Sustainability Manager in Manchester

The Sustainability Manager will lead the development and delivery of the organisations Sustainability and Decarbonisation Strategies, with a particular focus on decarbonising homes, improving energy performance, reducing environmental impact and supporting residents to live in warmer, healthier and more affordable homes.

The role will work across teams including Asset Strategy, Development, Repairs & Maintenance, Procurement, Finance, Customer Services and our residents and contractors to embed Sustainability into everyday decision-making and long-term investment planning.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead, support and develop a high-performing team, providing clear direction, effective management and opportunities for growth.
• Develop, maintain and deliver the organisations Sustainability and Decarbonisation strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, asset investment plans and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Develop and lead programmes to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, including retrofit planning, fabric-first interventions, low-carbon heating, renewable technologies and climate resilience measures.
• Use stock condition, EPC, energy consumption and resident insight data to identify priorities, model options, track performance and inform long-term investment decisions.
• Support delivery against sector expectations such as EPC improvement targets, net zero ambitions, environmental reporting requirements and funding conditions.
• Identify, secure and manage external funding opportunities for sustainability, retrofit and energy efficiency projects, including preparing and submitting bids and ensuring grant compliance.
• Work with residents and communities to ensure sustainability projects are well communicated, customer-focused and designed to reduce fuel poverty and improve comfort, health and wellbeing.
• Provide expert advice to colleagues, contractors, consultants and senior leaders on sustainability, decarbonisation, environmental performance and best practice in social housing.
• Develop policies, procedures and performance measures that embed environmental responsibility across procurement, repairs, planned investment, new development and office operations.

What we need from you:

• Experience of developing and delivering sustainability, environmental, energy efficiency or decarbonisation plans, ideally within housing, property, construction or the public/not-for-profit sector.
• Experience of managing and motivating a team, setting clear objectives and supporting performance and development.
• Strong understanding of sustainability issues affecting housing associations, including retrofit, fuel poverty, energy performance, net zero, resident engagement and whole-life cost considerations.
• Knowledge of domestic retrofit principles and relevant standards, with the ability to work confidently with technical specialists and contractors.
• Ability to analyse complex data and use energy profiling software to identify trends and convert insight into practical investment plans and performance reports.
• Excellent project management skills, including planning, budget monitoring, risk management, stakeholder coordination and outcome tracking.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and present recommendations to senior audiences.
• Commercial awareness and experience of supporting business cases, procurement activity, funding bids and contract management.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to delivering services that reflect the needs of diverse residents and communities.

What you'll need:

• Degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in sustainability, environmental management, energy, building services, construction, housing or a related discipline.
• Membership of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as ISEP, CIH, or a retrofit-related accreditation body.
• Experience of working with EPC, SAP, RdSAP, stock condition, asset management or energy modelling data.
• Knowledge of PAS 2035, TrustMark requirements, Warm Homes social Housing Fund or similar retrofit funding and compliance frameworks.
• Experience of delivering change programmes across multiple teams or services.
• Ability to travel to homes, schemes, offices and partner sites as required.
• Commitment to safeguarding, health and safety, data protection and all relevant organisational policies.
• Willingness to undertake continued professional development and maintain up-to-date knowledge of sustainability policy, technology and sector practice.

Key behaviours:

• Resident-focused: Understands the impact of sustainability decisions on residents' homes, bills and wellbeing.
• Strategic and practical: Can translate long-term environmental ambitions into realistic, deliverable plans.
• Collaborative: Works across boundaries and brings people together to solve complex problems.
• Evidence-led: Uses data, insight and evaluation to make sound recommendations and demonstrate impact.
• Influential: Communicates with confidence and inspires colleagues, partners and residents to support change.
• Innovative and resilient: Keeps up to date with emerging practice and adapts positively to changing policy, technology and funding landscapes.

What we give you in return for your hard work and commitment:

• Pension DC scheme (up to 10% contribution from both colleagues and Great Places).
• WPA Healthcare auto enrolled at no contribution level with £1250 of savings available - option to increase & add family members.
• Annual leave Start at 26 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days + Bank Holidays.
• Ways of working We offer some Hybrid and flexible working.
• Reward & Recognition You Count Rewards are individual rewards for going above & beyond.
• Compliance based training bonuses paid annually.
• Professional Fees The business pays the cost of one professional membership fee for each colleague.
• The Market Place high street, restaurant & supermarket discounts, gym memberships, cycle to work, smart tech loans and much more.
• Health and Wellbeing Initiatives Our colleagues enjoy wellbeing campaigns throughout the year, with activities designed around our four pillars of wellbeing, these include career wellbeing, mental wellbeing, physical wellbeing and financial wellbeing.