Sustainability Manager

Better Bankside is seeking a dynamic Sustainability Manager to support our ambition for Bankside to become one of London’s most sustainable neighbourhoods. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to work with strategic partners and member businesses to shape and deliver a bold action plan for decarbonisation, climate mitigation and climate resilience, building on our track record of successful sustainability initiatives, including the Southwark Climate Collective.

Bankside is one of London’s most interesting places, layered in history and home to a diverse, connected and future-focused business community. Better Bankside leads the partnership of these businesses, delivering effective projects and services that benefit the whole Bankside neighbourhood. The Sustainability Manager will join at a pivotal moment: shaping and delivering the ‘Greener’ goals at the heart of our five-year plan. Innovation, collaboration, and strong partnerships are central to Better Bankside’s success, and the Sustainability Manager will play a key role in a driven, goal-focused team, working alongside some of London’s most influential stakeholders.

Main Responsibilities

• Evolving the Southwark Climate Collective to support Bankside SMEs in decarbonising their business and operations and achieving Net Zero.
• Collaborate with strategic partners to develop a scalable model for business Net Zero, focusing on energy, waste, freight, and supply chains.
• Design and deliver our next iteration of green logistics support for local businesses, focusing on deliveries consolidation and greener last mile.
• Improve air quality, reduce pollution from heavy traffic and reduce costs to businesses.
• Evolve our current waste and recycling support to local businesses and develop a platform for embedding a more sustainable Circular Economy.
• Support the Placemaking Manager in delivering a more climate resilient and biodiverse public realm in Bankside.
• Identify and deliver targeted partnership-based training and awareness-raising campaigns to increase our members’ knowledge, skills and capacity around climate mitigation, resilience and achieving net zero or sustainable targets.
• Collaborate locally, regionally, and nationally to leverage skills, knowledge, and funding.
• Work with Director of Place, our team, our board, and local stakeholders on the development of Better Bankside 2025-2030 Greener five-year strategic Goals.
• Manage Better Bankside’s bimonthly ‘Sustainability Theme Group’ ensuring goals, business plans and our delivered actions have members’ support.
• Responsible for successful delivery of agreed sustainability programmes and projects in line with annual business planning and our five-year goals.
• Responsible for financial and commercial management and reporting of Better Bankside’s Sustainability workstream.
• Manage existing/new strategic partnerships and relationships that support delivery of our sustainability programmes.
• Support the Director of Place on applications for external funding.
• Plan and deliver awareness, knowledge, training, and skills development on key areas of sustainability.
• Produce regular communications and marketing of our sustainability action to our members and across wider social media and general media.
• Support the Executive Team in developing our data and insight capability.
• Undertake any other reasonable service or project management-related duties.

Person Specification – Qualities and Attributes

We are looking for a passionate sustainability professional who is eager to take the next step in an ambitious career. Driven by a desire to help businesses take meaningful climate action, you will be a collaborator and problem-solver; a strategic thinker and confident communicator; keen to learn and willing to get stuck in. You will thrive in a small, successful organisation with a reputation for innovation and the delivery of high quality, high impact projects.

Key Knowledge & Experience:

• Proven knowledge of core sustainability and climate policy, standards, and best practice.
• Proven capability of translating sustainability and climate policy into action and project delivery.
• Proven capability of successfully delivering climate mitigation or sustainability projects.
• Proven capability in developing and maintaining reciprocal strategic partnerships.
• Some experience of working in partnership or engaging with businesses.
• Proven capability of working collaboratively with team members and/or external stakeholders.
• Beneficial to have experience of co-design and co-delivery.
• Proven capability of effective communication and presentation skills.
• Proven capability of applying for and managing external funding/grants.

About Better Bankside

Better Bankside was one of the first Business Improvement Districts (BID) in the UK, established in 2004. We are a partnership of local businesses, working closely with other community stakeholders to co-create a programme of projects and services that benefits the whole Bankside neighbourhood. Our core purpose is to support local businesses and make a positive impact in our community.

As a BID, we are funded by a mandatory levy on businesses within a defined boundary. BIDs are established through a ballot process, and every five years must return to their members to secure a majority vote in favour of their continuation. Our last ballot took place in November 2024, achieving overwhelming support from the business community.

Working arrangements

Better Bankside offers a flexible working policy. Core hours are 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday, with the ability to flex two hours to suit personal needs. Some evening and weekend work will be required in accordance with the needs of the post.

How to apply: At Better Bankside, we celebrate diversity and promote equality and inclusion amongst our staff. We welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background.