Sustainability Strategy Manager

Standard Life plc; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical cover

38 days annual leave

Excellent pension

12x salary life assurance

Career breaks

Volunteering days

Job summary

Standard Life plc is seeking a Sustainability Strategy Manager to lead the development and delivery of the company’s sustainability strategy. You will report to the Head of Sustainability Strategy and Engagement and work with groups across the business to shape strategy and communicate progress.

You will engage external ESG stakeholders and internal teams to drive change, manage strategic projects, and embed sustainability into decision making, with a focus on long-term value for customers and

Qualifications

• Experience developing or supporting sustainability/ESG strategies.
• Ability to translate trends into actionable strategies.
• Experience delivering complex cross‑functional projects.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.

Responsibilities

• Sustainability strategy development and governance.
• Lead cross-functional sustainability projects and workstreams.
• Engage external stakeholders to communicate progress and best practice.
• Embed sustainability into business decision making and risk management.

Skills

Sustainability strategy

Stakeholder engagement

Cross-functional project management

Analytical thinking

Effective communication

Job description

Job Description

We’relooking for a Sustainability Strategy Manager to join our Sustainability Strategy and Engagement team. Ifyou’relooking for a new challenge with an organisation committed to putting customers first, aiming high and working together,you’llthrive here.

Job Type

Permanent

Location

This role could be based in either our Edinburgh or London offices with time spent working in the office and at home.

Flexible working

All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process. You can read more about flexible working here.

Closing Date

28/09/2026

Salary and benefits

Up to£61,000 DOEplus an indicative bonus range of16-32%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.

Who are we?

We’re Standard Life,a retirement specialistfocused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years,we’vebeen helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.

Life today is increasingly complicated,uncertainand unpredictable. People move through different careers, face unexpectedmomentsand navigate important choices.We offer our colleagues flexibility, trust and benefits that work for whatever life brings. In return we expect curiosity, connection,accountabilityandhigh standards. We make room for what matters - so you can bring your best, every day.

The role

The SustainabilityStrategy Managerwill play a crucial role in developing, delivering and communicating Standard Life’ssustainabilitystrategy. Reporting to the Head of Sustainability Strategy and Engagement within the Group Sustainability team and working closely with wider colleagues, the role will focus on shaping and developing a leading sustainability strategy, delivering strategic projects and engaging with external and internal stakeholders to communicate progress and influence change.

This role offers exposure to the full breadth of our sustainability strategy and an opportunity to lead and contribute to high-priority projects that support the Group’s long-term success. It will help ensure the organisation remains responsive to a rapidly evolving sustainability landscape while creating long-term value for customers, colleagues, shareholders and wider society.

What you will do

The Role May Include

Sustainability strategy development

• Monitor emerging sustainability trends, market developments, regulatory changes and stakeholder expectations.
• Translate external trends and business priorities into supporting the development, implementation and periodic refresh of the sustainability strategy.
• Benchmark organisational performance against peers and industry best practice.

Strategic project management

• Lead and coordinate a variety of defined cross-functional sustainability projects and workstreams.
• Work collaboratively with teams across the business to drive execution and manage dependencies
• Prepare papers, briefings and updates for internal committees and stakeholders

Sustainability risk and governance

• Drive the integration of sustainability considerations into business decision making and risk management processes.
• Promote a positive sustainability risk culture across the organisation.

Stakeholder engagement

• Engage with external stakeholders, including ESG surveys and analysts, to communicate progress, identify best practice, and protect and enhance Standard Life’s reputation.
• Engage with internal colleagues at all levels, from senior leaders to broader colleague groups to embed sustainability and drive change.

What are we looking for?

• Experience developing or supporting sustainability, ESG or responsible business strategies.
• Strong understanding of sustainability trends, stakeholder expectations and the evolving ESG landscape.
• Ability to analyse complex and evolving sustainability information, draw out implications, and translate insight into clear recommendations, briefings and actions.
• Experience delivering complex, cross-functional projects.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver high-quality outputs at pace.
• Experience engaging with and influencing senior and cross-functional stakeholders, building alignment and using insight to shape decision-making.
• Strong communicationskills, with the ability to simplify complex issues and tailor messages for different audiences

We want to hire thewhole versionof you.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from whatwe’veadvertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role,we’dlove to hear from you.

If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.

Find out more about working at Standard Life

• Guide for Candidates: standardlifeplc.pagetiger.com/guideforcandidates
• Find or get answers from our colleagues: www.standardlifeplc.com/careers/talk-to-us