Sustainability Director in Manchester

Looking to make a real difference in the built environment? Help us deliver Net Zero at scale and lead sustainable design on global projects. This person can be based in our Manchester or Leeds Office on a hybrid working model. Working as part of our Sustainability and Physics team, we are seeking an experienced professional who has delivered outstanding project outcomes and is ready to play a key role in developing and leading our Manchester team.

About The Role

Our Sustainability and Physics team delivers world-class projects, from BREEAM Outstanding, WELL Platinum and NABERS 5* Workship Square, through to the net zero Terra – Sustainability Pavilion in Dubai. You’ll have the opportunity to work across both new and existing buildings, spanning a diverse range of typologies in the UK and internationally, collaborating with some of the world’s most prestigious architects. We are proud to be active members of the UK Green Building Council and World Green Building Council, contributing to advisory groups on Delivering Social Value, Circular Economy, and Advancing Net Zero. Many of our team are also engaged in industry boards, organisations, and academia as visiting lecturers.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading sustainability and physics input across a portfolio of projects out of the Leeds and Manchester offices.
• Developing and growing our Sustainability & Physics team in Manchester.
• Shaping building designs to achieve net zero carbon targets while enhancing occupant wellbeing.
• Representing our sustainability offering in business development meetings.
• Supporting work-winning activities and building key client relationships.
• Producing high-quality reports, presentations, and technical outputs.
• Delivering and reviewing technical analysis and QA of deliverables.
• Mentoring and supporting junior team members.
• Collaborating within multidisciplinary teams to embed sustainability strategies.
• Presenting to clients, design teams, and external stakeholders.
• Contributing to new service development and strategic growth initiatives.

About You

• A creative mindset with strong graphical communication and storytelling skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with confident presentation ability.
• Strong understanding of sustainable and low‑carbon design principles.
• Passion for driving the sustainability and Net Zero Carbon agenda in the built environment.
• Collaborative, proactive approach with strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead projects, manage teams, and mentor junior colleagues.
• Experience working in deadline‑driven environments.
• A recognised engineering or STEM degree.
• Strong working knowledge of Part L, UKNZCBS, LCA, BREEAM and NABERS.
• A minimum of 7 years’ relevant experience.
• An established professional network and client base in Manchester and the Northern region.
• In‑depth knowledge of current and emerging building policies and standards.
• Proven experience in team leadership, work-winning, and internal and external relationship building.

Why Join Buro Happold?

At Buro Happold, we believe in creating a better, more sustainable world. You’ll be part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and excellence. We offer a supportive environment where your contributions make a real difference.

What We Offer You

• Hybrid working arrangements
• Attractive salary
• Discretionary bonus
• 10% car allowance
• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum (exclusive of bank holidays) and flexible holiday arrangements
• Generous company pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
• Flexible benefits including cycle scheme, dental insurance, optical cover, travel insurance, season ticket loans, and corporate discounts
• Enhanced parenthood leave policies
• A strong commitment to continuous development.
• Entitlement to two memberships to professional bodies or subscriptions
• A commitment to your wellbeing through a comprehensive employee assistance programme and wellbeing activities
• An opportunity to support your local community and those in society that are most in need, wherever they are located in the world through our Share Our Skills (SOS) programme
• A supportive and inclusive environment that will welcome you through social and outreach activities from the Young Employees Forum to mentoring
• An international culture that wherever your career takes you at Buro Happold, you won’t be far from exceptional.

Apply now and be where exceptional is everywhere. We welcome applications from those who are seeking flexibility in their careers. Our exceptional portfolio of projects is the result of the diversity of thought, identities, backgrounds and experiences that shape us. Appreciating each other’s differences is key; we want employees to feel they don’t have to mask elements of their identity to thrive. We are working to change the lack of representation of marginalised groups in the built environment and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who feels they are underrepresented in the industry. We have much to learn from one another. Embracing difference allows us to develop the most innovative and elegant solutions. Please let us know if there are any adjustments we could make to the application process to make it easier and more comfortable for you. Contact recruitment@burohappold.com so we can work with you to support you throughout your application.