At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sustainability initiatives and engage with customers to drive commercial growth.
- Company: Privately owned UK manufacturing group with a focus on sustainability.
- Benefits: Opportunity for high visibility, board-level engagement, and shaping sustainability strategies.
- Other info: Hybrid role with a focus on commercial influence and long-term investment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in sustainability while driving business success.
- Qualifications: Experience in customer-facing sustainability roles and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
A highly successful, privately owned UK manufacturing group operating across multiple construction product brands is seeking to appoint a Head of Group Sustainability Development. This is a senior, customer-facing sustainability leadership role, designed to use sustainability as a commercial growth lever, not a back-office compliance function.
The Opportunity
This role sits at the intersection of sustainability, sales, and strategic customer engagement. Approximately 80% of the role is externally focused, working with customers, specifiers, and industry stakeholders to position the Group's sustainability credentials as a competitive advantage. The remaining 20% focuses on group-level sustainability governance, ensuring credibility, consistency, and alignment across a portfolio of brands. The successful candidate will act as the public-facing sustainability ambassador for the Group, supporting specification wins, strengthening customer relationships, and reinforcing long-term Net Zero commitments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead customer-facing sustainability engagement across a multi‐brand manufacturing group
- Support sales teams with sustainability‐led presentations, meetings, and bid input
- Engage with housing associations, public sector bodies, housebuilders, and contractors
- Translate sustainability strategy into clear commercial value propositions
- Represent the business at industry events, forums, and working groups
- Own the direction and credibility of group sustainability frameworks (Net Zero, SBTi, Scope 1–3)
- Oversee compliance, reporting integrity, and consistency of external messaging
- Coordinate sustainability champions across the Group
This is a hybrid sustainability–commercial leadership role, not a traditional ESG or reporting position.
Candidate Profile
You are likely to have:
- Experience in a customer‐facing sustainability, technical sales, or commercial role within construction products, building materials, or related supply chains
- Strong understanding of how sustainability influences procurement and specification decisions
- Confidence operating with customers, senior leadership, and boards
- A pragmatic, commercially minded approach to sustainability
- The ability to communicate complex sustainability topics in plain, credible business language
- Existing relationships within social housing or public sector procurement would be highly advantageous.
Why This Role Stands Out
- Group‐level remit with genuine commercial influence
- Long‐term investment mindset from a privately owned business
- High external visibility and board‐level engagement
- Opportunity to shape and define a modern, commercially driven sustainability function
Applications
This search is being managed confidentially. All enquiries will be treated in strict confidence.
Head of Group Sustainability Development UK – Midlands preferred (national remit) in West Bromwich employer: Builders' Merchants News
Contact Detail:
Builders' Merchants News Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Group Sustainability Development UK – Midlands preferred (national remit) in West Bromwich
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks at events, forums, and working groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Head of Group Sustainability Development role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your sustainability chops! When you're chatting with potential employers or clients, make sure to highlight how you've used sustainability as a growth lever in past roles. We want to see that you can translate complex topics into clear business value.
✨Tip Number 3
Tailor your pitch! When you're meeting with stakeholders, customise your approach based on their needs and interests. This shows that you understand their challenges and can offer solutions that align with their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Group Sustainability Development UK – Midlands preferred (national remit) in West Bromwich
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role. Highlight your experience in customer-facing sustainability roles and how you've used sustainability as a commercial growth lever. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about sustainability and how your background aligns with our mission. Remember, we love a good story, so make it engaging!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your experience, focus on your achievements in sustainability engagement and any relationships you've built within the construction sector. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so show us what you've got!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Builders' Merchants News
✨Know Your Sustainability Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and regulations in sustainability, especially as they relate to the construction industry. Be ready to discuss how these can be leveraged for commercial growth, as this role is all about using sustainability as a competitive advantage.
✨Showcase Your Customer Engagement Skills
Since this role is heavily customer-facing, prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with clients or stakeholders in the past. Think about specific instances where your sustainability initiatives led to positive outcomes for both the client and your previous company.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice explaining complex sustainability concepts in simple terms. You’ll need to convey these ideas to various audiences, so being able to articulate them clearly will demonstrate your ability to bridge the gap between technical knowledge and business language.
✨Network Like a Pro
If you have existing relationships within social housing or public sector procurement, don’t hesitate to mention them. Networking is key in this role, and showing that you already have connections can set you apart from other candidates.