At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and evolve our social sustainability strategy for impactful community outcomes.
- Company: Join Canary Wharf Limited, a leader in sustainability and community engagement.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and extensive learning opportunities.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in local communities while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in social sustainability and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 59576 - 60000 £ per year.
Department: Sustainability
Company: Canary Wharf Limited
Reporting to: Managing Director - ESG
JOB SUMMARY
The role is responsible for defining and delivering CWG’s social sustainability strategy, translating ambition into clear priorities, measurable outcomes and accountability across the organisation. It champions the delivery of place based and community driven outcomes, including a strategically valuable Employment and Education programme, to deliver material social impact while building trusted partnerships and tangible benefits for local communities, particularly in Tower Hamlets.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
- Define, own and continuously evolve the organisation’s Social Sustainability Strategy, ensuring clear alignment with overall ESG ambitions, corporate purpose and business objectives.
- Translating strategy into clear priorities, delivery plans, targets and measurable outcomes, embedding accountability across the business.
- Act as an internal authority on social sustainability, providing clear leadership, governance and decision making.
- Lead horizon scanning on social trends, regulation and best practice to ensure the organisation remains progressive, credible and compliant, with particular focus on issues relevant to our local community of London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
- Work collaboratively across the organisation to embed social sustainability into core business activities, including development, construction, operations, supply chain, partnerships, employment, skills and placemaking.
- Establish and maintain robust frameworks for measuring, monitoring and reporting social impact and outcomes.
- Drive continuous improvement to ensure activities deliver tangible, long‑term benefits, focusing on areas where CWG can have the greatest impact through community investment, employment and education, and place-based initiatives.
- Build and maintain strong, trusted relationships with key partners and external stakeholders, including local authorities, community organisations, industry bodies, and delivery partners.
- Represent the organisation externally on social sustainability, community impact and ESG forums, enhancing CWG’s credibility and profile.
- Ensure appropriate governance, policies and controls are in place to manage social sustainability risks and opportunities.
- Contribute to ESG reporting, disclosures and assurance processes, ensuring social performance is transparent, credible and outcomes focused.
- Oversee the development, delivery and reporting of the related S106 deliverables, including owning the local spend reporting.
- Deliver elements of public consultation of value to the development team.
- Support compliance with relevant legislation, planning obligations and voluntary standards.
- Lead, develop and inspire a high performing social sustainability team fostering inclusive leadership, wellbeing and whilst facilitating individuals to reach their full potential.
- Provide strong social sustainability input into bids, tenders, planning applications and investment activity.
- Oversee events and a communications strategy that builds CWG’s public profile and demonstrates meaningful social impact.
- Own, manage and drive value from key social partnerships as appropriate.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- A senior leader with proven experience setting and delivering social sustainability or social value strategy within complex organisations.
- Deep understanding of place‑based social impact, employment and skills, ESG governance and reporting, with a strong track record of embedding strategy into business delivery.
- Credible, influential and values‑driven, with excellent stakeholder management skills, ability to build trusted partnerships to deliver measurable, long‑term community impact, particularly in urban contexts.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey complex social impact concepts clearly and persuasively to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
- Proven leadership capability, with experience of building, developing and inspiring high‑performing teams, fostering an inclusive and supportive culture.
- Strong influencing skills, with the credibility to engage senior leadership and drive cross‑business collaboration to embed social sustainability into core activities.
- Must be IT literate, with confidence in using standard Microsoft Office applications.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Diversity and Inclusion: We recognise the importance of embracing diverse experience, skills and perspectives at all levels and operating in an inclusive working environment, in order for everyone to reach their full potential.
- Flexible Working: As an inclusive employer, we recognise the positive impact flexible working can have on an individual, their wellbeing, engagement and productivity.
- Learning and Development: At Canary Wharf Group, our employees receive a wide range of support to help improve their skills and achieve their career goals.
- Other Benefits: We are committed to building a safe, happy and healthy community for our employees and we offer a comprehensive range of benefits, all designed with our employees and their wellbeing in mind.
Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to appoint at any point.
Director - Social Sustainability employer: Canary Wharf
Canary Wharf Limited is an exceptional employer that prioritises social sustainability and community impact, particularly in Tower Hamlets. With a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion, flexible working arrangements, and extensive learning and development opportunities, employees are empowered to grow both personally and professionally. The company fosters a supportive work culture that values collaboration and innovation, making it an ideal place for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director - Social Sustainability
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Canary Wharf.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Canary Wharf.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Canary Wharf.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Canary Wharf. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Director - Social Sustainability
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Canary Wharf. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Director - Social Sustainability, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Canary Wharf
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Canary Wharf. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
