Location
London (Fitzrovia) during PCSA/pre-construction period, moving to Surrey site from mid-2027 for delivery.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive remuneration package including base salary and car/travel allowance.

About the Role
At Laing O'Rourke, sustainability is central to our innovation and excellence in construction. We are seeking an experienced Sustainability Manager to join the leadership team on one of the UK's most significant scientific research facilities, targeting BREEAM Excellent. This high-profile, career-defining role involves leading sustainability across environmental performance, whole-life carbon, and social value strategies to deliver long-lasting benefits.

You will act as the primary sustainability lead during preconstruction and delivery phases, ensuring consistent communication with the client, design team, and stakeholders. You will embed sustainability into every stage of the project lifecycle, balancing environmental and social objectives with cost, programme, and design development. As part of the core project leadership team, you will define and agree sustainability targets and metrics from RIBA Stage 3 onwards, aligned with client and local authority expectations.

Key responsibilities include designing the sustainability team structure and resource forecast, leading recruitment, and building capability across environmental, carbon, and social value specialisms. You will develop a Stakeholder Management Plan for proactive engagement, shape and lead the sustainability strategy in collaboration with design consultants and delivery teams, and work closely with engineering, procurement, and commercial teams to create the Sustainability Risk & Opportunity Register.

You will set project-specific objectives on carbon, biodiversity, circular economy, and social value, embed sustainability requirements into procurement and supply chain partnerships, manage sustainability KPIs, reporting and auditing, and build strong relationships with regulators and authorities to ensure compliance and best practice.

Leading and mentoring a growing team of sustainability professionals, you will provide technical guidance and pastoral support. You will also drive community engagement by working with the client's community team, representing the project in public forums, and coordinating impactful communications. Supporting continuous improvement, you will capture lessons learned and contribute to Laing O'Rourke's wider sustainability strategy.

Experience
Proven experience delivering sustainability strategies on large infrastructure or construction projects. Strong leadership experience in establishing and building teams, including resource planning, recruitment, and performance management. Deep knowledge of environmental sustainability including carbon, biodiversity, circular economy, waste, and water. Experience in delivering social value outcomes such as apprenticeships, local employment, and community initiatives. Skilled in data management, reporting, tracking, auditing, and presenting sustainability performance to senior stakeholders.

About you
Confident, resilient, and influential with the ability to operate independently during PCSA period. Commercially astute with the ability to integrate sustainability into decision-making alongside cost and programme. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills across regulators, community groups, and client leadership. Strong collaborator able to work closely with multidisciplinary teams. Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, Architecture, or a related field. Eligible to work in the UK and subject to vetting and security screening.

Qualifications
Degree or equivalent experience in a relevant discipline. Desirable familiarity with standards such as ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), PAS 2080 (Carbon Management in Infrastructure), NHS SHTN 02-01 (Sustainable Design & Construction), BREEAM, and ecology management frameworks. Strong understanding of net zero carbon principles, life cycle assessments, and sustainability-linked procurement.