Sustainability Manager

Location: London (Fitzrovia) / Surrey

At Laing O'Rourke, we are redefining what is possible in the construction industry. Innovation and excellence are at the core of our transformation — and sustainability is central to everything we do.

We are looking for an experienced Sustainability Manager to join the leadership team on one of the UK's most significant scientific research facilities. Joining this mega project — targeting BREEAM Excellent - you will be based in central London (Fitzrovia) during the PCSA/pre-construction period before moving to site in Surrey for delivery from mid-2027. The programme is anticipated to run for 4+ years.

This is a high-profile and career-defining role, where you will lead sustainability across environmental performance, whole-life carbon, and social value strategies, shaping outcomes that deliver long-lasting benefits.

Role Responsibilities;

• Acting as the primary sustainability lead during preconstruction and delivery, ensuring consistent communication with the client, design team, and stakeholders.

• Embedding sustainability into every stage of the project lifecycle, balancing environmental and social objectives with cost, programme, and design development.

• Leading sustainability as part of the core project leadership team, with responsibility across environment, carbon, and social value.

• Defining and agreeing sustainability targets and metrics at preconstruction (RIBA Stage 3 onwards), aligned with client and local authority expectations.

• Designing a sustainability team structure and resource forecast, leading recruitment and building capability across specialist areas (environmental, carbon, and social value).

• Developing a Stakeholder Management Plan to support proactive engagement with internal and external stakeholders.

• Shaping and leading the sustainability strategy, working closely with design consultants and internal delivery teams.

• Collaborating with engineering, procurement, and commercial teams to:

  • Create the Sustainability Risk & Opportunity Register.

  • Set project-specific objectives on carbon, biodiversity, circular economy, and social value.

  • Embed sustainability requirements into procurement and supply chain partnerships.

• Managing sustainability KPIs, reporting and auditing, ensuring accuracy and accountability across workstreams.

• Building strong relationships with regulators, CCS, and other authorities to ensure compliance and best practice.

• Leading and mentoring a growing team of sustainability professionals, offering technical guidance and pastoral support.

• Driving community engagement by working closely with the client's community team, representing the project in public forums, and coordinating impactful communications.

• Supporting continuous improvement by capturing lessons learned and contributing to Laing O'Rourke's wider sustainability strategy.

About You:

• Proven experience delivering sustainability strategies on large infrastructure or construction projects.

• Confidence, resilience, and influencing skills to operate independently during the PCSA period — with the ability to negotiate, steer design decisions, and proactively shape the sustainability agenda.

• Commercial acumen, with the ability to integrate sustainability into decision-making alongside cost and programme.

• Strong leadership experience in establishing and building a team, including resource planning, recruitment, and performance management.

• Deep knowledge of environmental sustainability — not just carbon, but biodiversity, circular economy, waste, and water.

• Awareness of and/or experience in delivering social value outcomes such as apprenticeships, local employment, and community initiatives.

• Skilled in data management and reporting, with experience tracking, auditing and presenting sustainability performance to senior stakeholders.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, from regulators and community groups to client leadership.

• Degree qualified (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field such as Environmental Science, Sustainability, Engineering, or Architecture.

• Eligible to work in the UK and subject to vetting and security screening.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with relevant 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.

About Us:    

Laing O'Rourke is dedicated to being a recognised leader in innovation and excellence in the construction industry. We focus on delivering projects that leave a lasting positive environmental legacy, driven by technical excellence in design, manufacturing, and construction. 

We offer a competitive remuneration package (base salary + car/travel allowance) with access to PMI; enhanced pension and parental leave schemes; Life/Dental/Critical illness insurance and income protection; 33 days holiday inc. bank holidays; professional development opportunities and more!   

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com

#LI-EW1