Energy & Sustainability Manager in Surrey

This role will be part of Places Leisure, which is part of the Places for People Group, operating leisure centres across the UK to create active, healthy and inclusive communities through accessible fitness, wellbeing programmes and high-quality facilities. At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers! So, if you like the sound of one of our jobs, please apply - you could be just who we're looking for! Of course, experience and track record are important, but we're more interested in hiring someone that embodies our People Promises. That’s someone that does the right thing, is enthusiastic and motivated to grow, believes in Community spirit, is respectful and enjoys their work. As the UK's leading Social Enterprise, we’re dedicated to creating inclusive and thriving Communities for both our Customers and Employees.

More about the role: We are looking for an enthusiastic and forward-thinking ESG Manager to join our Leisure Technical team. In this pivotal role, you will lead the implementation of our newly published Environmental Sustainability Strategy — driving positive change across our sites and supporting our ambition to embed sustainable, future-focused practices throughout the business. Working collaboratively with site teams, technical specialists, and leaders across the organisation, you will turn environmental objectives into measurable outcomes, champion innovation, and ensure our colleagues and communities benefit from improved environmental performance.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the delivery of our Environmental Sustainability Strategy, creating actionable plans with clear timelines and measurable outcomes.
• Identify and secure funding opportunities while overseeing the implementation of green technologies across our sites.
• Develop proactive policy responses to emerging environmental challenges, including EV infrastructure, ULEZ, and wider green initiatives.
• Provide thought leadership across Places for People, upskilling teams and embedding environmental best practice into everyday operations.
• Work with our Energy Analyst to ensure that site data is accessible, accurate, and used effectively to optimise energy performance.
• Actively contribute to organisational working groups, influencing strategic direction and supporting shared environmental objectives.
• Matrix-manage colleagues across different business areas to drive environmental improvements and champion sustainable practices.

Essential Criteria:

• Strong data analytical skills with in-depth knowledge of environmental policy and procedure.
• Experience managing onsite sustainability projects (e.g., PV, EV, CHP, AHSP).
• Proven ability to collaborate across multiple teams and build strong working relationships.

Preferred experience:

• Knowledge of sustainability frameworks relevant to real estate or social housing.
• Experience delivering SALIX.

About you: We’re looking for someone with a passion for sustainability and a strong technical understanding of environmental management. You’ll be confident collaborating with diverse stakeholders and have experience managing environmental or technical projects on site.

Benefits: We are a large diverse and ambitious business, which will give you all the challenge you could wish for. We know that there’s always more we can do to make you smile, that’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package with each role, yours will include:

• Competitive salary, with a salary review yearly.
• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%.
• Excellent holiday package – 35 days annual leave with the option to buy or sell leave.
• Cashback plan for healthcare costs – up to £500 saving per year.
• A bonus scheme for all colleagues at 2%.
• Training and development.
• Extra perks including huge discounts and offers from shops, cinemas and much more.