Sustainability & Impact Officer

Athena Racing; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Company pension scheme

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

A leading sports organization is seeking a Sustainability & Impact Officer to lead environmental and social impact strategies within their teams, including the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team. The candidate will manage various sustainability initiatives, ensuring alignment with UN SDGs and reporting requirements. Applicants should have significant experience in sustainability, strong project management skills, and a background in data analysis and carbon reporting. This role is based in Portsmouth with competitive benefits including 25 days annual leave and a company pension scheme.

Qualifications

• 4-6 years experience in sustainability, environmental impact, or a related field.
• Strong project management, stakeholder engagement, data analysis, carbon reporting, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of ISO 20121, UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, and UN SDGs.
• Experience with life cycle assessment, carbon reduction strategies, and net-zero pathways.

Responsibilities

• Lead environmental and social impact strategy across the Athena Sports Group.
• Submit Focus Area Submissions for Race to Zero Waste and Climate Action.
• Conduct seasonal carbon footprint reporting to UN Sports for Climate Action.
• Chair Sustainability Committee meetings, setting agendas and action plans.
• Prepare sustainability presentations and reports for various stakeholders.
• Coordinate sustainability initiatives and athlete participation at events.
• Identify local sustainability projects for the '60-Second Climate Champion' content series.
• Maintain ISO 20121 certification and lead audits.
• Collaborate with partners and teams on sustainability initiatives.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Communication skills

Knowledge of ISO 20121

Carbon reporting

Sustainability strategy development

Tools

ISO 20121

Job description

Overview

Join Athena Racing as a Sustainability & Impact Officer. The role leads environmental and social impact strategy across the Athena Sports Group, including the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and Athena Racing’s America’s Cup team.

Key Responsibilities

• Submitting Focus Area Submissions for Race to Zero Waste, Accelerating Inclusion, Climate Action & Breaking Boundaries Women in Sailing. Requires proactive project management, liaising with commercial partners, charitable partners, the 1851 Trust, communications and media teams, and a graphic design agency.
• Working with the MarComms team to integrate purpose‑driven initiatives into every SailGP event.
• Serving as the main contact with the 1851 Trust, supporting climate and STEM education initiatives across event locations and digital platforms.
• Seasonal carbon footprint reporting to UN Sports for Climate Action.
• Reporting sustainability and impact outcomes for post‑event summaries.
• Liaising with team partners about impact initiatives, delivering against contract requirements and creating innovative ideas.
• Identifying local sustainability projects in each race venue for the “60‑Second Climate Champion” content series.
• Producing seasonal highlights reports for external stakeholders.
• Leading execution of the AC38 Sustainability Plan and reporting against KPIs.
• Overseeing Life Cycle Assessment activities for the AC38 race boat (with external technical support).
• Chairing Sustainability Committee meetings, setting agendas, priorities, and action plans.
• Supporting operational delivery of sustainability initiatives at events and team sites.
• Collecting, analysing, and reporting data to support annual carbon footprint calculations and reporting under the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
• Preparing sustainability presentations, reports, and communications materials for internal and external audiences such as comprehensive sustainability / ESG reporting support for investors.
• Developing and maintaining knowledge of carbon reduction, offsetting mechanisms, and net‑zero pathways.

General Tasks

• Preparing and submitting applications for industry awards.
• Coordinating athlete participation and organisational presence at sustainability and sport industry events.
• Ensuring alignment with UN SDGs and all requirements of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.
• Collaborating across all Athena Sports Group teams to ensure alignment and delivery of cross‑team sustainability projects including Athena Pathway programme.
• Retaining ISO 20121 certification with no non‑conformities for the Athena Sports Group, organising, preparing and leading audits and maintaining policies, procedures and certification frameworks in alignment with ISO20121:2024.
• Assisting with on‑ground activations outside of sustainability initiatives, such as hospitality, partner activations and MarComms events.
• Being part of a world‑class sporting organisation: Athena Racing & the Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team.
• Competitive package with 25 days annual leave (plus public holidays) per annum, company pension scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance, cycle to work scheme.

Location & Working Hours

Location: Portsmouth Office (minimum 3 days a week). Hours: Monday‑Friday 09:00‑18:00 (45‑min lunch break). Reporting to: CCO/CMO.

Qualifications & Experience

• 4‑6 years experience in sustainability, environmental impact, or related field.
• Strong project management, stakeholder engagement, data analysis, carbon reporting, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of ISO 20121, UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, and UN SDGs.
• Experience with life cycle assessment, carbon reduction strategies, and net‑zero pathways.

Benefits

Competitive package: 25 days annual leave plus public holidays, company pension scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance, cycle to work scheme.