Sustainability Manager

Sustainability Manager

Location:

Didsbury, Manchester

The Sustainability Manager will lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s Sustainability and Decarbonisation Strategies, with a particular focus on decarbonising homes, improving energy performance, reducing environmental impact and supporting residents to live in warmer, healthier and more affordable homes.

The role will work across teams including Asset Strategy, Development, Repairs & Maintenance, Procurement, Finance, Customer Services and our residents and contractors to embed Sustainability into everyday decision-making and long-term investment planning.

What you’ll be doing

* Lead, support and develop a high-performing team, providing clear direction, effective management and opportunities for growth.

* Develop, maintain and deliver the organisation’s Sustainability and Decarbonisation strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives, asset investment plans and relevant regulatory requirements.

* Develop and lead programmes to improve the energy efficiency of existing homes, including retrofit planning, fabric-first interventions, low-carbon heating, renewable technologies and climate resilience measures.

* Use stock condition, EPC, energy consumption and resident insight data to identify priorities, model options, track performance and inform long-term investment decisions.

* Support delivery against sector expectations such as EPC improvement targets, net zero ambitions, environmental reporting requirements and funding conditions.

* Identify, secure and manage external funding opportunities for sustainability, retrofit and energy efficiency projects, including preparing and submitting bids and ensuring grant compliance.

* Work with residents and communities to ensure sustainability projects are well communicated, customer-focused and designed to reduce fuel poverty and improve comfort, health and wellbeing.

* Provide expert advice to colleagues, contractors, consultants and senior leaders on sustainability, decarbonisation, environmental performance and best practice in social housing.

* Develop policies, procedures and performance measures that embed environmental responsibility across procurement, repairs, planned investment, new development and office operations.

What we need from you

* Experience of developing and delivering sustainability, environmental, energy efficiency or decarbonisation plans, ideally within housing, property, construction or the public/not-for-profit sector.

* Experience of managing and motivating a team, setting clear objectives and supporting performance and development.

* Strong understanding of sustainability issues affecting housing associations, including retrofit, fuel poverty, energy performance, net zero, resident engagement and whole-life cost considerations.

* Knowledge of domestic retrofit principles and relevant standards, with the ability to work confidently with technical specialists and contractors.

* Ability to analyse complex data and use energy profiling software to identify trends and convert insight into practical investment plans and performance reports.

* Excellent project management skills, including planning, budget monitoring, risk management, stakeholder coordination and outcome tracking.

* Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and present recommendations to senior audiences.

* Commercial awareness and experience of supporting business cases, procurement activity, funding bids and contract management.

* Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to delivering services that reflect the needs of diverse residents and communities.

What you’ll need

Degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience in sustainability, environmental management, energy, building services, construction, housing or a related discipline.

Membership of, or working towards membership of, a relevant professional body such as ISEP, CIH, or a retrofit-related accreditation body.

Experience of working with EPC, SAP, RdSAP, stock condition, asset management or energy modelling data.

Knowledge of PAS 2035, Trust Mark requirements, Warm Homes…