Sustainability Consultant

Full time, Permanent.

About us:

BDP is a leading, global, multidisciplinary design practice united by a shared purpose: to design a world that’s built for good. For more than 60 years, we've been solving problems, creating innovative spaces, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From the start, we've been pioneers in the world of design, and our legacy is built on the meaningful, people-centred places we've brought to life.

We are a diverse, international practice of architects, engineers, designers, and urbanists. We work closely with our clients, users, and communities to craft spaces for living, working, learning, and enjoying life across the globe. With studios spanning the UK, Ireland, Europe, Asia, and North America, our reach is as broad as our expertise. And since joining forces with Japan’s Nippon Koei in 2016, our ability to deliver integrated, impactful design has only grown stronger.

Our work is rooted in creativity, quality, and collaboration. We believe that great design removes barriers and opens new possibilities, all while meeting the demands of a constantly evolving world. Whether we’re designing homes, workplaces, or public spaces, we always put people at the heart of our thinking, ensuring that the environments we create are not just functional, but also inclusive, beautiful, and socially and environmentally responsible.

We’re proud of the places we've shaped and the lives we've touched, and we are committed to continuing our mission of designing a better, more connected world—one that leaves every place better than we found it.

Our Sustainability Group provides a wide range of services across building design to both internal and external clients. Our current suite of services include:

• Sustainability strategies and bespoke frameworks
• Net zero carbon strategies (operational and embodied carbon)
• Environmental assessments, including BREEAM, LEED, SKA and WELL
• Production of planning documentation, including Sustainability and Energy Statements for Planning
• Ecological assessment and consultancy
• In-use and post-occupancy evaluation and building optimisation
• Knowledge sharing and upskilling of the practice
• BDP internal environmental management

The role:

We are seeking a sustainability professional to lead and assist the delivery of environmental certification across a variety of projects. With demonstrable experience in BREEAM, WELL, Ska and LEED, the successful candidate will work with clients and design teams from early stage design to project completion, across various sectors including workplace, healthcare, education, historic, and sci-tech.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the delivery of environmental certification, with support from senior members of the team.
• Reviewing project details and developing targets for environmental certification and opportunities to enhance sustainable outcomes.
• Delivering workshops to communicate sustainability requirements to internal and external team members.
• Providing support and guidance to design teams in developing compliant and robust design strategies and associated evidence.
• Supporting planning applications
• LCA assessments
• Construction site monitoring
• Reviewing evidence and completing validation statements and QA processes for submission to third party certification organisations.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to be involved in the following workstreams:

• Net zero carbon strategies and assessments (both operational and embodied)
• Material lifecycle assessments (embodied carbon assessments)
• Circularity assessments
• Post occupancy evaluations
• Environmental management systems

The successful candidate will join a team of specialist consultants working across all areas of the built environment. They will have experience of the planning, design, and construction industries (and associated processes) and possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, resulting in the ability to articulate complex ideas and concepts effectively to clients with interdisciplinary teams. They will be able to demonstrate an ability to multi-task and have exemplary organisational skills.

Their expertise should be borne from an enthusiasm for environmental sustainability, through the practical implementation of strategies that support environmental, social and economic sustainability at local, national and global levels. They will truly enjoy their work, maintaining a keen interest in the fast-paced agenda, and will be driven to develop the role and make a positive contribution to projects by advocating change.

Qualifications and previous experience:

Required:

• A formal qualification in a sustainability/environmental management/built environment subject
• A BREEAM Assessor qualification and/or BREEAM AP status and a minimum of two years’ experience working on BREEAM projects
• Experience of delivering LEED, Ska or WELL Building Standard assessments (WELL AP and LEED AP qualification desirable)
• Previous relevant experience working in the field of sustainability
• Working knowledge of environmental and sustainability legislation and its applicability to UK development.
• The drive to explore new or emerging themes and dissemination as appropriate
• Confidence in preparing and delivering presentations to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
• Exemplary written and spoken English, with experience of technical report writing
• Experience of using materials life cycle tools and software such as OneClick LCA
• Experience of carrying out circularity assessments and consultancy

Group Objectives:

• To evolve and expand the knowledge of the organisation, raising the company’s profile for delivering consistently environmentally conscious places and buildings
• To ensure that the company develops and expands its environmental and sustainability services internally and externally, working to influence design proposals and lift design quality
• To become accepted as a resource for sustainable design advocacy and creativity, working closely with different teams to provide low impact, healthy and value added design solutions
• To work with the studios, profession heads and board of directors to ensure the sustainability agenda is communicated effectively throughout the practice
• To work to reduce the environmental impact of our day-to-day operations in line with our ISO 14001 and 50001 certification.
• To be regarded as a thought leader for aspects of the sustainability agenda.

BDP offers:

In return, BDP can offer you a wide range of learning opportunities to encourage personal and professional career development. From sponsorship to profession-led events, we also offer annual appraisals and a mentoring program which is supported by our online internal learning platform.

We are committed to being an employer of choice and offer a competitive remuneration and benefits package as well as interesting work, a rewarding and friendly environment, excellent office space, and a respect for the work-life balance of our people through hybrid working. All permanent employees can participate in BDP’s stakeholder pension arrangement to which the company contributes, the BDP Profit Share Scheme and tax-efficient Smart Benefits, Life Insurance, Long Term Sickness Insurance, Private Medical insurance and health screening, interest-free season ticket loans and enhanced maternity and paternity provision, plus many more.

We offer regular international and studio-based social, sporting, and charitable activities. Some recent events include themed month-end socials, a hiking club, wellbeing webinars, and toolbox talks. Our variety of employee forums drives the development of new ideas, giving everyone the platform to have a voice and be heard. To find out in more detail about what BDP can offer you, please follow: https://www.bdp.com/en/careers-at-bdp/why-join-bdp.

To apply:

To apply for the role please click on the ‘Apply’ button below the vacancy. You will then need to complete the online application form and attach an up-to-date CV with a cover letter (<300 words) that outlines your experience in fulfilling the above job description. Once submitted, your application will then be passed on to the recruiting director for review. If successful, you will be notified by our system inviting you to an interview.

BDP is actively fostering an inclusive organisation where people can be themselves and everyone has a sense of belonging. We want our teams to be diverse at every level, reflecting the communities we design for. As designers, we will create spaces for all that promote equity, wellbeing and participation within the built environment. We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different skills, professional and life experiences, to join us and help us to achieve our aspirations. We also welcome applications from candidates who wish to work flexibly. BDP also operates a hybrid working policy.

No third party or agency CVs will be accepted for this role.