Wates Group is seeking a senior sustainability adviser to translate environmental commitments into practical action across housing projects in Wales and the West. The role connects site teams with project targets, helping keep sustainability considerations active from early planning through construction and handover.
The work links residential delivery to lower carbon, nature protection and more efficient use of resources. Project data on carbon, energy, water, waste and biodiversity gives regional leaders evidence to guide decisions, while supplier engagement and tender support connect these aims to both delivery and future work. The focus is on making environmental plans tangible on live building sites.
This suits someone with construction or built-environment sustainability experience, sound environmental management knowledge and confidence working with varied project teams. A practical communicator who can interpret data, visit dispersed sites and turn commitments into clear actions will be well placed to contribute.
Job FAQs
What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?
The adviser is the first point of contact for sustainability and environmental matters on regional housing projects. They translate company, client, planning and design commitments into site actions, support implementation through visits, and follow up on audits, inspections and corrective actions.
The role also tracks project performance across carbon, energy, water, waste, biodiversity net gain and premanufactured value. Tender evidence, case studies, supplier work and team briefings help connect project delivery with longer-term environmental goals.
Key learning opportunities for this job
The role could deepen practical knowledge of residential construction and how environmental commitments move from planning and design into site delivery. It offers exposure to whole-life and operational carbon, biodiversity net gain, resource efficiency, environmental audits and supplier practices.
Working with project data and regional reporting may build experience with performance analysis and tools such as Excel or Power BI. The position could also develop familiarity with ISO 14001, planning requirements and professional practice relevant to bodies such as IEMA, CIWM, CIBSE or ICE.
How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?
The strongest fit is likely to have sustainability or environmental management experience in construction, the built environment or a related field, supported by a relevant qualification or equivalent experience. Practical understanding of site environmental management, audits and corrective actions is important.
They should be comfortable interpreting data, maintaining clear audit trails and managing several projects across dispersed locations. Clear communication with site teams, designers, commercial colleagues and suppliers matters, while residential experience, ISO 14001 knowledge and professional-body membership are useful additions.
Advice to stand out and make a successful application
Use examples from construction or comparable project settings to show how you turned an environmental commitment into a measurable site action. Where possible, explain the baseline, your role, the evidence collected and the outcome for carbon, waste, water, biodiversity or resource use.
Make the link between field work and reporting clear. Include examples of audits and corrective actions, supplier engagement, tender contributions, training or data analysis, and describe how you managed competing deadlines across projects. If you have residential experience or knowledge of ISO 14001, planning requirements or RIBA stages, identify it specifically.
What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?
The role is likely to focus on environmental performance in residential construction, especially carbon, energy, water, waste, biodiversity net gain and resource efficiency. It connects commitments made during planning, design and tendering with action on live sites.
Supplier engagement and responsible sourcing extend that focus into the supply chain. Reporting and case studies can help regional teams understand performance and carry lessons from one project to another.
What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?
A likely challenge is turning varied company, client, planning and design requirements into clear actions that site teams can deliver while construction progresses. The adviser will need to balance practical site support with reporting, audits, tender deadlines and follow-up on corrective actions.
Working across dispersed projects may also make consistent data collection and communication harder. Suppliers and project teams can have different priorities, so progress may depend on explaining requirements clearly and keeping evidence reliable.
How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?
A day could combine a visit to a housing site with discussions about environmental commitments, a review of inspection findings and follow-up on corrective actions. The adviser might then update performance data or check supporting evidence for carbon, water, waste or biodiversity reporting.
Other days may involve reviewing tender requirements, working with procurement on supplier information, preparing a case study or delivering a toolbox talk. The balance is likely to shift with project stages and regional deadlines.
What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?
The position could build a broad record of environmental work across residential projects, from early project requirements through construction and performance reporting. This experience may support progression into regional sustainability management or more specialist work in carbon, biodiversity, environmental assurance or responsible procurement.
There may also be scope to develop reporting, audit and supplier-engagement skills, alongside professional development through a relevant industry body. Exposure to bids and regional performance could provide experience for roles with wider project or business responsibility.
The main stakeholders you might be interacting with
Key contacts are likely to include site and project teams, regional leaders, designers, commercial colleagues and procurement staff. The adviser works with them to interpret requirements, support delivery, review performance and address audit findings.
Suppliers and the wider supply chain are relevant to carbon reduction, responsible sourcing and resource efficiency. Clients and planning-related contacts may also shape project expectations, while bid teams use evidence and case studies to communicate environmental performance.
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.