IHG’s Global Environment Strategy Director sets the company-wide direction for carbon, energy, water and waste, then converts long-term aims into priorities teams can act on. The role leads environmental specialists and helps senior colleagues make choices grounded in complex data and business cases.
At a hotel group operating thousands of properties across more than 100 countries, environmental progress depends on plans that can work across varied hotels and owners. This position connects emissions reduction and resource use with reporting requirements, while preparing IHG for emerging topics such as biodiversity, nature and embodied carbon. Its decisions shape where the company directs environmental effort and investment.
This suits an experienced environmental sustainability leader who can combine technical command of carbon accounting and Science Based Targets with commercial judgment, clear communication and the influence to guide work across a global hospitality business.
Job FAQs
What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?
The director would set global environmental strategies, targets and metrics, and translate the Group Environmental Sustainability Plan into near- and medium-term priorities. The remit spans carbon and energy reduction, water and waste, environmental reporting, and preparation for topics such as biodiversity and embodied carbon.
They would lead specialist team members, oversee strategic initiative budgets, and use data and business cases to inform where IHG focuses its efforts. The position also includes engagement with environmental partners, hotel owners and internal teams, with an overall aim of connecting long-term ambitions to practical delivery.
Key learning opportunities for this job
The role could deepen expertise in applying Science Based Targets and carbon accounting across an international hotel portfolio. It also offers exposure to environmental reporting frameworks including CDP and CSRD, as well as strategy on water, waste, energy and emerging areas such as nature and embodied carbon.
Working with senior colleagues, hotel owners, NGOs and a specialist team may build experience in translating technical evidence into investment choices and business-wide action. The posting does not specify formal training, certifications or a mentorship programme.
How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?
The posting seeks significant environmental sustainability experience, with an equivalent combination of education and work-related experience. A strong candidate would bring technical depth across carbon, energy, water and waste, including carbon accounting and Science Based Targets, as well as experience developing strategies and business cases.
The role also calls for confident analysis of complex datasets, clear communication of technical issues, and the ability to influence senior colleagues across a global organisation. Experience leading specialists and working with external environmental partners would be relevant, though specific qualifications or certifications are not stated.
Advice to stand out and make a successful application
Show how you have turned environmental data into decisions, using a concise example that links analysis, targets, investment or operational choices, and measurable outcomes. Give particular attention to carbon accounting, Science Based Targets and how you have connected strategy with delivery across multiple sites or business units.
For IHG, explain how environmental plans can account for the varied conditions of hotels and owners across markets. Prepare to discuss how you would balance carbon and energy priorities with water, waste, reporting obligations and emerging topics, while making a clear case to senior decision-makers.
What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?
The role is directly focused on IHG’s environmental strategy, especially carbon and energy reduction, water and waste. It includes environmental targets and metrics, the Group Environmental Sustainability Plan, and reporting through voluntary and regulatory frameworks such as CDP and CSRD.
The remit also covers strategic preparation for biodiversity, nature and embodied carbon. Given IHG’s international hotel network, the work is likely to involve adapting priorities for different locations and engaging owners and environmental partners, although the posting does not specify particular project outcomes.
What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?
A central challenge could be translating group-wide targets into practical priorities across a large, internationally distributed hotel portfolio, where local operating conditions and owner considerations may differ. The role must also connect complex environmental data to commercially useful choices without losing sight of environmental impact.
Balancing established work on carbon, energy, water and waste with reporting demands and newer topics such as nature and embodied carbon may require careful prioritisation. Building agreement among senior colleagues, owners and external partners is another likely test.
How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?
A day could combine reviewing environmental performance data with discussions about targets, budgets and the delivery of carbon, energy, water or waste initiatives. The director may also work with team leads to turn long-term plans into near-term priorities and prepare input for senior decision-makers.
Other parts of the day could involve environmental reporting, technical questions from hotel owners or colleagues, and conversations with NGOs or other partners. The mix is likely to vary with reporting deadlines, strategy decisions and the needs of IHG’s global teams.
What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?
The position offers scope to deepen leadership experience across a broad environmental portfolio, including carbon, energy, water, waste and reporting. It could also build expertise in applying environmental strategy across a global hospitality group and in preparing for areas such as biodiversity and embodied carbon.
Because the role works with senior colleagues, owners, NGOs and specialist team members, it may provide wider exposure to business planning and external engagement. The posting does not describe a defined promotion route, so progression would depend on organisational needs and future opportunities.
The main stakeholders you might be interacting with
Internal stakeholders include the Senior Manager, Decarbonisation Delivery, the Global Environment Manager for Water and Waste, senior colleagues, corporate teams and hotel owners. The director would work with them on environmental targets, practical delivery, technical guidance and business choices.
External relationships include global environmental NGO partners. The role may also support engagement with Owners’ Associations and provide environmental input relevant to hotels, guests and shareholders.
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