Head of Sustainability

Professional Services

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £51,799 to £60,022. With potential progression once in post to £78,265 a year

We are excited to advertise the recruitment of a Head of Sustainability, a new senior role with a wide-ranging remit to lead and coordinate delivery of the University of Birmingham’s sustainability goals and priorities.

This is an exciting opportunity to be the professional lead for sustainability in a large and complex university, which is an anchor institution for the city of Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region. You will develop an overall plan to deliver our ambitious sustainability targets, ensure we are collecting and monitoring the data we need, and provide expertise and positive challenge to ensure we achieve our targets. You will work with academics who are at the forefront of tackling climate change and will support culture change amongst staff and students across the University to enable us to operate more sustainably. Above all, you will make things happen.

The University’s Strategic Framework 2030 sets out our ambition to be one of the world’s leading Universities, and strengthens our commitment to sustainability as one of the core pillars of our activity. We will use our research and education to make a major global contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and have set out a headline aim to be net zero carbon for scope 1 and 2 by 2035 and overall by 2045.

You will be working in an organisation with a long record of substantial contributions to issues of sustainability through a significant programme of related research, education, and operational activities. These include a substantial partnership with Siemens , significant impact in climate-related research and practice , Tyseley Energy Park , and the Birmingham Institute for Forest Research .

Based within the Executive Support Division, you will be in the heart of the University and close to the senior leadership who are committed to achieving the University’s ambitious sustainability targets. You will have a passion for, and in-depth understanding of, the key issues for sustainability, allied with a strong awareness of how large, complex organisations such as universities operate.

Working for the University offers a wide range of benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, opportunities to join staff networks, formal and informal learning and development opportunities through our sector-leading staff development programme: the Birmingham Professional , and flexibility.

A good undergraduate degree or equivalent and In-depth understanding and experience of sustainability management and leadership, preferably within a large organisation. 

For an information conversation about the role, please contact Mark Senior, Chief of Staff ([email protected] ).

Closing date: 4th January 2022

Reference: 98767

Please note that first round interviews will take place on 13th  January, and final interviews on 26th  January.

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply Online button below or visit https://bham.taleo.net/careersection/external/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en&portal=101430233 . Please quote Job Ref 98767 in all enquiries.

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment 

We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.