Sustainability Manager

NHS Ayrshire & Arran; Alberton; Hybrid; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A national health service in Scotland is looking for a passionate Sustainability Manager to lead the greenspace, biodiversity, and green health initiatives. This role requires a Master's degree and substantial experience in climate change strategies. The manager will utilize expert knowledge to advise all NHSScotland Boards and deliver essential training. The position supports hybrid working patterns and offers a benefits package aimed at improving employee well-being and professional development.

Benefits

Pension scheme

Work-life balance policies

Occupational health services

Qualifications

• Proven experience in operational guidance on climate change.
• Membership in relevant Professional Institutes desirable.
• Specialist expertise in greenspace and biodiversity.

Responsibilities

• Support all NHSScotland Boards on sustainability strategies.
• Deliver specialist training on environmental performance.
• Produce professional environmental awareness materials.

Skills

Climate change mitigation

Environmental management (ISO14001)

Sustainable transport

Active travel

Sustainable waste management

Resource efficiency

Negotiating and influencing skills

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

Job description

Sustainability Manager

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

About The Organisation

National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national NHS Board operating right at the heart of NHSScotland providing invaluable support and advice at a strategic and operational level. NSS supports customers to deliver their services more efficiently and effectively and we offer shared services on a national scale using best-in-class systems and standards. Our priority is always the same – to improve the health and well-being of the people of Scotland. We do this by working in partnership with colleagues across Health and Social Care to deliver fit for purpose solutions and systems, delivering high quality services that help our stakeholders to free up resources so they can be re‑invested into essential services.

NHS Scotland Assure was launched as part of NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) in 2021. It underpins a transformation in the approach to promoting excellence, reducing risks in the healthcare-built environment and ensuring healthcare facilities are safe, fit for purpose, cost effective and capable of delivering sustainable services over the long term.

The Post

NHS Scotland Assure is looking for a suitably experienced and qualified Sustainability Manager for the Greenspace, Biodiversity & Green Health Workstream. The individual must be passionate about environmental sustainability and will establish and ensure the name of NHS Scotland Assure as the centre for advice, training and help on this aspect of sustainability and environmental performance for the healthcare sector in Scotland. The post holder will work as part of a dynamic and evolving Climate Change, Sustainability and Environment team to support all 22 NHSScotland Boards in meeting the Scottish Government’s climate emergency and environmental sustainability expectations of public sector bodies generally, and NHSScotland requirements and policy commitments specifically.

The Candidate

You will be educated to Masters degree level or have extensive relevant equivalent training and vocational experience. You will also have proven experience of providing operational guidance and support on climate change and environmental sustainability. Membership or Fellowship of one or more relevant Professional Institutes is desirable, such as the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (formerly IEMA). Candidates will be expected to have specialist expertise in greenspace and biodiversity and associated green health specifically and the following areas more generally: climate change mitigation and adaptation, environmental management (ISO14001), sustainable transport, active travel, sustainable waste management and resource efficiency. Experience of strategic and operational project delivery is essential for this role, along with the negotiating and influencing skills necessary to advance the sustainability performance of NHS Scotland.

A confident communicator, you will represent NSS and NHSScotland in dealings with a range of government, health sector and other public bodies both in Scotland and the UK, and across a range of national and international events. This will include delivery of specialist training, organising and chairing national meetings and events, and producing professional environmental awareness material and reports, often to tight deadlines. In addition, you will have proven experience of utilising complex information for management purposes and in setting and monitoring targets and performance indicators.

Location and Working Pattern

This post can be based in Gyle Square, Edinburgh, Delta House, Glasgow, Eurocentral or Canderside.

The post holder will work from NSS offices, home, NHS Board sites and other locations as necessary. Currently hybrid working. The work pattern for this post is Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week. It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK for the post in which you will be employed with NSS.

Benefits

Our benefits package includes pension scheme, comprehensive range of work life balance policies, occupational health services, learning resource centres and discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits. HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) is a national board and, as an anchor institution, it is our ambition to be a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone feels welcome. We recognise that flexible working creates an inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and feel confident about their ability to balance their personal and professional responsibilities. This is supported through Once for Scotland flexible working policies. NSS has made a long-term commitment to staff health and well-being and offers many learning and development opportunities to support and improve our approaches to diversity, inclusion and mental health in the workplace. There are a number of equality staff networks in place which all staff are welcome to join. We are also an equal opportunities employer and as such guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies. As an accredited Disability Confident Leader, it is the aim of NSS to offer a fully accessible and inclusive recruitment service that supports applicants on their candidate journey. If you are interested in any reasonable adjustments, please contact the Recruitment Team on [e-mail].

Further Information

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Jacqueline Kilcoyne on [e-mail]. Closing date for completed applications is 27 January 2026. Further information on NSS is available from: https://www.nss.nhs.scot/. Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e‑mail only, so please check your e‑mail regularly (including junk folders). NHS National Services Scotland is an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.