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Social Sustainability Manager

BAM UK & Ireland • United Kingdom • Added on Aug 1, 2026
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As a Social Sustainability Manager for the Scotland region, you will take full ownership of how major infrastructure and building projects interact with local communities. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will translate corporate ESG commitments into tangible local actions, focusing on social mobility, inclusive employment, and regional economic investment. You will be the bridge between site operations and social impact, ensuring every project leaves a positive legacy.

In the construction sector, social value is no longer an optional extra but a critical driver of business success and community resilience. By embedding the National TOMs framework into regional operations, you will directly influence how multi-million pound projects support local supply chains and underrepresented groups. Your work ensures that infrastructure development serves as a catalyst for social equity rather than just physical construction.

This suits someone who possesses a deep understanding of social value measurement and enjoys moving between strategic bid writing and on-the-ground community engagement.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to lead the delivery of BAM’s social sustainability initiatives across Scotland, specifically focusing on social mobility, inclusion, and the foundational economy. You will be responsible for creating and executing regional social value plans that align with the National TOMs framework and specific client requirements. Your day-to-day responsibilities include overseeing community support programs, managing diversity impact assessments, and ensuring that social sustainability is integrated into procurement and supply chain processes. Additionally, you will support work-winning activities by writing high-scoring tender responses and demonstrating the company's social impact to potential clients.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain extensive expertise in the National TOMs (Themes, Outcomes, and Measures) framework, which is the industry standard for measuring social value in the UK. This provides a high-level technical skill set that is increasingly in demand across the public and private sectors. You will also develop a sophisticated understanding of socially responsible procurement and how to influence large-scale supply chains to adopt ethical standards. Exposure to diverse construction projects and collaboration with regional leadership will enhance your strategic management and advocacy skills within a corporate ESG context.

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

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in a social value or sustainability role, preferably within the built environment or construction sector. You should have a deep understanding of the legislative drivers of social value and experience using measurement tools to quantify qualitative community impacts. Technical proficiency in the MS Office Suite is required, alongside excellent written communication skills for tender submissions. A degree-level qualification is preferred, but the ability to inspire and influence a broad cross-section of stakeholders—from site workers to corporate executives—is the most critical soft skill for success in this regional leadership position.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, your application should demonstrate a clear understanding of the local socio-economic landscape in Scotland. Tailoring your resume to highlight specific examples where you successfully delivered social value on a project—such as creating apprenticeships or supporting local social enterprises—will be highly effective. Focus on your ability to handle data-driven reporting. BAM places high value on the ability to monitor and report impact accurately, so being able to discuss how you have used the National TOMs or similar frameworks in previous roles will demonstrate that you can hit the ground running with their current reporting standards.

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

This role is the cornerstone of the 'S' in ESG for BAM's Scottish operations. It focuses heavily on community wealth building and ensuring that construction spend stays within the local economy by supporting SMEs and social enterprises. There is also a significant focus on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), both within the BAM workforce and the wider supply chain. You will likely spend a lot of time on initiatives that lower barriers to entry for underrepresented groups in the construction industry, directly contributing to the company's goal of building a sustainable and inclusive tomorrow.

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

One of the main challenges is balancing the diverse requirements of different clients and stakeholders, each of whom may have varying priorities for social value. Navigating these expectations while maintaining a consistent regional strategy requires high levels of organizational skill and diplomacy. Additionally, collecting accurate data from subcontractors and site teams can be difficult. You will need to be persistent and persuasive to ensure that all social impact activities are recorded correctly to meet compliance and reporting standards across multiple active project sites.

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

A typical day might begin with a site visit to discuss upcoming community engagement events with a project manager, followed by a meeting with the procurement team to review the social credentials of a new supplier. You might spend the afternoon drafting a social value section for a major new tender submission. You will frequently interact with local schools, charities, or employment hubs to coordinate training and education programs. The role is highly varied, shifting between strategic planning in a home-office environment and active stakeholder management in the field across Aberdeenshire and Inverness.

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

As this is a senior regional role, there are clear paths toward national leadership positions within BAM’s sustainability and ESG departments. Success in this role provides high visibility, as social value performance is a key metric for the company's executive team and major public sector clients. You may also have the opportunity to lead UK-wide working groups or pilot new social impact measurement technologies. The company’s commitment to personal and professional development means you can pursue further certifications or specialized training in ESG strategy and corporate responsibility.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact with a wide range of internal stakeholders, including Project Managers, Bid Teams, and Procurement Specialists. Externally, you will be the primary contact for community organizations, local government authorities, and educational institutions. Building strong relationships with subcontractors and supply chain partners is also vital, as they are often the ones delivering the specific social value outcomes on-site. Finally, you will represent BAM during client interviews and presentations, acting as the subject matter expert on social sustainability for the region.

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