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Sustainability Change Lead for Clean Air Care

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust • United Kingdom • Added on Jul 9, 2026
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This role centers on leading the Clean Air Care project, an innovative initiative that integrates air pollution data directly into patient electronic records. You will oversee the operational rollout of this pilot, ensuring that clinical staff are equipped to provide personalized exposure reduction advice during routine consultations. Beyond the headline project, you will manage various workstreams within the Trust’s broader Green Plan framework.

Developing a tangible link between environmental variables and clinical outcomes is at the heart of this mission. By bridging the gap between data and patient care, you help the NHS address climate change as a direct population health issue. This work is pivotal for a Trust aiming to lead the world’s first net-zero national health service while simultaneously improving immediate respiratory health for over one million Londoners.

This suits someone who feels comfortable navigating complex healthcare systems and enjoys merging data-driven insights with behavioral change. You should have a background in sustainability leadership or project management in clinical settings.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

You will be responsible for the operational implementation of the Clean Air Care project, which involves embedding environmental data into patient electronic records. This includes developing training programs to educate clinicians on delivering personalized air pollution advice to patients during their visits. Additionally, you will provide corporate leadership across various Green Plan workstreams. This involves project management, drafting detailed progress reports using PDSA cycles, and providing expert advice on respiratory health innovations. Your work ensures that sustainability goals are not just administrative targets but are integrated into clinical practice.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain deep expertise in sustainable healthcare delivery and the emerging field of planetary health. You will learn how to interface environmental data with sophisticated Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems, a skill set that is increasingly valuable as the NHS accelerates its Net Zero roadmap. Furthermore, the role offers exposure to biomedical research and innovation through the Trust’s partnership with Imperial College London. You will refine your skills in behavioral change science and complex stakeholder management within one of the largest acute hospital trusts in the UK.

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

The ideal candidate should have significant experience in change management or sustainability leadership, preferably within a healthcare or public sector environment. You need to be adept at managing clinical and non-clinical projects simultaneously while maintaining a focus on long-term strategic goals. Technical familiarity with health records or data systems is highly beneficial, as is a solid understanding of the Public Health implications of air quality. Strong communication skills are essential to engage with clinicians and external partners effectively.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Focus your application on your ability to bridge the gap between operational delivery and strategic vision. Highlight specific examples where you have successfully implemented a new process or technology within a large, complex organization, particularly if it involved multi-departmental cooperation. Since this role is funded by the Imperial Health Charity, demonstrating an understanding of grant-funded project governance and reporting would be a significant advantage. Tailor your cover letter to reflect how you would practically encourage busy clinicians to adopt new sustainability-focused workflows.

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

The primary focus is on the intersection of environmental health and clinical outcomes, specifically air quality. You will be at the forefront of the Trust's efforts to treat climate change as a health emergency by reducing patient exposure to pollutants. You will also support the Green Plan’s 12-goal framework, which includes decarbonization and waste reduction. Your role is to ensure these high-level environmental objectives are translated into practical, sustainable clinical innovations that benefit both the planet and the local community.

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

One of the main challenges will be engaging time-pressed clinicians and integrating new tasks into their already heavy workloads. Successfully embedding air pollution advice into routine consultations requires tact, persistence, and clear evidence of patient benefit. Managing the specific requirements of charity-funded projects, including strict reporting timelines and risk assessments, can also be demanding. You must balance the immediate needs of the Clean Air Care project with the broader responsibilities of the Trust’s regional Green Plan workstreams.

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

A typical day might begin with a meeting of the Sustainability Team to align on Green Plan priorities, followed by a consultation with IT specialists regarding the EPR data integration. You might spend the afternoon developing training materials or workshops for clinical staff across the five hospital sites. Your day will likely include drafting project reports or analyzing PDSA cycle results to measure the effectiveness of the current rollout. You will also spend time liaising with external partners and sector colleagues to share best practices and ensure the project remains on track.

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

This role offers high visibility within the Strategy, Research, and Innovation Directorate, providing a pathway to more senior sustainability or operational management roles within the NHS. Being part of a world-renowned biomedical research center means your work could set a national template for clinical sustainability. You will have the opportunity to lead high-impact projects that are at the cutting edge of the 'Green NHS' movement. This experience positions you as a specialist in the clinical application of ESG goals, a field seeing rapid growth across global healthcare systems.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will work closely with clinicians, nurses, and allied health professionals to implement the personalized air pollution advice framework. Internally, you will report to the Sustainability Clinical and Innovation Lead and collaborate with the Strategy and Research teams. External stakeholders include the Imperial Health Charity, which funds the project, as well as academic partners at Imperial College London. You may also engage with public health bodies and other NHS trusts to coordinate on regional air quality initiatives.

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