Sustainability Officer

OVERVIEW

We’re looking for a Sustainability Officer to help drive real environmental impact across one of London’s most vibrant areas.

Working within South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us, you’ll turn strategy into action. Coordinating projects that make our neighbourhood fairer, greener and working towards net zero. You’ll collaborate with partners including residents, business, cultural institutions and local government to deliver tangible change.

This is a permanent, full-time role (9am–5pm, Monday to Friday) based at our South Bank office at 10 York Road, with flexible and hybrid working available.

South Bank and Waterloo Sustains Us

Sustains Us is our shared programme to make South Bank and Waterloo a fairer, greener neighbourhood by 2030.

Partners from across Waterloo and South Bank have come together to deliver a shared vision to achieve a fairer, greener neighbourhood by 2030. Along with support from the Mayor of London, Lambeth Council, Southwark Council, South Bank and Waterloo Neighbours, We Are Waterloo BID, we have produced a strategy to achieve this, which can be accessed here. The plan is clear on our five areas of focus:

• Retrofitting of homes, commercial and public buildings Creating a decarbonised, smart and integrated energy system Improving air quality and creating zero emission zones Climate adapted, resilient, and green neighbourhoods A zero waste circular economy 

Achieving this ambition requires a commitment to collaborative working, and partners have created a co-investment model to support and fund our work.  As Sustainability Officer, you’ll work alongside the Net Zero Programme Lead and the Sustains Us Steering Group to help turn these priorities into real-world projects, from small community initiatives – such as tree planting projects or resident events – to major energy infrastructure initiatives.

You can read more about the Sustains Us programme here.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

The post-holder will be responsible for:

Project Delivery

• Coordinating and delivering projects, in line with our fairer and greener neighbourhood strategy, and providing advice and guidance to partners and stakeholders.
• Lead or support progress reporting for funders and the Sustains Us Steering Group.
• Support wider SBEG projects when required.

Partnership working and stakeholder engagement

• Build collaborative relationships with a wide range of stakeholders — including local authorities, BIDs, landowners, developers, employers, cultural and educational institutions, community and voluntary organisations and residents.
• Manage and coordinate the Sustains Us Residents Group and project specific Task and Finish Groups, that bring together residents and cross-sector partners respectively to share ideas, co-design practical solutions, and deliver targeted sustainability outcomes that reflect community priorities.
• Plan and deliver meetings, workshops, and public events that raise awareness of Sustains Us initiatives and celebrate local success.
• Support and coordinate the Sustains Us Steering Group, ensuring meetings are well-prepared, actions are delivered, and communications are clear and timely.

Identification of resources for projects

• Scoping, researching, and identifying funding opportunities that are relevant to the delivery of the strategy and action plan. Inputting to funding bids and applications - leading and supporting as appropriate.

Finance and Procurement

• Where relevant, ensuring that appropriate and robust financial plans are in place for the successful delivery of projects and services.
• Assessing and recommending cost effective and efficient ways to procure and deliver projects and services, especially when done through partnership mechanisms.

Marketing and Communications

• Working with partners on relevant marketing and engagement activities, ensuring that key stakeholders and audiences are aware of the Sustains Us programme ambitions.
• Helping to ensure that all partners and stakeholders are kept informed and appraised of progress through the implementation of a communication and engagement plan.

In addition, you will:

• Comply with SBEG’s Health & Safety policies. Comply with SBEG’s Equal Opportunities policies.
• On occasion, work outside of the normal working week, including evenings and weekends. Promote an organisational culture that reflects SBEG’s values:

We are Potent. We get things done and we make sure they are done right. We make a difference, and we ensure our work both protects the area we love and moves it forward. We embody a ‘can do ‘attitude - and deliver on our promises. Judge us on our deeds, not just our words.

We are a Disruptor. We are imaginative, constantly looking for new missions to embrace, fresh areas to explore, seeking out new ways of working. We defy convention and set a trail for others to follow.

We are driven by Partnership. We work as a team - amongst ourselves, with our members, and with all the organisations we collaborate with. We facilitate relationships and build networks of individuals and organisations to drive progress in South Bank.

We are Just. We want everyone to benefit from both our work and the success of South Bank, whether they live here, work here, base their business here, or visit us. And that goes for our colleagues too.

• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and experience

Essential

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in sustainability, environment, or related discipline.
• Minimum three years’ experience delivering sustainability projects within multi-partner environments.
• Good technical understanding of environmental sustainability and decarbonisation and/or climate resilience and adaptation.
• Proven ability to manage projects on time and to budget.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement across public, private, and community sectors.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.

Desirable

• Good knowledge of greenhouse-gas reduction opportunities for businesses and households.
• Experience managing budgets with multiple income streams.
• An understanding of the neighbourhood and relevant and related strategies, policies, projects, and services. 
• Excellent numeracy skills and high level of financial acumen.

BENEFITS

• 25 days of annual leave increasing with length of service up to 28 days per year.
• 8% stakeholders’ pension contribution.
• Interest free season ticket loan.
• Team building and social events.
• Company Sick Pay.
• Flexible working.
• Training & Development.

TO APPLY

To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position. Generic cover letters and standalone CVs will not be accepted.

By email to Issie Ryans: issie.ryans@southbanklondon.com

Your interview availability: In the body of your application email, please include your interview availability based on the recruitment timetable set out below, specifically if there are key dates/times you could not attend if invited. If you have any specific preferences or requests, please do let us know so we can do our best to accommodate them. We will automatically schedule a time if you do not let us know and you are invited for an interview.

We know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive, and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.

If you experience any technical or accessibility difficulties, need help making an application, or have any additional support that needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection process, please let us know.

Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.

Recruitment timetable

Application closing date: 1pm Monday 17 November 2025

Candidates informed of outcome: Thursday 20 November 2025

Interviews (London): Week commencing 24 November 2025

SBEG is an Equal Opportunities Employer and aims to ensure that no job applicant is discriminated against on the grounds of gender, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, race, religion, or belief.