Location
London

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Pure Data Centres is seeking a senior sustainability professional to lead the integration of sustainability, environmental strategy, climate resilience and development risk management into the development of hyperscale data centre projects across Europe, the UK and the Middle East. This role operates at the front end of project development, influencing investment decisions, site selection, planning strategy, permitting and early-stage design with strategic and technical advice. The successful candidate will ensure sustainability considerations are embedded early to shape project outcomes, reduce risk and support long-term business growth. Acting as a key interface between Development, Design, Delivery, Power & Energy, Legal and external stakeholders, the role will help future-proof Pure's portfolio against evolving environmental, regulatory and customer requirements.

Responsibilities
1. Development & Site Strategy: Lead sustainability input into site acquisition, feasibility and early-stage development activities. Identify sustainability opportunities and risks impacting viability, cost, programme or future operation of projects, ensuring sustainability objectives are considered alongside commercial, technical and planning factors from the earliest stages.
2. Climate Risk & Resilience: Provide strategic oversight of climate-related risks and opportunities across the development portfolio. Collaborate with internal teams and consultants to incorporate climate resilience into project decision-making and design, supporting long-term asset performance and alignment with corporate commitments.
3. Environmental Permitting & Planning: Act as sustainability lead for environmental permitting and planning, supporting project teams through complex regulatory environments. Coordinate environmental studies, guide consultants and provide expert input to planning and permitting strategies to proactively manage environmental requirements.
4. Stakeholder & Regulatory Engagement: Build and maintain relationships with regulators, authorities, industry bodies and strategic external stakeholders. Represent Pure in technical and regulatory discussions, helping navigate emerging issues, build credibility and understand regional requirements.
5. Sustainability Integration into Early Project Development: Work closely with Development and Design teams to embed sustainability within project governance and decision-making, in cooperation with the Senior Sustainability Delivery Manager. Institutionalise sustainability requirements across the project lifecycle to ensure risks, opportunities and compliance are addressed early.
6. Regulatory Intelligence & Future-Proofing: Lead on emerging environmental and sustainability legislation across Europe, the UK and the Middle East. Assess regulatory implications for projects and business strategy, translating complex requirements into practical actions supporting compliance, resilience and competitive advantage.
7. Technical Leadership & Subject Matter Expertise: Serve as a senior sustainability adviser, providing technical expertise on environmental, climate and sustainability matters. Support strategic decision-making, challenge approaches when necessary and help establish consistent standards and best practices across the project portfolio as Pure grows internationally.
8. Team Management & Key Relationships: Provide subject matter expertise to investment, delivery and procurement teams during early project development. Support sustainability reporting and engagement with internal and external stakeholders. Assist Project Managers in aligning projects with broader sustainability and corporate strategy.

Experience
- 8+ years' experience in sustainability, ESG advisory, environmental consultancy, planning or permitting.
- Significant experience in critical infrastructure, data centres, energy infrastructure, industrial developments, utilities or major projects.
- Proven track record in environmental permitting, planning, sustainability strategy and regulatory engagement.
- Experience working across multiple jurisdictions and navigating evolving regulatory environments.
- Strong understanding of sustainability risks affecting portfolios.
- Experience working directly with regulators and permitting authorities.
- Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously and prioritising competing technical, regulatory and delivery requirements.
- Experience managing consultants and reviewing technical reports.
- Experience leading environmental or sustainability due diligence.
- Experience with climate risk assessments.
- Demonstrated stakeholder management experience.

About You
Commercially aware with strong technical knowledge, comfortable engaging senior stakeholders, regulators and consultants. Credible influencer of project teams and development decisions. Excellent communication skills, able to engage effectively across diverse stakeholder groups. Collaborative team player who drives innovation and continuous improvement. Demonstrates leadership by example and brings others along on the journey.

Qualifications
- Degree in engineering, environmental science, sustainability, planning or related discipline.
- Chartered status (e.g. IEMA, CIWEW, RTPI) is desirable.

Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to complete pre-employment screening to BS7858:2019 or national equivalent, covering identity confirmation, legal right to work, financial probity, criminal history and associations with proscribed organisations. Pure DC expects all individuals to take responsibility for the security and protection of company information and IT resources according to their role.