Sustainability Leader - UK

Impact Futures; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A sustainability consulting firm is seeking a visionary Sustainability Leader to drive high-impact sustainability services across the UK and Middle East. This senior position requires extensive experience in crafting sustainability strategies for large-scale urban developments. You'll guide clients, mentor teams, and manage key projects while navigating complex environmental challenges and contributing to ambitious design-led practices. The role offers an opportunity to influence sustainable development in a rapidly evolving market, making significant impacts across various sectors.

Benefits

Equal opportunity employer

Inclusive workplace environment

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of experience in sustainability advisory or ESG.
• Knowledge of ESG frameworks and climate risk analysis.
• Experience in developing sustainability strategies for large developments.

Responsibilities

• Lead comprehensive ESG and sustainability strategies.
• Mentor design teams in sustainable practices.
• Manage project timelines and budgets effectively.

Skills

ESG strategies

Climate risk analysis

Project management

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Education

Postgraduate degree in environmental science or sustainability

Job description

About Impact Futures

Impact Futures, a 7C company, is a sustainability consulting business that works globally to help our clients realise their ambitions and commitments toward addressing social impact, conservation, resilience, and good business. Our team focus on incorporate holistic sustainability principles into organisations and the built environment. Impact Futures also collaborates across the company’s 17 studios and sister companies, Woods Bagot, ERA-co, and Customs Bureau, to implement the company’s comprehensive sustainability commitments, collaborate with design teams on compelling projects, and help our diverse clients deliver their sustainability and resilience goals.

Through our impact advisory services, we are focused on organisational strategies to support client to embed the right approach across a business. In the built environment specifically we off a design-led in our approach to sustainability, using a systems-based model for implementing sustainability understanding how Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into long-term resilience planning and immediate action. We understand a current imperative for clients is the climate crisis through actions like climate-related reporting. Our services will include resource management, resilience, human experience, community investment and nature.

The Role

We are seeking an accomplished and visionary Sustainability Leader to drive the growth and delivery of high-impact sustainability services across the United Kingdom and the Middle East. This senior role suits a practitioner experienced in shaping sustainability, ESG, and climate strategies at portfolio, masterplan, precinct, and asset levels - particularly for large-scale urban development and complex stakeholder environments.

Based in our London Studio, you will guide clients across government, real estate, infrastructure, and finance sectors as they navigate evolving regional sustainability requirements, national climate commitments, and global disclosure standards. You will play a key role in strengthening our design-led practice and integrating sustainability across masterplanning, architecture, engineering, and advisory services. This role offers the opportunity to influence the future of sustainable development in a rapidly transforming region, contributing to ambitious masterplans, mixed-use districts, and regenerative development programs.

Key areas of Responsibility

Strategic Leadership

• Lead comprehensive ESG and sustainability strategies for organisations, portfolios, districts, and giga-scale masterplans.
• Provide senior advisory on climate risk, transition planning, and resilience aligned with TCFD, ISSB, TNFD, and emerging UAE / GCC regulations.
• Shape sustainability visions, KPIs, and implementation frameworks connected to project delivery and national climate targets.
• Guide clients on sustainability reporting aligned with regional mandates, global standards, and investor expectations.

Masterplanning & Project-Level Sustainability

• Oversee sustainability integration for masterplans, precincts, tourism developments, mixed-use districts, and infrastructure.
• Direct environmental and social performance frameworks covering carbon, water, mobility, biodiversity, circularity, and livability.
• Lead district-scale decarbonisation pathways, nature-positive strategies, adaptation planning, and sustainable infrastructure guidelines.
• Mentor design teams across disciplines to embed sustainability in concept and detailed design.

Technical Advisory & Domain Expertise

• Provide leadership in carbon accounting, SBTi-aligned targets, life-cycle assessment, embodied carbon modelling, circularity, and sustainable procurement.
• Oversee climate scenario analysis, risk screening, and materiality assessments.
• Lead sustainability certification strategies (LEED, BREEAM, Estidama, Mostadam, WELL, Green Star).

Client & Market Leadership

• Build strong relationships with senior client stakeholders, regulators, investors, and development partners.
• Influence sustainability agendas through thought leadership and executive-level engagement.
• Identify market opportunities, shape pursuits, and position Impact Futures / 7C as a regional sustainability leader.

