Director - Social Sustainability in London

Department: Sustainability

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Company: Canary Wharf Limited

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Reporting to: Managing Director - ESG

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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.
Annual salary: circa £110k dependent on experience
Closing date: 28th June 2026

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

This is an office-based role with the flexibility to WFH up to one per week

• 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.

• Act with integrity and deliver high performance
• Put our customers at the heart of what we do
• Resolve issues by providing high quality solutions

Foster Collaboration

• Find opportunities to collaborate with others across the business to achieve shared goals
• Encourage inclusive networks and treat others with respect and fairness
• Use knowledge to work effectively with suppliers / contractors to meet shared goals

Encourage Engagement

• Confident in making decisions appropriate to the role
• Learn from mistakes and listen to constructive feedback to improve performance
• Prioritise safety and actively support community, wellbeing and sustainability programmes

Take Ownership

• Take pride in delivering high quality service which exceeds expectations
• Committed to opportunities for self-development
• Take responsibility for my own performance and look for ways to improve

Embrace Innovation

• Embrace change and innovation
• Proactively suggest ways to improve our business and encourage others to share ideas
• See new challenges as opportunities to deliver effective change

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. We also recognise that it makes business sense, since being an inclusive employer leads to better business performance and higher levels of employee engagement and satisfaction. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills and are committed to fostering a culture whereby everyone can 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. Therefore, we are open to consider flexible working arrangements, both temporary or permanent.
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. We offer development opportunities through classroom and e-learning training, mentoring, cross department experience and on the job learning. We heavily invest in our staff attaining accreditations to develop existing and new skills, support chartered status, sponsorships and provide further educational opportunities which are job and business related. We never stand still and continually invest in developing skills and knowledge to ensure individual and company growth.
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. From generous pension and insurance plans, to health benefits, subsidised gym membership, store discounts and family leave, our benefits package allows our employees to choose the benefits that suit them and their individual needs.

If you are interested in joining our highly professional and skilled team for our next exciting phase of development, please complete the form on this page to apply online.
Early applications are encouraged as we reserve the right to appoint at any point.