Senior Estates Officer - Carbon Management

The appointed officer takes operational ownership of the organisation's carbon footprint and energy accounting across hospitals, clinics, and administrative sites. Key duties include managing utilities consumption data, verifying invoices, and preparing mandatory reporting submissions to national audit standards. You will track baseline emissions and identify systematic decarbonization interventions across heating, cooling, power, and building fabric. Additionally, the position provides specialist technical guidance to capital development project managers. This requires developing energy criteria, conducting engineering feasibility assessments for low carbon plant replacements, and ensuring all works meet statutory energy performance benchmarks. Long-term objectives focus on keeping the health board aligned with strict Welsh Government decarbonization trajectories. The role also liaises with the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership on utility supply management and contract procurement.

This position offers extensive operational exposure to complex healthcare engineering and building management systems. You will develop deeper knowledge of public sector carbon accounting frameworks, compliance reporting, and Welsh public body statutory climate obligations. Working across diverse facility types, from large acute hospitals to small community clinics, provides practical experience in retrofitting aging building services with low carbon technology. The professional will also gain familiarity with large-scale utility contract negotiations and public sector framework procurement.

The ideal candidate holds an engineering degree in mechanical or electrical engineering or equivalent technical background, paired with documented continuing professional development in energy and carbon management. Professional certification as a Non-Domestic Energy Assessor registered with an authorised Display Energy Certificate scheme is required. Demonstrated experience in specification, design, and project oversight of large mechanical and electrical installations within complex facilities is essential. Strong candidates possess clear abilities to translate utility data into strategic board-level reports and show proficiency in navigating public sector governance.

Focus your application on practical examples of plant replacement, retrofit engineering, and measurable emissions reductions achieved across physical estates. Explicitly mention your accreditations, particularly non-domestic energy assessment qualifications and experience with national carbon frameworks. Highlight your familiarity with public sector estates management and the policy environment governing NHS Wales and Welsh Government climate targets. Clear evidence of collaborative problem solving with estate directors, capital project teams, and external utility suppliers will strengthen your candidacy.

The primary focus is direct operational decarbonization across Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, concentrating on building energy efficiency, heating system transitions, and site utility management. This includes improving building performance ratings and lowering grid reliance through efficiency and on-site solutions. By ensuring that major capital works integrate low-energy design from the outset, the role helps modernise legacy public healthcare infrastructure to support long-term regional net-zero roadmaps set by the Welsh Government.

A primary challenge will be driving energy efficiency within acute clinical environments where equipment reliability, infection control, and patient comfort must never be compromised. Balancing uninterrupted operational service with major mechanical upgrades requires careful planning and cross-team alignment. Managing energy budgets against volatile utility market costs while meeting strict public audit criteria also presents difficulties. Navigating capital funding constraints typical of public health systems requires building robust business cases for carbon investments.

A typical day could start with reviewing automated meter reading data and monitoring system alerts across primary regional hospitals to spot consumption anomalies. Mid-morning might involve meeting with capital works teams to review mechanical design drawings for a planned plant refurbishment, ensuring alignment with energy targets. In the afternoon, you might visit a site to carry out energy assessment audits for updated Display Energy Certificates, followed by work on statutory emissions returns or drafting a board paper on utility expenditure in coordination with estates leadership.

This position places the specialist in a visible role within a critical public institution, creating pathways toward senior management in estates, energy strategy, or wider public sector sustainability leadership across NHS Wales. Delivering successful carbon reduction initiatives across a multi-site public estate establishes a solid track record for strategic roles in public infrastructure, regional net zero planning, and municipal climate programs.

Primary internal stakeholders include the Chief Engineer, the Head of Operational Estates, and capital project managers delivering major renovations and building programs. Regular communication is also required with site facility managers and clinical services staff. Externally, the role interacts with the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership, contracted energy utility companies, regulatory audit bodies, and relevant Welsh Government departments monitoring public sector carbon progress.