Head of Sustainability

Royal Greenwich is on a journey to a low carbon future. Following a period of significant change, we are looking for an ambitious and delivery-focused Head of Sustainability to help shape the next phase of our Transport and Sustainability division and lead the Council’s response to the climate challenge.

Our vibrant and diverse borough spans Greenwich town centre, Thamesmead, the Greenwich Peninsula and Eltham. We have a strong reputation for combining ambition with delivery, and this role offers a real opportunity to influence how sustainability is embedded across Council services, communities and major projects.

Following a review of the service, Royal Greenwich is strengthening its Sustainability function to support delivery of the Carbon Neutral Plan and wider Corporate priorities. As Head of Sustainability, you will have the opportunity to shape this developing service and provide the leadership needed to turn strategy into measurable delivery.

This is a high-profile leadership role at the heart of the Council’s Carbon Neutral Plan. You will lead delivery of our ambition to become net zero by 2030, turning strategy into practical action and maintaining a clear grip on delivery, performance, risk and outcomes.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Transportation and Sustainability, you will oversee delivery of the Carbon Neutral Plan, coordinate activity across directorates and provide clear evidence of progress to senior leaders, Members and partners.

You will sponsor and deliver major decarbonisation programmes, including heat networks, energy retrofit and other carbon reduction projects, while overseeing budgets, procurement, external funding and project risks.

You will also act as a key ambassador for Royal Greenwich on climate change and sustainability, representing the Council regionally and nationally, shaping emerging policy and positioning the borough to make the most of future funding opportunities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading multi-million-pound sustainability and decarbonisation programmes, from funding and procurement through to delivery, monitoring and benefits realisation.
• Driving delivery of the Carbon Neutral Plan by coordinating activity across directorates, tracking progress and producing clear reports for senior officers, Cabinet and Members.
• Developing and advising on climate change and sustainability policy, including Greener Greenwich priorities, planning matters, strategic developments and public engagement.
• Building strong relationships with Members, senior managers, consultants, delivery partners and community stakeholders to support effective delivery and influence change.
• Maximising inward investment by identifying external funding opportunities and managing associated financial, budget and risk reporting.
• Leading and developing a multidisciplinary team, allocating work, agreeing targets and creating a culture of improvement, collaboration and accountability.
• Using data, evaluation and insight to inform decisions, evidence progress and drive continuous improvement.

About you

We are looking for a confident senior leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery. You will have significant experience of leading complex programmes, managing multidisciplinary teams and working successfully in a large, political or similarly complex organisation.

You will bring strong knowledge of sustainability and regeneration frameworks and the ability to apply this in a Royal Greenwich context. You will be comfortable advising senior stakeholders, producing complex reports, interpreting legislation and influencing across organisational boundaries.

You will also have the judgement, energy and resilience to manage change, secure funding, oversee budgets and risk, and deliver visible outcomes for residents, communities and the Council.

If you are motivated by the opportunity to lead meaningful change and help shape a fairer, greener future for Royal Greenwich, we would welcome your application.

For an informal discussion please contact Ryan Nibbs at [email protected].

Diversity Statement: Royal Borough of Greenwich values the diversity of its community and aims to have a workforce that reflects this. We therefore encourage applications from all sections of the community.

Salary: £71,181 to £74,802 per year.

Location: London (South), London (Greater).

Job Role: Head of Sustainability – Head of Service.

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