At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sustainability initiatives for UEFA EURO 2028, ensuring a positive environmental and social impact.
- Company: Join the team behind one of the world's largest sporting events, UEFA EURO 2028.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, private medical insurance, and a contributory pension.
- Other info: Work from iconic Wembley Stadium and travel across the UK & Ireland for an exciting role.
- Why this job: Be part of a historic tournament while championing sustainability and making a real difference.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing sustainability programmes and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
The tournament contested every four years, the UEFA European Championship has been showcasing the continent’s top talent since its inception in 1960 and is the world’s third largest sporting event. UEFA EURO 2028 is taking place across the UK & Ireland where Europe's top 24 national teams will compete in a 31-day, 51 match tournament, attended by over 3 million spectators and with a global TV audience of upwards of 2 billion people.
As one of the world's largest and highest-profile sporting events, UEFA EURO 2028 will attract the attention of the sporting and major event communities, the media, and the public at large across the UK & Ireland, Europe and the World. With its unique hosting model, the event promises to spread the impacts and benefits of the tournament across the nations and communities of the UK and Ireland.
The organisation UK & Ireland 2028 Limited has been set up as a new company to locally deliver several UEFA requirements for the tournament, working closely with UEFA, 9 Host Stadiums, 8 Host Cities and other key stakeholders.
You will lead and guide the delivery of environmental and social sustainability initiatives across the UK & Ireland 2028 Tournament, ensuring that all planning, operations and social impact activity reflect the ambition to pursue a culture of sustainability. The role will drive excellence in operational sustainability, champion best practice across host cities and partners, support advocacy and initiate positive action to help deliver a tournament that leaves a positive and lasting sustainability legacy. This role supports the successful delivery of the UK&I 2028 Tournament through inclusive, values-driven and performance-focused contribution. The role is expected to model our organisational values: Embrace the Opportunity, Achieve Excellence, and Thrive Together.
What will you be doing?
- Lead delivery of the UK & Ireland 2028 sustainability actions as defined in the Tournament ESG Strategy, ensuring targets and timelines are met.
- Lead scoping and delivery of any additional environmental sustainability initiatives agreed by UK&I 2028 and partners, including actions towards meeting sustainability standards across UK and Ireland host governments.
- Lead social sustainability initiatives agreed by UK&I 2028 and partners, including action to deliver a warm, accessible and inclusive tournament, and building exemplary practices to uphold human rights.
- Lead tournament Sustainability Working Group including overseeing UK&I 2028 secretariat duties completed by Impact & Sustainability Coordinator.
- Act as advisory and liaison contact for Host Cities and local delivery partners on all sustainability matters, supporting integration of sustainable practices across venues, fan zones and other operations.
- Serve as the main liaison with UEFA, government and football association partners on environmental sustainability matters, ensuring organisational alignment and consistent communication.
- Support the scoping and delivery of sustainability advocacy messaging to be embedded into tournament communication and wider social impact amplification activity.
- Contribute to the tournament’s sustainability evaluation, including environmental impact measurement and reporting on key ESG indicators.
- Support the network of staff Sustainability Champions, embedding a culture of environmental responsibility across the organisation and partners.
What are we looking for?
- Proven experience managing sustainability programmes and acting as the lead Subject Matter Expert across all areas of sustainability, ideally within the major events sector.
- Strong understanding of environmental sustainability issues, such as carbon management, circular economy, sustainable procurement, and waste reduction.
- Good understanding of social sustainability topics including diversity and inclusion.
- Experience developing and implementing complex sustainability initiatives across multi-stakeholder environments including meeting fixed deadlines.
- Experience contributing to sustainability reporting, monitoring, and evaluation.
- Excellent stakeholder management and partnership-building skills, able to collaborate effectively across public, private, and community sectors.
- Strong project management and organisational skills, able to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.
Values & Behaviours:
- Embrace the opportunity: Encourages experimentation and learning within the team. Drives creativity in problem-solving. Sets high standards and supports team delivery. Models accountability and integrity in all actions.
- Thrive together: Builds inclusive and trusting team environments. Addresses conflict constructively and builds consensus.
Why apply?
We offer a competitive salary (plus benefits of 25 days holiday, contributory pension, Private Medical Insurance etc), which coupled with the opportunity to be part of one of the biggest sporting events to ever take place across UK & Ireland we think makes for an exciting place to be!
Where is the role based?
Our head office is based at the iconic Wembley Stadium in London, however depending on your role you may be required to travel across the UK and Ireland to our 9 Stadiums and 8 Host Cities, with some roles being based in those locations. As an event delivery organisation, we believe in the power of collaboration and connection. That’s why we currently work from HQ at least two days a week. From 2026, this will increase to three to four days a week, and during the tournament year (2028), full-time onsite working will be required.
Everyone is welcome: We’re building a skilled, values-led workforce that reflects the diversity of the UK and Ireland. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities — and we don’t expect everyone to have followed a traditional path to get here. We're happy to accommodate any requests for reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. Please email any requests to careers@uki2028.com. We’ll work with you to ensure you can perform at your best. All employees will be subject to a DBS check appropriate to the nature of the role and in line with our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive working environment.
Sustainability Manager, UEFA EURO 2028 UK & Ireland employer: Sportanddev
As a Sustainability Manager for UEFA EURO 2028, you will join an innovative and inclusive team dedicated to delivering one of the world's largest sporting events while championing sustainability initiatives across the UK and Ireland. With a competitive salary and benefits package, including 25 days of holiday and private medical insurance, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a dynamic work environment based at the iconic Wembley Stadium, fostering collaboration and growth among diverse stakeholders. This role not only offers a chance to lead significant sustainability efforts but also to be part of a legacy that prioritises environmental and social responsibility.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sustainability Manager, UEFA EURO 2028 UK & Ireland
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the sustainability and events sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for sustainability! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or during interviews, share your ideas on how to make events more sustainable. This will not only demonstrate your expertise but also your commitment to the role and the organisation's values.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the tournament’s sustainability goals. Familiarise yourself with their ESG strategy and think about how your experience aligns with their objectives. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly understands what they’re aiming to achieve.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of this exciting event. Let’s make sustainability a priority together!
We think you need these skills to ace Sustainability Manager, UEFA EURO 2028 UK & Ireland
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Sustainability:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for sustainability shine through! Share specific examples of how you've championed environmental and social initiatives in the past. We want to see that you truly care about making a positive impact.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Sustainability Manager role. Highlight your experience with major events and how it aligns with our goals for UEFA EURO 2028. This shows us you’ve done your homework!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate well-structured applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications and fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our official website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive your details directly. Plus, it helps us keep track of all applicants efficiently. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sportanddev
✨Know Your Sustainability Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest trends and issues in environmental and social sustainability. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've managed sustainability programmes, especially in high-pressure environments like major events.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in building partnerships across different sectors. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with various stakeholders, as this role will require strong relationship management.
✨Demonstrate Project Management Prowess
Be ready to share how you've managed multiple workstreams and met tight deadlines in previous roles. Highlight any complex sustainability initiatives you've led, focusing on your organisational skills and ability to deliver results.
✨Embrace the Values
Familiarise yourself with the organisational values: Embrace the Opportunity, Achieve Excellence, and Thrive Together. Prepare to give examples of how you've embodied these values in your work, as they are crucial for the role.
