At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sustainability strategy and initiatives to drive environmental responsibility across the organisation.
- Company: Join National Star, a forward-thinking organisation committed to sustainability.
- Benefits: Flexible part-time role with opportunities for professional growth and impact.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in promoting sustainability and influencing positive change.
- Qualifications: Experience in sustainability programmes and strong project management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Sustainability Lead on a part time basis to lead National Star’s sustainability strategy, embedding environmental responsibility across all operations, ensuring legal compliance, driving carbon reduction, and enabling National Star to progress towards becoming an environmentally responsible and sustainable organisation. The Sustainability Lead acts as the organisation’s adviser, supporting strategic and operational decision‑making, influencing culture change, leading and supporting initiatives and promoting best practice internally and externally. Responsibilities may evolve over time to reflect organisational needs and emerging sustainability priorities.
Key Objectives & Responsibilities:
- Sustainability Strategy & Leadership
- Lead the development, implementation and ongoing review of National Star’s Sustainability Strategy.
- Provide guidance and advice to Leadership Team, Management Team colleagues, Governors and Trustees.
- Embed sustainability principles across organisational operations, planning, policy and decision‑making, ensuring compliance with relevant changes in environmental legislation and initiatives.
- Develop networks in the sustainability sector representing National Star locally, regionally and nationally, to identify Government and industry best practice and potential collaborative partnerships with other education and/or health and social care providers.
- Carbon, Energy & Environmental Management
- Lead the creation and delivery of the organisation’s Carbon Management Plan.
- Working with colleagues, monitor, analyse and report the organisation’s energy usage and carbon emissions.
- Ensure the organisation meets legal obligations regarding climate‑change and environmental legislation.
- Work closely with Site Services to reduce energy consumption and improve environmental performance.
- Waste, Recycling & Circular Economy
- Lead initiatives to increase recycling rates and reduce overall waste.
- Improve waste segregation and support adoption of circular‑economy practices.
- Biodiversity, Estates & Grounds
- Work with Grounds teams to enhance biodiversity and reduce unnecessary pesticide use.
- Support the development of nature‑rich environments.
- Sustainable Travel & Transport
- Develop and promote the organisation’s Green Travel Plan.
- Support sustainable travel initiatives such as car sharing and active travel.
- Education, Engagement & Behaviour Change
- Undertake sustainability audits and assessments.
- Lead sustainability engagement initiatives for colleagues, students and residents.
- Collaborate with Learning Programme and operational teams to embed sustainability into schemes of work.
- Support National Star’s Green Groups.
- Sustainable Procurement & Supply Chain
- Work with Procurement to integrate sustainability criteria.
- Support teams to ensure suppliers meet environmental standards.
- Funding, Innovation & Partnerships
- Identify and secure funding to support sustainability projects to develop business cases in support of key sustainable initiatives.
- Build partnerships with external organisations to enhance innovation and best practice.
- Policies, Procedures & Impact Assessment
- Ensure sustainability impacts are incorporated into new organisational policies.
- Maintain and periodically review the Sustainability Policy.
- Lead sustainability impact assessments for major organisational projects.
- Wider Organisational Responsibilities
- Promote high standards of professional behaviour, communication and presentation.
- Demonstrate commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Support National Star’s ethos of ‘Realising the aspirations of people with disabilities’.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, Health & Safety, GDPR and risk‑management requirements.
- Maintain own professional development in sustainability and fulfil the organisation’s training requirements.
You will have:
- Experience delivering sustainability or environmental programmes or initiatives.
- Experience working across teams to influence change and improve performance.
- Experience collecting, analysing and reporting data.
- Experience managing projects or multiple workstreams.
- Degree, qualification or equivalent experience in sustainability, environmental science or related discipline.
- Able to work flexibly across National Star sites.
Sustainability Lead / Manager employer: National Star
National Star is an exceptional employer that prioritises sustainability and environmental responsibility, offering a unique opportunity for the Sustainability Lead to make a meaningful impact within a supportive and collaborative work culture. With a commitment to employee growth and development, National Star fosters an environment where innovative ideas are encouraged, and staff can engage in initiatives that align with their values. Located in a vibrant community, this role not only contributes to the organisation's sustainability goals but also allows for networking and collaboration with like-minded professionals across the sector.
