What you can expect from us
- We offer a competitive salary of £54,000 per annum.
- 32 days annual leave plus bank holidays a total of 40 days paid holiday per annum which is equivalent to 8 weeks.
- Salary Finance - access both short and long terms loans, plus provides access to a savings facility.
- Opportunity to further increase annual leave with service or though the holiday purchase scheme.
- Immediate entry to our Pension scheme (matched contributions up to 10%).
- A great flexible working environment, with a range of family friendly policies.
- Health cash plan with financial benefits and the option to extend to your family.
Cover includes dental, optical, physiotherapy, 24HR private GP access and much more.
- Paid leave for absence including sickness, maternity, paternity, and adoption leave.
- Access of up to £150 annually through the ‘Learning for life’ scheme.
- Access to a wide range of discounts and cash back offers, ranging from retail and automotive to holidays and cycle to work scheme.
- Develop your career with support and access to training and qualifications.
About the role
We are seeking to recruit a lead management role to drive sustainability across Onward, facilitating, coordinating and collaborating across other teams in the organisation. This role will be key to ensuring Onward delivers in terms of new regulation such as Minimum Energy Efficiency requirements (MEES) and also on our drive to reduce our carbon footprint working towards net 0 by 2025.
The purpose of the role is to manage and lead the delivery of Onward’s Asset Management & Sustainability Strategy across the homes and commercial portfolio, ensuring that key policies/procedures and objectives are effectively implemented,
meeting both customer and Regulatory expectations. You will role model and lead Sustainability both within and external to Onward.
Job Responsibilities
Strategy, Governance & Compliance
Set and annually refresh Onward’s decarbonisation strategy and net-zero trajectory; embed into the 30-year asset plan and
component lifecycles. Ensure compliance with all relevant energy and environmental regulations, including MEES, ESOS,
SECR, and Heat Network Regulations leading on energy policies, procedures. Keep up to date with legislation, guidance, and
funding opportunities relevant to energy and sustainability within social housing. Set retrofit programmes and ensure
compliance with PAS2035 standards where applicable. Chair / Lead the Sustainability Steering Group, ensuring objectives are
achieved and report progress and risks to the Exec and Board. Manage partnerships with manufacturers, local authorities,
and third parties to drive delivery of the Sustainability Strategy.
Energy & Sustainability Projects
Manage /lead on development and delivery of sustainability initiatives and energy related projects to comply with
regulations and subsequent actions. Manage/lead on Onwards compliance with Ofgem’s new heat network regulatory
requirements. Ensure we have customer engagement and customer voice represented in decision-making and changes.
Ensure a joined-up approach throughout the business for assets and components, new developments and compliance
replacement programmes. Manage planning and submission of funding bids and lead responses to information requests.
Oversee the EPC survey management strategy, retrofit assessments, and other necessary surveys, and any associated
improvement recommendations.
Data & Reporting
Define carbon, energy, and condition data requirements, improve asset data quality to support investment modelling and
evidence for funding bids. Maintain accurate records of energy performance certificates (EPCs), heat network
documentation, and carbon data. Prepare reports, dashboards, and presentations for senior management, boards, and
regulators. Lead research and evaluation of emerging technologies to improve asset energy performance. Oversee energy
usage monitoring via smart technologies and implement corrective measures where required.
Resident Engagement & Communication
Lead on communication with residents on energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives. Collaborate with Resident
Engagement and Housing Management teams to ensure initiatives are inclusive and accessible to all. Lead and deliver
Carbon Literacy and energy efficiency training for staff, partners, and customers.
Skills/Experience
Essential
- Significant experience leading sustainability and asset strategy programmes, including project
delivery, budget management, programme planning, cross-functional collaboration, and
achieving value for money within social housing or regulated utility environments.
- Strong knowledge of energy efficiency improvements, low-carbon and renewable
technologies, with a sound understanding of PAS 2035, Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
(SHDF) delivery, and long-term investment planning.
- Proven expertise in heat network operations, regulatory compliance and authorisation
requirements, consumer protection frameworks, and fair-pricing principles.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills, with the ability to interpret
complex data and translate insights into effective business decisions.
- Demonstrable experience in leading, managing, and developing high-performing teams.
- Highly effective stakeholder and matrix management skills, with the ability to build strong
relationships and influence across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong communication and engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate across the
organisation and embed sustainability principles into mainstream business activity and
decision-making.
Desirable:
- Experience working with asset management software, and energy management and monitoring
tools.
- Experience with preparing funding applications or managing decarbonisation grant applications
and programmes.
Qualifications
Essential
- A degree level qualification in environmental science, sustainability, energy management or a
built environment discipline (or equivalent experience)
Desirable:
- PAS 2035 Retrofit Coordinator or Retrofit Assessor
- Membership in relevant professional body – i.e. The Institute of Environmental Management
and Asse