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Head of Environmental and Sustainability

United Infrastructure Ltd United Kingdom Added on Jul 7, 2026
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As the Head of Environmental and Sustainability, you will take full ownership of the strategic roadmap for United Infrastructure, moving beyond theory to embed green practices across diverse business units. Your daily focus centers on conducting depth gap analyses, refining environmental policies, and leading the transition toward data-driven sustainability management across large-scale utility and social infrastructure projects.

In the resource-heavy world of construction and water services, this role acts as the bridge between regulatory necessity and innovation-led carbon reduction. By implementing a robust carbon accounting system for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, you will provide the critical intelligence needed for the group to hit science-based targets and foster a genuine culture of stewardship within a workforce of over 2,000 people.

This suits someone who possesses high-level strategic maturity and the ability to influence technical teams in complex operational environments. You should be a master of sustainability metrics who thrives on transforming infrastructure challenges into measurable social and environmental impact.

FAQ del ruolo

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves architecting and executing a comprehensive sustainability strategy that aligns with the group's evolving infrastructure goals. You will be responsible for defining the environmental roadmap, ensuring it integrates seamlessly into the water and social infrastructure divisions. A significant portion of the role focuses on carbon accounting and reporting. You will lead the deployment of professional systems to track and manage Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, facilitating data-driven decisions and progress toward science-based targets while maintaining rigorous compliance with UK environmental regulations.

Key learning opportunities for this job

You will gain deep exposure to the complexities of infrastructure-scale decarbonization, learning how to manage environmental impact across diverse sectors like energy, power, and property services. This provides a rare platform to master the nuances of Scope 3 reporting in a complicated supply chain. Furthermore, you will sharpen your change management skills by building a sustainability culture from the ground up in a traditional industry. The role offers the chance to pilot emerging green technologies and innovative site-based environmental practices that could set new standards for the UK construction sector.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings significant experience in environmental management within high-risk or infrastructure-related industries. You should possess a strong technical grasp of carbon footprinting methodologies and a proven track record of implementing ISO-aligned environmental management systems. Beyond technical expertise, we look for a strategic influencer who can communicate effectively with site teams, corporate executives, and regulatory bodies. A relevant degree in Environmental Science or Sustainability is expected, ideally complemented by professional membership in bodies like IEMA or CIWEM.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Focus your application on your systemic impact rather than just personal achievements. Demonstrate exactly how you have scaled environmental initiatives across large workforces or multi-divisional organizations, as United Infrastructure manages over 2,200 employees. Highlight your experience with science-based targets and carbon accounting software. Given the company's recent rebranding and evolution, showing an adaptable mindset and an ability to align sustainability with 'innovation' and 'critical infrastructure' will demonstrate that you understand their specific market position.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The role focuses heavily on decarbonization and climate resilience within the construction lifecycle. Given the company's focus on water services, resource efficiency and water quality management will be major pillars of your daily environmental strategy. You will also be the guardian of regulatory compliance and ESG reporting. This involves ensuring that every infrastructure project, from telecoms to social housing, meets high environmental standards and contributes to the group-wide goal of minimizing their aggregate ecological footprint.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

The most significant challenge will be standardizing sustainability data collection across decentralized project sites and different business units. Ensuring consistency in Scope 3 reporting requires persistent engagement with a varied supply chain. You may also face the classic industry friction between tight construction deadlines/budgets and ambitious environmental goals. Successfully navigating these trade-offs without compromising the long-term sustainability vision will require resilience and exceptional negotiation skills.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might involve reviewing carbon data reports to assess progress against Group goals, followed by a meeting with project managers to discuss site-specific environmental risks. You will likely spend time refining policy documents or preparing for internal compliance audits. In the afternoon, you might switch to internal advocacy, perhaps designing an awareness program for employees or researching new carbon-reduction technologies. Communication is constant, whether it is answering queries from regulatory bodies or briefing the executive team on ESG performance.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

This is a high-visibility leadership role that places you at the heart of the company's future strategy. Success here could lead to even more senior executive responsibilities, potentially evolving into a Group-wide sustainability directorship as their ESG commitments expand. You will have the opportunity to represent the company in high-level industry forums and working groups, establishing yourself as a thought leader in infrastructure sustainability. The breadth of the sectors covered ensures your professional profile becomes exceptionally versatile.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact frequently with Executive Directors and Sector Leads to ensure sustainability remains a board-level priority. Maintaining strong relationships with site-based teams is equally critical to ensure policies are translated into action. Externally, your network will include regulatory bodies, environmental auditors, and supply chain partners. You will also engage with public and private sector clients who are increasingly demanding high ESG performance as a prerequisite for infrastructure contracts.

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