Sustainability Specialist

Government Recruitment Service; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency is seeking a highly motivated Sustainability Specialist to support the delivery of low carbon fuel policies. Candidates will contribute to the effective operation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate schemes. This role requires strong technical knowledge in sustainability and climate change, excellent stakeholder engagement abilities, and a collaborative spirit. Flexible working options are available, supporting a great work-life balance.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Experience with climate change and renewable fuels is essential.
• Strong understanding of lifecycle assessment (LCA) and regulatory frameworks.
• Excellent communication skills to liaise with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Support in the delivery of technical projects related to low carbon fuels.
• Manage queries from industry stakeholders efficiently.
• Review and develop technical content for fuel pathways.
• Assist in communication with suppliers and international regulators.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation.

Skills

Knowledge of sustainability

Technical analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Can you support delivery of flagship low carbon fuel policies through technical analysis, coordination, and stakeholder engagement?

Do you have a passion for sustainable fuels and the skills to help regulate complex, high-impact schemes?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

We are looking for a highly motivated sustainability specialist, with knowledge of sustainability, climate change, and renewable fuels, to join the Low Carbon Fuels (LCF) Delivery Unit as a Sustainability Specialist.

Climate change is one of the biggest and most pressing challenges facing Governments across the world. In this role you will be at the heart of the Department’s strategy to accelerate the shift to greener transport, and drive more sustainable travel behaviours, to ensure that transport plays its part in meeting this challenge. The Environment Strategy directorate leads on policy to move the nation’s transport onto a more sustainable footing while maximising the economic opportunities for the UK.

The Directorate's teams direct and deliver UK-wide policies and programmes, of which low carbon fuels – such as those for road vehicles and aircraft – are a core part of the department's strategic approach to decarbonising transport.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

As the UK’s renewable transport fuels regulator, The LCF Delivery Unit is a world-leading centre of expertise on the environmental sustainability of low carbon fuels. The LCF Delivery Unit oversees the operation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which had a value of £ 2.7bn in 2022 and provided greenhouse gas savings of 7.18 million tonnes CO2e, equivalent to taking over 2.5 million cars off UK roads for the whole of 2022. The Delivery Unit also delivers the UK’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Mandate, which came into force in 1 January 2025.

You will play a critical role in helping to ensure the successful delivery of both the RTFO and the SAF Mandate. These flagship policies are two of the Government’s most important routes for reducing emissions from transport.

This is a challenging and exciting area of work, combining technical knowledge associated with low carbon fuels and controversy with a strong international dimension. Biofuels and other low carbon alternatives to petrol, diesel, and kerosene are key technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport.

Key Responsibilities

• Support in the delivery of technical projects. Work collaboratively with colleagues in the Low Carbon Fuels policy teams supporting delivery by taking on defined tasks such as research, reviewing life cycle assessments, or drafting technical content, helping to keep the project moving forward.
• Support the effective operation of the RTFO and SAF Mandate schemes. Assist in managing team inboxes, triaging queries from industry, and ensuring that stakeholder questions are allocated and resolved efficiently.
• Contribute to technical Support colleagues in reviewing standard low carbon fuel pathways and sustainability evidence, developing your understanding of lifecycle assessment (LCA) and scheme requirements.
• Assist in stakeholder communication. Provide accurate information and process advice to fuel suppliers and other external stakeholders including international regulators, technical support partners and other relevant organisations, helping them to understand the application and verification processes and addressing emerging challenges to the sustainability and integrity of the scheme, ensuring that the UK remains at the front‑line of low carbon fuels regulation.
• Coordinate administrative processes. Maintain records of queries and feedstock assessments, ensuring documentation is up to date and accessible to the team.
• Develop knowledge and Work closely with technical managers to build understanding of low carbon fuel feedstocks, production processes and eligibility criteria.

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.