At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sustainability governance and ensure regulatory readiness across a global enterprise.
- Company: Join Jacobs, a leader in solving critical global challenges for a sustainable future.
- Benefits: Flexible working options, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on innovation and strategic thinking.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability while shaping corporate policies and strategies.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in sustainability strategy and strong stakeholder engagement skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
At Jacobs, we tackle the world’s most critical challenges driven by our purpose to create a more connected, sustainable world. Through our global sustainability strategy, PlanBeyond, we integrate sustainability and resilience into how we operate, govern risk, allocate capital, and create value for clients. Sustainability expectations increasingly influence regulatory compliance, economic performance, enterprise risk, and market competitiveness.
This role plays a central part in ensuring Jacobs is prepared for, and responsive to, evolving sustainability-related requirements, while supporting the Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability in delivering the broader sustainability agenda across the enterprise. We are looking for a Corporate Sustainability Director – Governance, Policy & Regulation Readiness to help strengthen how we anticipate, interpret, and respond to evolving sustainability requirements across our global business.
Responsibilities:
- Monitor and interpret sustainability-related regulatory, policy, and standard developments across key jurisdictions.
- Translate external developments into clear enterprise guidance, readiness actions, and prioritised response plans.
- Own and evolve core enterprise sustainability policies, including sustainability, human rights, and social and economic inclusion policies.
- Work with contributors across the business to ensure sustainability policies remain current, credible, and practical.
- Partner with Enterprise Risk to identify, assess, and manage material sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities.
- Support high-quality sustainability impact, risk, and opportunity disclosures in partnership with ESG reporting colleagues.
- Build the case for sustainability transformation by connecting sustainability objectives to enterprise value, efficiency, resilience, and risk mitigation.
- Support business cases for technology and AI-enabled sustainability initiatives, aligned with responsible AI principles.
- Work with Operations, Procurement, and Supply Chain teams to support consistent implementation of sustainability requirements across the value chain.
- Provide strategic, analytical, and governance support to the Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability, including input to executive and Board-level materials.
Qualifications:
- Senior experience in sustainability strategy, ESG governance, sustainability regulation, policy, enterprise risk, or a closely related field.
- Experience working in a complex, multinational matrixed organisation.
- Strong understanding of sustainability-related regulatory frameworks and their implications for business.
- Experience owning, developing, or stewarding enterprise policies, governance frameworks, or business-wide processes.
- Ability to interpret complex regulatory, policy, or market developments and turn them into clear, practical business actions.
- Experience working across multiple corporate functions, such as Risk, Legal, Finance, HR, HSE, Supply Chain, Technology, Strategy, or Operations.
- Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the confidence to influence senior leaders and cross-functional teams.
- Experience supporting sustainability-related disclosures, governance papers, executive communications, or Board-level materials.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simplify complexity.
- Sound judgement, commercial awareness, and the ability to balance ambition, risk, proportionality, and operational practicality.
Helpful but not essential:
- Experience in professional services, infrastructure, engineering, construction, consulting, or another project-based global business.
- Knowledge of enterprise risk management and how sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities are integrated into corporate risk processes.
- Experience developing sustainability transformation business cases.
- Familiarity with responsible AI, sustainability data, technology-enabled sustainability programmes, or digital transformation.
- An advanced degree or equivalent experience in sustainability, economics, law, public policy, finance, or a related discipline.
Who you are:
- Thinks strategically but can make things practical.
- Is comfortable working through ambiguity and bringing structure to complex topics.
- Builds trust quickly with senior stakeholders and technical specialists.
- Can influence without relying on formal authority.
- Brings a collaborative, consultative style.
- Understands that effective sustainability governance must be credible, proportionate, and commercially grounded.
- Can connect external sustainability expectations to internal decision-making, risk management, and business value.
Equal Opportunity: As a disability confident employer, we will interview disabled candidates who best meet the criteria. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.
Head of Sustainability Governance & Regulatory Readiness employer: Jacobs
At Jacobs, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration that empowers our employees to tackle the world's most pressing sustainability challenges. Our commitment to professional growth is evident through comprehensive training programmes and opportunities for advancement, all while working in a dynamic environment that values diversity and inclusion. Located in a vibrant city, our team enjoys a supportive work-life balance and the chance to make a meaningful impact on global sustainability efforts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Sustainability Governance & Regulatory Readiness
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the sustainability field, especially those at Jacobs. Use LinkedIn to connect and engage with them. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into Jacobs' sustainability initiatives. Show us you know our PlanBeyond strategy inside out. Tailor your responses to highlight how your experience aligns with our goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job postings! Keep an eye on our website and apply directly. We love proactive candidates who take the initiative to express their interest in working with us.
✨Tip Number 4
Practice your storytelling skills. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled sustainability challenges in the past. We want to hear about your impact and how you can contribute to our mission!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Sustainability Governance & Regulatory Readiness
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in sustainability governance and regulatory readiness. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Jacobs, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Impact:When detailing your past roles, focus on the impact you’ve made in sustainability strategy or policy development. We love seeing quantifiable results, so if you’ve improved processes or driven change, let us know how!
Be Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity in communication, especially when it comes to complex topics like sustainability regulations. Keep your language straightforward and avoid jargon where possible, making it easy for us to understand your points.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Jacobs!
How to prepare for a job interview at Jacobs
✨Know Your Sustainability Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest sustainability regulations and policies relevant to the role. Jacobs is looking for someone who can interpret complex regulatory frameworks, so being well-versed in current trends and developments will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare examples of how you've connected sustainability objectives to business value in your previous roles. Jacobs values strategic thinkers who can translate sustainability goals into practical actions, so be ready to discuss how you've done this in the past.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you've influenced senior leaders and cross-functional teams in your previous positions. Be prepared to share specific instances where your stakeholder engagement skills made a difference, as this role requires building trust quickly with various stakeholders.
✨Simplify Complexity
Practice explaining complex sustainability concepts in simple terms. Jacobs needs someone who can communicate effectively, so being able to break down intricate ideas will demonstrate your excellent communication skills and ability to make sustainability accessible to all.
