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Environment & Sustainability Lead

Cats Protection • United Kingdom • Added on Aug 10, 2026
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As the organization’s environmental specialist, you will take full ownership of the environmental strategy, moving from high-level ESG planning to the practical rollout of a formal management system. You will be the primary driver for carbon reduction across a diverse estate, ensuring that every operational decision—from retail outlets to rescue centers—integrates measurable sustainability targets.

This role matters because it bridges the gap between animal welfare and planetary health within the UK’s largest cat charity. By optimizing energy use and waste management, you directly influence how resources are allocated toward the mission of caring for millions of cats, proving that operational efficiency and ethical stewardship go hand in hand.

This suits someone who is a proactive strategist with a degree in environmental management and the tenacity to influence senior leaders while simultaneously rolling up their sleeves to handle technical data and reporting across a nationwide network of volunteers and professionals.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission of this role is to serve as the resident expert in environmental sustainability, tasked with developing and delivering a robust ESG strategy tailored to a large-scale non-profit. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of environmental planning, from establishing a management system to identifying risks and opportunities in resource use. On a day-to-day level, you will manage environmental data and insights to monitor performance against targets. This involves leading specific initiatives focused on carbon reduction, waste management, and energy efficiency, ensuring that sustainability is not just a policy but a lived practice across the organization's retail and care centers.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this position, you will gain significant experience in implementing a professional environmental management system (EMS) within a complex, multi-site charitable structure. This offers a rare chance to see how ESG principles translate into the third sector, providing unique insights into the intersection of animal welfare and environmental policy. Furthermore, you will sharpen your expertise in carbon accounting and ESG reporting frameworks. Since the role involves representing the charity at sector forums, you will also build a strong professional network and stay at the cutting edge of sustainability trends within the non-profit and fundraising industries.

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

The ideal candidate is a sustainability specialist with a degree in environmental management or equivalent professional standing. You should have a proven track record of developing ESG strategies and successfully embedding them into organizational culture. Strong technical knowledge of carbon management and reporting standards is essential. Beyond technical skills, you must be a persuasive communicator capable of influencing senior stakeholders. We are looking for someone who can translate complex environmental data into actionable insights and who possesses the project management skills necessary to handle multiple workstreams across a geographically dispersed team.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate a clear understanding of the specific operational footprint of a large charity with both retail and animal care facilities. Show how you have previously managed organizational change, as shifting culture is just as important here as the technical data. Tailor your application to show a balance between strategic vision and practical implementation. Highlight your experience with stakeholder engagement at various levels. The recruitment process includes an anonymized application form and video screening, so ensure your written examples clearly quantify your impact on carbon reduction or waste management in previous roles to move past the initial selection phases.

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

The role focuses heavily on the operational footprint of the charity, specifically targeting energy consumption and waste reduction across its nationwide estate. You will be looking at how the organization’s physical assets, including rehoming centers and retail shops, can become more efficient and less carbon-intensive. Additionally, there is a strong focus on governance and reporting. You will likely work on aligning the charity’s activities with modern ESG frameworks, ensuring that sustainability is integrated into the long-term strategic decision-making process and that all outcomes are transparently reported to supporters and regulatory bodies.

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

One of the main challenges will be embedding sustainability into a culture where the primary focus is animal welfare. You will need to demonstrate that environmental improvements support, rather than distract from, the core mission. Managing data collection across a decentralized network of volunteers and regional offices can also be technically difficult. Another hurdle is the diverse nature of the estate. Implementing consistent environmental standards across retail units, administrative offices, and specialized cat centers requires a flexible approach and the ability to solve problems unique to each type of environment while maintaining a unified organizational strategy.

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

A typical day might begin with reviewing energy performance data from across the charity’s sites to identify areas for improvement. You could then move into a virtual meeting with regional officers to discuss the rollout of a new recycling initiative or waste reduction protocol, ensuring the practicalities match the strategy. Your afternoon might involve drafting ESG reports or preparing a presentation for senior leadership on upcoming environmental risks. You may also spend time collaborating with the Health & Safety team to ensure that new sustainability policies are compliant and safely integrated into standard operating procedures.

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

This role offers high visibility, reporting to and presenting at all levels of the organization, which provides a clear path for leadership development. By establishing the charity’s environmental management system from the ground up, you will build a legacy project that serves as a cornerstone of your professional portfolio. There are also opportunities for external thought leadership. As you represent the organization at sector forums and professional networks, you will become a recognized voice in the charity sector’s transition to net zero, potentially leading to broader strategic roles within the non-profit or ESG space.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact closely with the Health & Safety and Environment team, including regional officers who cover the UK. Communication with the Head of Department and senior leadership is frequent, as you will be advising them on strategy and risk management. External stakeholders include professional networks, sector forums, and environmental consultants. Internally, you will also engage with a wide variety of employees and volunteers across retail outlets and cat centers, acting as a collaborative partner to help them implement sustainable practices in their daily work.

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