At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead sustainability initiatives in bids, ensuring compliance with environmental standards and client requirements.
- Company: Join VolkerRail, a top-tier railway infrastructure contractor committed to sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, private medical care, and extensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with a focus on fairness, inclusion, and respect.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability in the construction industry while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Degree in Environmental Science or related field; experience in sustainability within construction preferred.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 € per year.
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.
Key duties and responsibilities:
- Lead sustainability input for PQQs, tenders and bids, ensuring alignment with corporate ESG objectives and client requirements.
- Interpret ITT sustainability and environmental requirements, advising on risks, assumptions, commitments and compliance.
- Identify environmental and social value risks and opportunities at pre‑contract stage, embedding mitigation and initiatives into tender submissions.
- Advise on required environmental permits, licences, consents, associated timescales and costs.
- Draft and review high‑scoring sustainability responses for tenders, securing internal approvals for proposed commitments.
- Work collaboratively with internal teams, joint venture partners and supply chain to shape strong sustainability propositions.
- Embed sustainability principles into bids, including carbon management, circular economy, biodiversity, social value and community engagement.
- Maintain strong awareness of client sustainability strategies and industry best practice.
- Support bid pricing through sustainability resourcing forecasts, programmes and direct costs.
- Develop and maintain sustainability tools, templates and resources to support bidding activity.
- Ensure effective handover of tender commitments to delivery teams and share lessons learned across the business.
- Produce sustainability case studies and award submissions to promote best practice and support external recognition.
About you:
You are a qualified sustainability professional with a degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, or a related field, ideally holding an ISEP Practitioner qualification or above. Full ISEP Membership and Chartered Environmentalist status are desirable. You have a strong understanding of sustainability frameworks and environmental legislation, with practical experience in environmental management within construction and/or infrastructure projects. You can produce clear, persuasive written content tailored to tender and client requirements, and are confident influencing stakeholders to deliver innovative, value‑adding sustainability solutions. Comfortable working under pressure to tight deadlines, you will ideally have experience supporting work‑winning teams, with knowledge of whole‑life carbon assessment and social value measurement. A full UK driving licence is required.
Why work for us:
VolkerRail is under the umbrella of VolkerWessels UK which is a multidisciplinary contractor that delivers innovative engineering solutions across the civil engineering and construction sectors including rail, highways, airport, marine, energy, water and environmental infrastructure. By utilising the specialist skills of each business unit within VolkerWessels UK, VolkerRail are able to ensure our staff provide unrivalled resources and expertise to our clients. We offer competitive rewards and benefits, recognising the value we place on our employees. We offer a range of benefits, including:
- Competitive salary
- 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
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.
Pre-Contract Sustainability Manager employer: Volkerrail Group
VolkerRail is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at our Doncaster headquarters where innovation and sustainability are at the forefront of our operations. We pride ourselves on our commitment to employee development, providing comprehensive training and a range of benefits including private medical care and enhanced maternity policies, all while fostering a culture of fairness, inclusion, and respect. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to delivering sustainable solutions in railway infrastructure.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Pre-Contract Sustainability Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching VolkerRail’s sustainability initiatives and recent projects. Show us that you’re not just interested in the role but also passionate about their mission and values.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your skills align with the Pre-Contract Sustainability Manager role. Highlight your experience in environmental management and how you can contribute to their ESG objectives.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at VolkerRail.
We think you need these skills to ace Pre-Contract Sustainability Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the Pre-Contract Sustainability Manager role. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Expertise:Don’t hold back on showcasing your qualifications and experience in sustainability. We want to see your understanding of environmental legislation and frameworks, so include specific examples of your past work that demonstrate your expertise.
Be Clear and Concise:When drafting your written responses, clarity is key! Make your points straightforward and easy to read. We appreciate well-structured content that gets straight to the point, especially when it comes to tender submissions.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way to ensure your application reaches us directly and allows you to keep track of your application status easily.
How to prepare for a job interview at Volkerrail Group
✨Know Your Sustainability Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the latest sustainability frameworks and environmental legislation relevant to the construction and infrastructure sectors. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the theory, but also understand how to apply it in real-world scenarios.
✨Tailor Your Responses
When preparing for the interview, think about how your experience aligns with VolkerRail's corporate ESG objectives. Be ready to provide specific examples of how you've integrated sustainability into previous projects, especially in terms of carbon management and social value.
✨Collaborate Like a Pro
Since the role involves working with various internal teams and stakeholders, be prepared to discuss your collaborative experiences. Share examples of how you've successfully influenced others to adopt sustainability initiatives or how you've worked in joint ventures to achieve common goals.
✨Showcase Your Writing Skills
As the role requires drafting high-scoring sustainability responses for tenders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and persuasively. Bring along samples of your written work if possible, as this can demonstrate your ability to produce compelling content tailored to client requirements.
