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Sustainability Certification Lead

Allen & York • United Kingdom • Added on Jun 8, 2026
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This role involves taking full ownership of the sustainability certification and monitoring processes that underpin the commercial success of renewable energy projects. You will manage the accreditation lifecycle, ensure rigorous carbon accounting, and lead a dedicated team to maintain compliance with international standards like ISCC and REGO. Beyond technical oversight, you will act as a bridge between operational data and senior leadership to secure the environmental integrity of the business.

The position is central to the mission of Future Biogas, as the value of green gas and carbon sequestration rests entirely on the validity of its sustainability credentials. By ensuring precise MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) and Life Cycle Assessments, you enable major corporate partners to achieve genuine decarbonisation. You are essentially safeguarding the trust and transparency required to scale the UK’s anaerobic digestion infrastructure.

This suits someone who possesses a sharp commercial mind and deep technical expertise in carbon markets. You should be a proactive leader comfortable navigating complex regulatory landscapes while translating technical sustainability data into tangible business value.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves managing the end-to-end certification and accreditation lifecycle, including frameworks like ISCC, REGO, and RGGO. This ensures that every unit of renewable energy or carbon credit produced meets the highest regulatory standards. You will also be responsible for the technical governance of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and GHG emissions modelling. By supervising these calculations, you provide the necessary evidence for commercial agreements and ensure the company remains aligned with its net-zero strategy. Leadership is a core component, as you will provide line management and mentorship for a Sustainability Coordinator and Assistant. Your role ensures that the technical team effectively supports business development and finance through robust data verification.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep exposure to the rapidly evolving certificate market, including Guarantees of Origin and voluntary carbon markets. This provides a front-row seat to how sustainability metrics are converted into commercial value. There is a significant opportunity to master complex regulatory frameworks specific to the UK energy sector, such as Green Gas Support Schemes and various sustainability reporting standards. You will develop a niche expertise in anaerobic digestion and carbon sequestration technologies. Furthermore, the role offers a platform to refine strategic leadership skills. Managing a dedicated sub-team within a growing, private equity-backed business allows for professional development in team building and high-level stakeholder management.

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

The ideal candidate brings a blend of technical environmental science and commercial acumen. Practically, this means having substantial experience in renewable energy, carbon accounting, or sustainability certification sectors. You should demonstrate proficiency in carbon modelling and LCA methodologies. Being able to explain the nuances of emissions intensity to both technical auditors and commercial partners is essential for success in this position. Soft skills are equally important; the team needs a proactive mentor who can coach junior staff. A background in dealing with regulators like Ofgem or environmental certification bodies would be highly advantageous.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, move beyond just listing your technical skills and demonstrate how you have used certification to drive business value. Highlight specific examples where your oversight of MRV processes enabled a commercial deal or secured a critical accreditation. Since this role supports Future Biogas, researching their specific partnerships—such as their work with AstraZeneca or 3i Group—will show you understand their market position. Tailor your application to reflect an understanding of both the environmental necessity and the commercial complexity of the AD sector. Ensure your CV clearly mentions experience with specific standards (ISCC, REGO, etc.) as these are critical keywords that the hiring team will be looking for during the selection process.

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

The role focuses heavily on the environmental integrity of renewable gas production. It ensures that feedstock sourcing and energy conversion meet strict sustainability criteria to avoid 'greenwashing' and ensure genuine impact. A major focus will be on decarbonization and carbon sequestration physics. You will help define how carbon captured during the AD process is accounted for, which is a pioneering area in the UK's path to net-zero. You will also influence supply chain transparency. By managing 'Proof of Sustainability' across operations, you ensure that the entire value chain—from agricultural waste to gas injection—stays within ESG governance limits.

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

One of the primary challenges is the dynamic regulatory landscape. Rules regarding renewable energy incentives and carbon credits change frequently, requiring constant vigilance and the ability to pivot strategy quickly. Managing data accuracy across multiple operational sites can be difficult. You must ensure that the Sustainability Coordinator and Assistant are capturing precise data to satisfy rigorous external audits without disrupting day-to-day energy production. Balancing commercial pressure with technical compliance is another hurdle. You may occasionally face tight deadlines to verify certificates that are essential for revenue recognition or contract fulfillment.

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

Your day might begin with reviewing GHG emissions models with your team to ensure data from new biogas plants is being captured correctly. This is often followed by a call with a certification body to clarify an upcoming audit requirement. Midday might involve a cross-functional meeting with the Business Development or Finance teams. Here, you would provide technical insights on how current sustainability ratings affect the valuation of environmental certificates for upcoming corporate contracts. In the afternoon, you might focus on strategic reporting or mentoring your direct reports, reviewing their progress on sustainability filings such as Achilles or DENA, before finishing the day by updating senior leadership on carbon risk mitigation.

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

As Future Biogas is in an expansion phase backed by significant investment, this role is a gateway to more senior leadership positions within the sustainability or operational hierarchy of the firm. There is potential to evolve into a Head of Sustainability or a Director-level role as the business grows its portfolio of plants. The exposure to high-level corporate partners and investors provides excellent visibility for future career moves. You will also become a subject matter expert in the niche yet high-growth field of anaerobic digestion and carbon sequestration, which are increasingly sought-after specializations in the global energy transition.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Internally, you will work closely with Senior Leadership (Sustainability, Finance, Operations) to align compliance with the company's broader commercial and strategic growth goals. Externally, your primary interactions will be with regulators and auditors (e.g., ISCC, Ofgem) and third-party consultants. Maintaining a professional and authoritative relationship with these bodies is vital for the company’s license to operate. You will also interface with corporate clients who are purchasing the renewable energy or carbon offsets, providing them with the necessary technical assurances that their investments meet their specific ESG criteria.

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