Internal Leadership

• Mentor teams globally, championing design-led sustainability and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Support internal communications, reporting, and training programs, including Climate Playbook updates.
• Build capability and nurture future leaders across regional studios.

As a leader within Impact Futures, the candidate should bring passion and a point of view toward emerging issues in sustainable design, inspiring staff across 7C companies to embed sustainability into projects and expand our relationship with clients.

Key Deliverables

• Manage and deliver project contributions on time, within budget, and to specification.
• Lead major advisory and masterplanning engagements to scope, budget, and quality expectations.
• Drive business development, including client identification, proposal leadership, and pursuit strategy.
• Grow the UK practice by building a strong pipeline and scaling team capacity.
• Contribute to thought leadership and strategic communications to elevate the 7C sustainability position.
• Coordinate sustainability initiatives across global studios and partner companies.
• Support multiple studios across time zones on projects and client development.
• Coordinate internal sustainability communications and reporting.
• Support bidding processes, including fee proposals and scopes promoting sustainability in Architectural and Interior Design opportunities.
• Manage revenue, effort, and production of high-quality client deliverables.

About You

You bring experience working with, or within, sectors such as infrastructure, insurance, financial services, property, government, or energy. With strong technical grounding in carbon accounting, SBTi, TNFD, and procurement-related sustainability tools, you are confident in climate scenario analysis and materiality assessments. You represent Impact Futures with confidence and build trusted client relationships.

Clear communication is one of your strengths, and you enjoy working in multidisciplinary teams. You think broadly across focus areas and translate complexity into practical solutions. Your analytical approach ensures well-reasoned conclusions that you communicate clearly. Outgoing and persuasive, you stay organised in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple projects without losing sight of detail. You proactively research, explore new ideas, and bring innovative approaches. Above all, you thrive in diverse teams where technical expertise and consulting capability come together to create meaningful impact.

You will be able to Demonstrate

• 10–15+ years of experience in sustainability advisory, ESG, climate strategy, or environmental planning, focused on masterplans and large developments.
• Previous experience working on Middle East projects ideally with a strong understanding of Middle Eastern regulatory context (UAE Net Zero 2050, KSA Vision 2030, Dubai ESR / ESG, regional green building frameworks).
• Knowledge of ESG frameworks (GRI, SASB, IFRS ISSB, TCFD, TNFD, EU / IFRS developments, UAE / Saudi reporting).
• Experience developing sustainability strategies for masterplans, precincts, and infrastructure.
• Leadership in climate risk analysis, decarbonisation planning, and corporate sustainability strategy.
• Familiarity with TNFD and circular economy principles.
• Strong capability in climate risk / opportunity analysis and translating insights into business strategy.
• Expertise in Scope 1, 2, and 3 strategies across sectors, with transition roadmapping and reporting.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Project management capability in fast-paced environments.
• Qualifications in environmental science, sustainability, business, or related fields.
• Experience in collaborative team environments.
• Experience in ethical materials procurement and embodied carbon modelling.
• Proficiency in climate modelling tools, carbon accounting platforms, and sustainability analytics.
• Relevant qualifications; postgraduate degree preferred.
• Advantageous : BREEAM, Estidama PQP, Green Star AP, WELL AP.
• Required : LEED Green Associate (GA) or AP (including V4.1 experience and readiness for V5).
• Preferred (not required) : WELL AP.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to submit an up-to-date resume via the LinkedIn job advertisement. Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We do not accept unsolicited resumes or names from agencies. All personal data collected by the firm will be kept confidential and only used for recruitment purposes.

Mandatory Requirement : It is an essential requirement that at the time of applying for this position, applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom.

7C - Total Place Design Network

Impact Futures is part of 7C Total Place Design Network : A wholly owned network of leading place brands including Woods Bagot, ERA-co, Impact Futures, and Customs Bureau.

7C is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, and Veteran status. At 7C, we are committed to creating an environment where difference is celebrated, valued and respected, practices are equitable, and our people feel like they belong. We accept that none of us is smarter than all of us. We believe building a diverse workforce is the foundation to creativity and innovative design – it is only by working together that we can realise the potential of our people, clients and communities around us. Through our inclusive leadership and our truly global studio network, you will find your voice and have the support and flexibility required to bring your whole self to work and build an exceptional career.