Senior Sustainability Consultant

Rider Levett Bucknall is seeking an experienced Senior Sustainability & ESG Consultant to support and lead the delivery of sustainability and responsible investment services across the built environment, with a strong focus on commercial real estate and Private Equity Real Estate clients. This role seamlessly blends technical ESG expertise, client leadership, and independent project management, providing crucial support to investors, asset managers, and corporate occupiers as they navigate regulatory demands, investor expectations, and operational performance goals. As a central figure within RLB’s expanding Sustainability & ESG service, this position not only drives successful project outcomes but also actively shapes the ongoing evolution and enhancement of the service as a whole.

Role Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver ESG and sustainability consultancy projects across commercial property portfolios and funds.
• Manage projects autonomously from inception through to completion, ensuring quality, programme and commercial objectives are met.
• Act as the day-to-day client lead on a range of assignments, building trusted adviser relationships.
• Provide pragmatic, commercially focused ESG advice aligned with client investment strategies.

Core Service Areas

• GRESB assessments, benchmarking and improvement strategies.
• ESG and sustainability due diligence for acquisitions, disposals and lending.
• Fund- and asset-level ESG strategies, policies and roadmaps.
• Climate risk, resilience and regulatory alignment (e.g. TCFD, SFDR, EU Taxonomy).
• Carbon footprinting and decarbonisation strategies, including pathway development.
• Building certification schemes such as BREEAM, LEED and WELL.
• Sustainability reporting and asset-level performance optimisation.

Leadership & Commercial Contribution

• Mentor and manage project team members, supporting high-quality outputs without the need for close senior supervision.
• Contribute to business development, including proposal preparation and client pitches.
• Support resource planning, fee management and project profitability tracking.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of sustainability regulations, market expectations and emerging best practice.

Experience & Capability

Essential

• Typically 5+ years’ experience in sustainability, ESG or environmental consultancy, with time spent in a senior or autonomous delivery role.
• Strong understanding of real estate markets, investor priorities and landlord/tenant dynamics.
• Proven experience managing client accounts and delivering projects independently.
• Sound knowledge of ESG frameworks and standards (e.g. GRESB, TCFD, SFDR, EU Taxonomy, UN PRI).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including client presentations and workshops.
• Strong organisational, project management and financial awareness skills.
• Consultancy background within the built environment.

Desirable

• Previous experience working with PERE, institutional investor or fund clients.
• Experience supporting proposals and wider service growth activities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word and Excel) to a high professional standard.

Benefits

• Hybrid Working - Working patterns to support your work-life balance.
• Well-Rewarded - A competitive salary and generous holiday entitlement, with the opportunity to purchase up to five extra days.
• Focus On Wellbeing - We offer a number of health and wellness options, including gym membership and cycle to work schemes.
• Healthcare Packages - Private healthcare insurance and medical support, including dental insurance and eyecare vouchers.
• Personal Development - A continuous learning and development programme, including established APC and in-house mentoring schemes.
• Additional Benefits - We offer a wide range of benefits including a season ticket loan and professional membership subscriptions.
• Exceptional Exposure - You’ll have the opportunity to work on diverse projects across different sectors and regions.
• Social Responsibility - We hold team and social events as well as charity fundraising and volunteering activities.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitment

We believe in building a diverse and inclusive environment where each person can be themselves, feel valued for their contribution and be challenged and supported to reach their full potential. We have a responsibility to support the communities in which we live and work, and that our workforce should reflect these communities and our clients. Our talent strategy should enable us to overcome bias in the construction industry by recruiting, retaining, developing, and promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce.