Carbon & Net Zero Manager

Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries.

People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

As Carbon and Net Zero Manager you’ll play a pivotal role in driving the organisation’s net zero strategy and embedding sustainability into core business operations. This role will lead the annual calculation and assurance of the company’s carbon footprint, leveraging platforms to collect and analyse group-wide emissions data across all scopes.

The role is responsible for developing and implementing the Net Zero transition plan, prioritising high-impact actions, and collaborating with stakeholders across procurement, travel, real estate, and other corporate services to ensure policies, standards, and guidance are aligned with net zero ambitions. Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the annual calculation, verification, and assurance of the company’s carbon footprint, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
• Leading the development and implementation of the Net Zero transition plan, identifying and prioritising high-impact actions to reduce emissions across all business units.
• Managing the collection, analysis, and reporting of group-wide emissions data, ensuring data accuracy, completeness, and timely submission for regulatory, investor, and client requirements.
• Overseeing the company’s carbon offset portfolio, including the selection, purchase, and monitoring of offset projects, and ensure alignment with recognised standards and best practice.
• Monitoring and interpreting evolving regulatory frameworks, investor expectations, and market trends related to carbon reporting and net zero.
• Delivering staff engagement, training, and awareness programmes to build understanding of net zero goals and empower employees to contribute to sustainability initiatives.
• Supporting the development and maintenance of centralised data systems for emissions tracking, reporting, and performance management.
• Advising senior leadership on strategic sustainability issues, risks, and opportunities, providing evidence-based recommendations to support business growth and reputation.
• Ensuring robust documentation and audit trails for all carbon management activities, supporting transparency and continuous improvement.
• Developing robust business cases for proposed sustainability and net zero projects, clearly articulating the strategic rationale, expected benefits and alignment with organisational objectives.

The ideal candidate for this role is a passionate sustainability professional with substantial experience in carbon management. You will possess strong technical expertise in greenhouse gas accounting (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), are familiar with leading frameworks such as SBTi and GRI, and have a proven track record of delivering complex decarbonisation initiatives in corporate or consultancy environments.

Professional Experience & Knowledge

• Proven experience in sustainability, carbon management, or environmental roles in corporate or consultancy settings.
• Strong technical knowledge of carbon accounting, greenhouse gas reporting (Scopes 1, 2 & 3), and relevant frameworks (e.g., SBTi, GRI).
• Familiarity with sustainability strategy development, net zero transition planning, and decarbonisation initiatives.

Education & Professional Memberships

• Degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or a related field.
• Professional membership or certification (e.g., IEMA, Energy Institute, Certified Sustainability Professional) is desirable.

A career that you define. At Howden, we value diversity – there is no one Howden type. Instead, we’re looking for individuals who share the same values as us:

• Our successes have all come from someone brave enough to try something new.
• We support each other in the small everyday moments and the bigger challenges.
• We are determined to make a positive difference at work and beyond.

We’re committed to providing reasonable accommodations at Howden to ensure that our positions align well with your needs. Besides the usual adjustments such as software, IT, and office setups, we can also accommodate other changes such as flexible hours or hybrid working.

If you’re excited by this role but have some doubts about whether it’s the right fit for you, send us your application – if your profile fits the role’s criteria, we will be in touch to assist in helping to get you set up with any reasonable adjustments you may require.