Sustainability Manager

The Openwork Partnership; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading business initiative firm in Swindon seeks a Sustainability Specialist to manage sustainability initiatives across a network of over 850 firms. This hybrid role requires a strong background in sustainability and project management. Key responsibilities include managing environmental projects, developing resources for partner firms, and analyzing data for sustainability reporting. Competitive salary and benefits offered with a focus on making a meaningful impact in sustainability.

Benefits

Salary up to £52,000

Bonus scheme – on target bonus 7.5%

Pension scheme – with an additional 5% match

Critical illness cover

Income protection – 1x salary

Death in service – 4x salary

27 days holiday + bank holidays

Qualifications

• Proven experience of delivering projects and initiatives focused on business outcomes.
• Experience in developing client-facing materials in financial services is an advantage.
• Familiarity with sustainability and ESG regulations is essential.

Responsibilities

• Manage environmental and social impact initiatives across the network.
• Develop resources for the Partner Responsible Business initiative.
• Collect and analyze data for annual emissions reporting.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication

Attention to detail

Sustainability knowledge

Education

Graduate or postgraduate sustainability qualification

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a passionate and driven individual to support responsible business and sustainability initiatives across the Openwork Network. Working with the Head of Sustainability, this role will help over 850 firms develop and embed their own strategies, while contributing to the network's overall growth and 2030 sustainability goals. The role involves raising awareness of sustainability's business value, ensuring adherence to UK compliance and ESG risk, setting credible environmental targets, and developing resources and learning hubs.

This is a hybrid role, 2 days per week from the Swindon office.

Responsibilities

• Manage the execution of environmental and social impact initiatives and projects across the Openwork network
• Manage the development of the Partner Responsible Business initiative to help businesses set up their own strategies including how-to guides, best practice examples, e-learning materials, and templates for partner firms, ensuring they are effectively utilised
• Complete the collection and analysis of environmental data for annual emissions reporting and in establishing a roadmap to achieve net-zero
• Help develop sustainability education and awareness around the partnership at all levels including client engagement
• Develop and manage website and social media content on sustainability for Openwork and its partner firms
• Assist in identifying and reporting on sustainability risks at Openwork
• Annual public ESG reporting, benchmarking and identifying and recommending new areas of focus for business improvement on ESG

Qualifications

• Graduate or postgraduate sustainability qualification or similar practical delivery experience, including apprenticeships
• Proven experience of delivering projects and initiatives, using a practical and business outcome focused approach. Operating in a partnership, franchise or SME context is an advantage
• Proven experience of raising awareness of sustainability issues, collaborating, influencing and persuading stakeholders
• Experience of developing client facing material and propositions and financial services setting an advantage
• Experience of climate risk mapping is an advantage
• Training or experience in community and social impact (e.g., charities or schools) is advantageous

Knowledge

• Familiarity with sustainability and ESG regulation and voluntary frameworks and schemes covering commitments, reporting and disclosure
• Knowledge of holistic responsible business priorities and business practices
• Knowledge of current sustainability trends and discourse

Skills and Competencies

• Passionate – wanting to make a real difference in sustainability and recognising the opportunity to influence over 850 businesses
• Delivery – able to see how to get things done, being organized and able to balance completing priorities to focus on delivery while working on several programmes at once
• Motivational – able to bring people with you, promoting the business benefits of being a responsible business and working collaboratively and persuasively
• Communication – excellent communication skills, writing clearly and presenting well in person and virtually
• Independent – confident to get on with work and ask for help when needed
• Attention to detail – the role will involve working with data and creating tools and guides for other people to use, so accuracy is essential
• Continuous improvement mindset and the desire to suggest improvements in the way we do things and be creative

Benefits

• Salary up to £52,000
• Bonus scheme – on target bonus 7.5%
• Pension scheme – contribute up to 5% of salary and Openwork will match with an additional 5%
• Critical illness cover
• Income protection – 1x salary
• Death in service – 4x salary
• 27 days holiday + bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy up to an additional 10 days
• A range of other flexible benefits including private medical insurance, dental insurance and more