Pre-Contract Sustainability Manager in Doncaster

VolkerRail is a leading multidisciplinary railway infrastructure contractor which comprises of two businesses: Major Projects and Specialist Businesses. Major Projects is an expert in collaborative working, leading on large, multidisciplinary joint venture and alliance projects. Specialist Businesses is made up of expert divisions in signalling, track, power, electrification, and piling, and has an in‑house plant division and bespoke design teams. Our Head office is based in J3 Business Park, Doncaster and provides support to the businesses in the following areas: Finance and Payroll, Human Resources, HSQES, Work Winning, Procurement and Fleet. We are proud of our reputation as a high‑performing business, working in harmony and partnership with our stakeholders, ensuring we help our clients deliver a rail network for the future.

The Pre‑Contract Sustainability Manager plays a critical role in embedding sustainability principles into VolkerRail bids. The position ensures that sustainability commitments covering carbon reduction, social value, resource efficiency, and compliance with legislative and client requirements are integrated into pre‑contract activities to support our competitive position and deliver on VolkerRail’s corporate ESG objectives.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Lead sustainability input into pre‑qualification questionnaires (PQQs), tenders, and proposals; ensuring alignment with corporate EGS objectives and client sustainability commitments.
• Determine the sustainability contract requirements from ITT documentation, advising on technical queries, assumptions, risks and commitments, and adhering to the VolkerRail pre‑contract management processes.
• Identify and assess environmental risks during the pre‑contract phase.
• Develop mitigation strategies and integrate them into tender documentation to support compliance with legislation, internal procedures and client standards during contract delivery.
• Determine and advise on any required environmental permits, licences and consents, including timescales and costs.
• Advise on other ESG or Corporate Responsibility contract clauses that depart from existing VolkerRail or VolkerWessels UK Group arrangements.
• Draft, review and edit written deliverables for the sustainability elements of tender submissions to maximise scores; consulting and securing approval for proposed sustainability commitments with business leads, the HoE&S, and the Bid Manager.
• Collaborate with Alliance/Joint Venture partners, subcontractors and internal teams to address sustainability considerations early in the tender process, identifying risks, opportunities and unique selling propositions.
• Integrate sustainability principles into project proposals, including carbon management, circular economy and resource efficiency, ecology and biodiversity, social value and community engagement.
• Develop a working knowledge of key client’s sustainability policies, strategies and other key documents to determine ‘hot topics’ to be addressed through PQQ/ITT written deliverables.
• Develop a knowledge of competitor sustainability strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats as far as is necessary to provide context for tender written deliverables and continuously improve.
• Determine the environmental and social value resourcing forecasts, outline programmes and direct costs for bids, and support the pricing of contracts under secured frameworks.
• Where required, provide advice to support the specification and award of relevant subcontract packages.
• Develop and maintain tools, templates, CVs and resources to support the sustainability aspects of the bid and proposals management process.
• Share lessons learned and best practices across the business, including the effective handover of contract requirements and tender commitments to the post‑contact environmental and social value specialists.
• Produce sustainability case studies and award submissions for the purposes of sharing and learning and external promotion of VolkerRail best practices.
• Responsible for operating within the practice and procedures of the Integrated Management System.
• To alert Senior Management to any non‑conformance or deficiency in quality, materials, service or workmanship.
• Liaison and communication with VolkerRail staff and contractors plus all relevant external contacts as required in order to discharge the duties and responsibilities of this JD/SRS.

Competence and qualifications:

• Qualifications: Degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability or related discipline; Professional certification preferably ISEP Practitioner or above ISEP Full Member and Chartered Environmentalist.
• Experience: Broad knowledge of sustainability frameworks (ISO 14001, PAS 2080, UN SDGs etc) and environmental legislation; Strong understanding of environmental management in construction and/or infrastructure projects; Ability to write clear, persuasive and concise content tailored to client requirements; Ability to influence and innovate in sustainability solutions for competitive advantage; Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines; Experience supporting work winning teams and/or sustainability resource management; Strong understanding of whole life carbon assessments and social value measurement.
• Training: To be provided in VR processes and systems.
• Driving: Full driving licence.

Why work for us:

We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees. We offer a range of benefits, including:

• Competitive annual leave and an additional day off on your birthday.
• Private medical care.
• Pension.
• Life Assurance.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Shopping and restaurants vouchers, rewards, and discounts.
• Training and development opportunities – comprehensive skills‑based training.
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity benefits.
• Employee Assistance programme.
• Mental health, physical health, and financial support.
• 24/7 Virtual GP service.

Fairness, inclusion and respect:

We believe in pushing boundaries in the pursuit of fairness, inclusion and respect. So, our teams can be comfortable that, whatever their background, VolkerWessels UK is a place where they can be themselves and thrive.