This role supports Bright Horizons UK in delivering its sustainability strategy and carbon reduction commitments. Working with the Energy and Sustainability Manager, you will coordinate sustainability activities across the nursery portfolio, analyse energy, water, waste and carbon data, and report on ESG performance. Your work will help turn complex data into practical actions that reduce environmental impact.
Bright Horizons operates over 300 nurseries and provides work+family solutions, so this position is central to understanding and improving the environmental footprint of a large, people-focused organisation. By managing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions data and supporting ESOS, SECR and GHG Protocol reporting, you will help the company meet its regulatory obligations and make informed decisions about energy use and supplier sustainability.
This suits someone who is analytically minded, highly organised, and passionate about sustainability. You will need strong Excel skills and the ability to communicate data clearly to a range of stakeholders. If you enjoy coordinating projects, managing multiple priorities, and seeing your analysis lead to real environmental improvements, this could be a good fit.
Job FAQs
What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?
The main mission of this role is to support the Energy and Sustainability Manager in executing Bright Horizons' sustainability strategy and carbon reduction commitments. On a day-to-day basis, you will maintain and validate energy, water, waste and carbon datasets, produce reports and dashboards, and coordinate sustainability governance meetings. You will also manage sustainability communications and stakeholder engagement, liaising with utility providers, suppliers and internal teams.
A key responsibility is managing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions data and supporting reporting requirements such as ESOS, SECR, EPC and the GHG Protocol. You will identify energy performance trends and improvement opportunities, coordinate sustainability projects, track KPIs, and assist with supplier ESG assessments and EcoVadis activities. The overarching goal is to turn complex data into meaningful actions that reduce the organisation's environmental impact across its UK nursery portfolio.
Key learning opportunities for this job
This role offers hands-on experience with carbon accounting and ESG reporting frameworks, including the GHG Protocol, SECR and ESOS. You will develop advanced Excel skills through managing large datasets, creating pivot tables, lookups and dashboards, and you will learn to present complex data clearly to different audiences.
You can expect to gain exposure to supplier ESG assessments and EcoVadis, which are increasingly important in corporate sustainability. Working closely with the Energy and Sustainability Manager, you will see how a sustainability strategy is delivered in a multi-site organisation, from data collection to governance and communication. This is a chance to build a strong foundation in energy management, carbon reporting and stakeholder engagement, with mentorship from an experienced manager.
How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?
The ideal candidate is likely to have a degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, or a related field, or equivalent experience in energy, carbon or data analysis. You should have strong analytical skills, with advanced Excel abilities including pivot tables, lookups and data analysis, and the capacity to interpret and present complex datasets clearly. Experience with sustainability, ESG, energy or environmental reporting is desirable, as is knowledge of carbon accounting and Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
Beyond technical skills, the role requires excellent organisational and project coordination abilities, strong written and verbal communication, and effective stakeholder management. You should be comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and have a genuine passion for sustainability and environmental improvement. A DBS check is required for this position.
Advice to stand out and make a successful application
To stand out, tailor your application to show how your analytical skills and sustainability knowledge align with the specific duties. Highlight any experience with energy or carbon data, ESG reporting, or frameworks like SECR and ESOS. If you have used Excel for data analysis, give concrete examples of the size and complexity of datasets you have managed and the insights you produced.
In your cover letter, explain why Bright Horizons' mission in early years education and family support resonates with you, and how you can contribute to their carbon reduction goals. Demonstrate that you understand the challenges of data collection across a large, multi-site portfolio. During interview, be ready to discuss how you would coordinate sustainability projects and engage stakeholders, and show your passion for turning data into action.
What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?
This role will focus on the environmental and governance aspects of Bright Horizons' sustainability strategy, particularly energy management and carbon reduction. You will work on Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, which cover direct emissions from owned or controlled sources, indirect emissions from purchased energy, and all other indirect emissions in the value chain. This means you will be involved in data collection from nurseries, utility providers and suppliers.
Compliance and reporting will be a significant part, with ESOS, SECR, EPC and GHG Protocol requirements shaping much of your work. You will also support supplier ESG assessments and EcoVadis activities, which touch on social and governance dimensions. The role contributes to the company's broader commitment to environmental improvement, helping to identify opportunities to reduce energy use and waste across the nursery portfolio.
What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?
A likely challenge is managing data quality and consistency across over 300 nurseries, each with its own energy, water and waste profiles. Ensuring accurate and timely data collection from multiple sites and utility providers could require persistent follow-up and robust validation processes. You may also face the complexity of Scope 3 emissions, which rely on supplier data that can be incomplete or inconsistent.
Balancing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment will be demanding, as you coordinate governance meetings, produce reports and support projects simultaneously. Communicating technical sustainability concepts to non-specialist stakeholders might also be challenging, requiring clear and persuasive messaging. Finally, keeping up with evolving reporting standards and regulations could mean continuous learning and adaptation.
How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?
A typical day could start with checking and validating energy and water data from various nurseries, updating spreadsheets and flagging any anomalies. You might then prepare a section of an ESG report or dashboard, ensuring the numbers are accurate and the narrative is clear. Later, you could join a call with utility providers or internal teams to discuss data queries or project updates.
You may also coordinate a sustainability governance meeting, preparing agendas and minutes, or work on supplier ESG assessments. Throughout the day, you would likely communicate with the Energy and Sustainability Manager and other stakeholders to prioritise tasks and address issues. The role is remote, with occasional travel to Northampton, so most interactions will be virtual.
What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?
This role offers a clear path to developing expertise in energy and carbon management, with the potential to progress to a manager or specialist position. You will gain exposure to a wide range of sustainability topics, from data analysis to reporting and stakeholder engagement, which can open doors to roles in ESG, sustainability consulting or energy management.
Working closely with the Energy and Sustainability Manager provides mentorship and visibility into strategic decision-making. Successful delivery of projects and reports could lead to leading specific initiatives or taking on greater responsibility for certain reporting areas. Bright Horizons' size and sector presence may also offer opportunities to move into related functions such as facilities, procurement or corporate responsibility.
The main stakeholders you might be interacting with
You will interact frequently with the Energy and Sustainability Manager, who will be your primary guide and collaborator. Internally, you will work with nursery managers and regional teams to gather data and implement sustainability initiatives. You may also engage with finance, facilities and procurement colleagues to align reporting and supplier assessments.
Externally, you will liaise with utility providers to obtain and validate consumption data, and with suppliers for ESG assessments and EcoVadis activities. You might also communicate with regulatory bodies or auditors indirectly through reporting. Your role will involve building relationships and ensuring clear, consistent communication across all these groups.
CSR Jobs newsletter
Never miss the next opportunity
Get a curated selection of new CSR, ESG, and sustainability roles in your inbox. No daily noise, just useful opportunities.
You are subscribed
Want more relevant opportunities?
Share your LinkedIn profile so we can better understand the roles that may fit you. This step is optional.
You are all set!
Thanks for joining the CSR Jobs newsletter. Keep an eye on your inbox for sustainability opportunities.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Cookies
CSR Jobs uses analytics and marketing cookies. You can decline without affecting your browsing.
