Senior Sustainability Officer

This role sits within the Property Sustainability Team in the Property & Assets Directorate, reporting to the Environment and Sustainability Manager.

Sustainability for Anchor means addressing Environmental, Social and Governance activity as well as the broader strategic opportunities and risks around portfolio optimisation and net zero carbon.  Clear and robust governance is required to ensure that our obligations in respect of the Sustainability-linked Loan (SLL) and bond are met, that we are prioritising and monitoring activity and performance, meeting emerging legislative and industry-recognised standards and that strategic risks are identified and mitigated.

The Senior Sustainability Officer will work closely with the Property Sustainability Team to support teams across the organisation in implementing our current Environmental Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon Strategy, developing and reviewing targets and ensuring that we are following the pathway set, driving forwards projects that achieve the aims of Anchor’s sustainability strategy and ensuring that we are reporting on progress under all reporting standards set.

In addition to working across the organisation, there will be a particular focus on supporting the development and implementation of policy and best practices for retrofitting and decarbonising homes and heating, to address fuel poverty, wellbeing and deliver net zero carbon, working closely with the Energy Team as well as Portfolio Strategy, Property Transformation, Asset Investment, Compliance & Building Safety, and Repairs & Investment delivery teams.

This role will play a significant part in funding for sustainability, monitoring the external funding environment, aligning funding opportunities and Anchor’s strategies and plans and successfully executing grant funding applications to lever in financial support for sustainability plans, retrofitting and other activity.

The Senior Sustainability Officer will bring in-depth knowledge and experience of working in the field of environmental sustainability and science-based climate targets which will be applied to delivering Anchor’s sustainability strategy, including making the case for, baselining, ongoing measurement of and reporting climate impacts and mitigations. 

The role will also support the work of the Sustainability Steering Group and may provide reports to this group, a cross-organisation task force with responsibility for implementing and measuring the delivery of Anchor’s Sustainability Strategy and ensuring adherence to Anchor’s Sustainable Finance Framework.

At present, the role is not line managing any other roles, but this may be required or develop over time.

You have:

• A qualification in environmental management, environmental science, or sustainability within the housing sector.
• A degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline or qualified to a similar level by experience
• Retrofitting or building sustainability qualification.
• A project management qualification
• Proven experience in environmental sustainability, preferably in the housing sector.
• Knowledge and passion for environmental sustainability and building retrofit in the housing and property sector.
• Awareness of project and change management practices and approaches.
• Strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills
• Able to act on own initiative and adapt to change
• Strong IT and analytical skills, data and evidenced based thinking, analysis and meaningful reporting.
• People management experience or task management of colleagues

It would be great if you also had:

• A qualification in environmental management, environmental science, or sustainability within the housing sector.
• Strong understanding of environmental regulations, green building practices, and sustainable development principles.
• Knowledge of the regulatory and legal framework surrounding Anchor’s housing and care operations, including building safety, care and housing regulation.
• Knowledge of the funding framework surrounding social housing decarbonisation.

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Anchor – a great place to work

Anchor is England’s largest not-for-profit providers of care and housing for older people. Our heartfelt ambition is to transform housing and care so everyone can have a home where they love living in later life.

We’re not-for-profit which means every penny we make or save is invested in the people who live with us, the places they live and the people who work here. That means a better standard of care and customer service, better wages, more investment in training and development and improved facilities.

A rewarding environment

From health and happiness to finance and your career, we’ll give you all the support you need.

Health & happiness

• Gym, fitness and wellbeing discounts
• Mental health support
• Flexible working options
• Access to online GP appointments

Finance

• Pension plan – contribute between 4% and 8% and we’ll match it or better
• Quick and easy pension transfer service
• Savings and financial advice, loans, free life assurance
• Discounts on shopping, holidays, phones, technology and more

Career

• Ongoing personal and professional development programme
• Leadership Pathways online learning resources
• Career progression and promotion opportunities

To see our full range of benefits, check out our dedicated being well website Please follow the link or copy and paste https://anchorbeingwell.co.uk/ into your browser 

Celebrating diversity, celebrating you

Anchor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aim to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all that we do, as we know that the more diverse our colleagues are, the better care and support we can give to our residents and each other.  

We are proud to have an LGBT+ group for our residents, and also Disability, LGBT+ and race and ethnicity colleague networks. These work to celebrate diversity, address concerns, review policy and practice and empower their members.  We also have an Inclusive Ambassador network to allow all colleagues to be part of promoting diversity and to be an ally to others.

We are a Gold Standard Inclusive Employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Menopause Friendly and a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant, HouseProud Pledge and Age Friendly Employer Pledge schemes.