellent learning and development opportunities
• a 12% non-contributory pension
• private healthcare
• electric vehicle lease salary sacrifice scheme
• share incentive plan
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays