Senior Sustainability Manager, Natural Environment

Waterjobsuk; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Private medical and dental cover

Flexible/hybrid working

Season ticket loan

Cycle to work

Learning and development

Pension scheme

Job summary

Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) seeks a Senior Sustainability Manager, Natural Environment to lead climate adaptation and circular economy workstreams within the Sustainable Development Team. You will shape strategy, manage notable projects, and engage with industry and government stakeholders to deliver the Sustainable Rail Blueprint.

The role requires deep environmental expertise, strong leadership and excellent communication across audiences, with hybrid working at our London office.

Qualifications

• Expertise in sustainable development and environmental policy.
• Experience with climate change adaptation and resilience.
• Knowledge of circular economy and waste management.
• Proven track record delivering environmental projects.
• Understanding of environmental policies and legislation.
• Ability to integrate climate considerations into asset standards.
• Effective communication across audiences.
• Ability to work with stakeholders and govern pace.
• Collaborative team player with accountability.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, delivery and management of activities for climate adaptation and circular economy within the Sustainable Rail Blueprint.
• Shape technical specifications for industry projects; ensure alignment with Blueprint objectives.
• Oversee day-to-day delivery of technical projects and stakeholder relationships to ensure timely delivery.
• Plan industry working groups and annual Rail Natural Environment Day; coordinate communications and minutes.
• Maintain broad technical understanding and ensure workstreams contribute to wider objectives.
• Provide advice to rail stakeholders and government departments on environmental projects and policies.
• Produce accessible, technically accurate sustainability communications for RSSB and industry.

Skills

Sustainability

Climate adaptation

Circular economy

Stakeholder engagement

Project management

Policy knowledge

Communications

Team leadership

Risk assessment

MS Office

Education

Environmental science degree

Job description

Senior Sustainability Manager, Natural Environment

Region: London Vicinity: London City Industry Sector: Waste Jobs , Environmental Jobs , Climate Change Jobs , Waste Management Jobs , Built Environment Jobs , Sustainable Transport Jobs , Circular Economy Jobs , Stakeholder Engagement Jobs , Environmental Science Jobs , Sustainable Development Jobs Job Category: Legal/Regulatory , Policy , Research & Development , Specialist & Technical , Planning , Reporting , Infrastructure , Environmental Policy , Senior Waste Management , Sustainability Manager , Transport Job Type: Permanent Education Level: Please see job description Salary Description: Competitive Salary + Excellent Range of Benefits Posted: 06/11/2026 Start Date: ASAP Recruiter: Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) Job Ref: GreenJobs - 2026-1784 Closing Date: 22/11/2026

Senior Sustainability Manager, Natural Environment

Location: UK-London

Job ID: 2026-1784

Position Type: Permanent Full-Time

Post End Date: 22/11/2026

Overview

RSSB are now seeking a Senior Sustainability Manager, Natural Environment to join our Sustainable Development Team. In this role, you will play a key part in the future success of RSSB’s Natural Environment team and the delivery of the Sustainable Rail Blueprint. You will be focused on delivery of the Prepared for a Changing Climate and Circular Economy elements of the Natural Environment section of the Sustainable Rail Blueprint, providing technical expertise across both topics.

Working closely with the Natural Environment Principal and colleagues across the Sustainable Development team, you will support the development and lead the delivery of RSSB’s climate adaptation and circular economy workstreams, including strategy and policy development, industry guidance, technical input and analysis, research programmes and stakeholder engagement while maintaining a broad understanding of the wider Natural Environment agenda, including nature, biodiversity and water.

This role is a permanent opportunity, based at our Fenchurch Avenue office, with hybrid working. The close date for applying is 22nd November 2026.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, delivery and management of a programme of activities to deliver against the climate adaptation and circular economy elements of the Sustainable Rail Blueprint.
• Shape technical specifications for new industry projects across climate adaptation and circular economy, ensuring alignment with wider Blueprint objectives.
• Lead the day-to-day delivery of technical projects, supporting the Natural Environment Principal in reviewing and evaluating project proposals, tenders and deliverables, and managing relationships with appointed supplier(s) to ensure deliverables are technically robust and are delivered on time.
• Lead the planning of the Climate Change Adaptation and Circular Economy industry working groups, working with the industry chairs to agree agendas, leading on communications with members, and ensuring meetings are minuted.
• Lead the planning and delivery of the annual Rail Natural Environment Day, bringing together all four Natural Environment industry working groups in person.
• Maintain a broad technical understanding across the Natural Environment agenda, and wider environmental sustainability issues, ensuring that workstreams are joined up and contribute to wider Sustainable Rail Blueprint objectives.
• Provide advice and work collaboratively with relevant rail industry stakeholders and government departments (for example Department for Transport) on the development of environmental projects and policies.
• Provide accessible but technically accurate communications material on sustainability for use by RSSB and the industry as part of engagement and communications campaigns.
• Act as RSSB’s subject matter expert on climate change adaptation and resilience, with technical expertise in circular economy and waste management, and be an approachable point of contact for members on these topics.

Qualifications

• Expertise in sustainable development, including a relevant university degree in environmental science/sustainability or equivalent, or professional status with ISEP (Practitioner ISEP or above) or equivalent industry experience.
• Subject matter expertise or equivalent experience in climate change adaptation and resilience, preferably including how it relates to transport or infrastructure.
• Working knowledge or experience of circular economy and waste management.
• A demonstrable track record of successful management and delivery of environmental projects and programmes.
• A deep understanding of key environmental policies and legislation, particularly relating to climate change adaptation and resilience and circular economy.
• Contribute to the implementation of the industry resilience framework, supporting the integration of changing climate considerations into relevant asset standards, risk assessment approaches and wider industry guidance, to strengthen the railway's preparedness for future climate impacts.
• Ability to communicate effectively and share thoughts and ideas through methods appropriate to the audience.
• Adapt and respond effectively when embracing new opportunities, change and in navigating uncertainty, working with pace and agility.
• Actively contribute as part of a team and work towards achieving team goals and outcomes.
• Take responsibility and demonstrate accountability in completing tasks and achieving objectives, actively seeking to resolve problems and identify opportunities.
• Committed to customer service and placing customer satisfaction at the heart of our success to ensure we deliver against our shared goals.
• Build effective professional relationships with stakeholders, understanding their unique goals and motivations, gaining credibility and effectively influencing to achieve desired outcomes.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an evolving industry, gaining stakeholder confidence through understanding their goals and motivations and demonstrating credibility as an expert.
• Make timely, informed decisions taking account of the benefits and constraints involved.
• Fluency in Microsoft Office applications.

Why Join RSSB?

We value our people and offer a competitive benefits package, including:

• 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Private medical and dental cover
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Season ticket loan and travel subsidy
• Cycle to work scheme
• Volunteer leave
• Performance-related bonus
• Learning and development opportunities
• Pension scheme

We understand the importance of work-life balance, and we offer our staff the flexibility to work within our core hours and the option to vary their location between both the office and home. If you are looking for further flexibility, speak to us at interview stage so that we can consider your request.

We valuediversityand equal opportunities in employment and are committed to creating a workplace which is inclusive to everyone. As a member of theDisability Confident Scheme, we encourage candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria, to apply for our jobs. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme, please let us know in advance by emailing [e-mail] Find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at RSSB: Rail Safety and Standards Board Careers - VERCIDA

If you require any reasonable adjustments with respect to our selection process including information in an alternative format, please contact us at [e-mail]

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