Senior Associate - Sustainability Role in Cardiff

About us

Hoare Lea is an award‑winning engineering consultancy with a creative team of engineers, designers and technical specialists. We provide innovative solutions to complex engineering and design challenges for buildings. We are committed to providing an environment where everyone can realise their unique potential. In joining Hoare Lea, you will experience a business that enriches your knowledge, supports your wellbeing and welcomes your individuality. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in our 9‑day fortnight scheme, thriving community groups, varied social and networking events and extensive professional and technical development schemes. We also offer an extensive benefits package, including private medical cover, electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, stock options and up to 30 days of annual leave.

We take personal responsibility to achieve a shared vision, combining strong relationships with technical excellence. We are committed to demonstrating how positively balancing human‑centric design with planet‑conscious solutions is the ultimate measure of success through our North Star vision. Our clients are industry leading, always striving to achieve the best and to push the boundaries of sustainability. We work on a wide range of projects in most sectors.

About the role

A fantastic career opportunity has arisen for a creative and driven Senior Associate Sustainability Consultant to join our Sustainability Group. The role could be based in our Bristol or Cardiff office and will be part of our broader Sustainability Discipline group which has a presence in every Hoare Lea office across the country. Working alongside a range of specialist engineers and consultants, you will be joining a collaborative, knowledgeable, highly engaged team who love what they do, and offer a supportive, flexible, and high performing work culture.

Role expectations:

• Take ownership and deliver large scale projects with industry leading clients.
• Monitoring project expenditure and reporting to team leader.
• Actively contribute to sharing technical knowledge across the firm.
• Effectively report and openly communicate at all levels internally and externally.
• Contribute to finding new opportunities for business growth and negotiate scope of Hoare Lea services and levels.
• Actively participate in regional work‑winning initiatives and contribute to senior engagement in recognised industry organisations.
• Take responsibility for achieving design objectives.
• Manage and motivate colleagues within the HL team.
• Reporting cost and resource requirements to the team leader on a regular basis.
• Contribute to the development of junior team members.
• Effectively delegate, manage and review work undertaken by others.
• Support in production of proposals and invoicing.
• Lead workshops with the client and design team and communicate information in a clear and concise manner.
• Undertake a range of modelling and analysis, which may include but not limited to: embodied carbon of materials, circular economy opportunities, building performance simulation, operational energy use, energy, overheating.
• Lead the development of sustainability and energy strategies.
• Lead the delivery of environmental assessments (such as BREEAM, WELL, HQM, etc) from early design stages through to completion.
• Support the drive towards realising net zero whole life carbon in our projects.
• Work with other members of the Sustainability Group on research and development initiatives.

About you:

You will have detailed knowledge, competence and qualifications in a selection of the following fields. It is not expected that applicants will have expertise in all of the below topics. Applicants will be expected to have focus areas and detailed knowledge within them and should demonstrate a willingness to gain expertise in other topic areas.

Core competencies:

• Energy strategies.
• Building Regulations Part L assessments using Elmhurst and IES.
• BREEAM and HQM assessments.
• Bespoke sustainability charters.
• Production of planning documents including sustainability statements, energy statements, whole life carbon reports and circular economy statements.
• Circular economy strategies.

Advantageous competencies:

• NABERS UK modelling.
• In-Use energy modelling and assessment.
• Dynamic modelling for thermal comfort assessments and overheating risk assessments.
• Health and wellbeing strategies and certification.
• Net zero carbon strategies and embodied carbon calculations.

To be successful in this role you’ll need:

• Experience working within sustainability consultancy.
• Qualified and recognised in industry preferably with Chartered status.
• A passion for creating sustainable solutions.
• Confidence in leading sustainability workshops with design teams.
• Good communication skills and enthusiasm for working within a team environment.
• Demonstrable experience working with clients / contractors / architects in a design oriented / consultant role.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills to effectively work to timescales and deadlines for multiple projects.
• Self‑awareness, an open mind and a spirit of generosity.
• Experience of supporting others to develop knowledge, skills and confidence.
• Commitment to personal and continuing professional development.
• Active contribution to the wider engineering and construction industry.

Adjustments and accommodations:

If there are adjustments or accommodations that we can put in place to help you participate and give your best at any stage of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Data privacy:

We have updated our terms and conditions for candidates.

Recruitment agencies:

We have a Supplier List of trusted partners who assist us when required. We do not acknowledge speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions from agencies not on the list.