Group Deputy Head of Sustainability

• Support the Group Associate Director of Sustainability to monitor and deliver the Green Plan, aligning with NHS Net Zero Building Standard, Greener NHS policy, and statutory rules.
• Deputise at internal and external meetings as required, representing the Group with confidence and credibility.
• Lead sustainability programmes across estates, facilities, procurement, supply chain, travel, transport, medicines, clinical practice, waste and digital.
• Partner with clinical, operational, and corporate teams to embed sustainable practices.
• Manage emissions data. Produce accurate, timely reporting for committees, boards, regulators, and national NHS returns.
• Identify, develop, and secure funding. Build robust business cases proving financial, environmental and health benefits.
• Lead, develop and motivate multidisciplinary teams across the Group.
• Experience in sustainability, environmental, estates, or strategic change roles, ideally within the NHS.
• Track record of delivering large-scale change and measurable carbon reductions.
• Knowledge of the Greener NHS programme, net zero policy, carbon accounting, and climate legislation
• Excellent communication (written/verbal), negotiation, presentation, and data analysis skills for non-specialists.
• Collaborative leader who builds trust from frontline teams to the board.
• Committed to NHS values and passionate about sustainability's link to population health.

Desirable

• IOSH Health and Safety Qualification
• Environmental/ Waste Qualification
• Membership of relevant professional body such as the Institute of Environmental management and Assessment (IEMA) or equivalent
• Project management qualification

Essential

• Specialist knowledge of national and local environmental and sustainability issues
• Operate with a high level of autonomy, working independently and without supervision in the delivery of the sustainability programme in line with national guidelines.
• Highly developed specialist knowledge across the range of environmental and sustainability practices, underpinned by theoretical knowledge from study and relevant practical experience
• Knowledge of relevant NHS guidance
• Able to motivate and influence others, and to develop shared ownership at all levels and to respond to the needs of a wide range of stakeholders
• Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly
• Standard keyboard skills with computer application experience including Microsoft Word, Excel with an aptitude for presenting and reading data and narrative reports
• Knowledge of reducing energy and waste usage and reducing carbon emissions
• Able to plan and manage a delegated budget, expenditure and cost control on delegated projects, ensuring that requirements are identified for staffing and training
• Experience of delivering an environmental or sustainability role within a complex organisation
• Wide ranging experience of leading change initiatives through to successful delivery
• Experience of managing projects across teams and providers; using the full project cycle
• Experience of building strong and effective relationships with diverse stakeholders both internally and externally
• Experience of preparing business plans, grant applications, strategies or other similar documents
• Experience of carrying out environmental audits and surveys
• Experience of developing, submitting and delivering funding bids.

Essential

• Good communication - verbal/written
• Be able to work on own initiative
• Works well with in a team
• Demonstrates understanding of confidentiality
• Participate in standard setting and research projects
• Evidence showing clinical and professional development
• To be able to plan, assess, evaluate and implement a project.
• Facilitate learning of others.

Essential

• Highly effective professional leadership
• Ability to work across different organisational sites
• Professional appearance
• Ability to successfully maintain professional relationships
• Self- motivated and self-driven
• Ability to challenge the status quo
• Highly motivated