Head of Sustainability (Retrofit)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Overview of the Role:

An experienced and forward-thinking Head of Sustainability is required for a senior interim position within a housing-focused organisation. Reporting to the Director of Sustainability, this role will form part of the senior leadership team.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in delivering the organisation's long-term corporate sustainability goals, ensuring alignment with regulatory expectations, stakeholder priorities, and customer values.

This leadership role is central to improving Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings, reducing fuel poverty, progressing the journey to net zero, and ensuring compliance with changing government housing and carbon reduction policies. The post-holder will focus on planning and reporting energy efficiency improvements and decarbonisation initiatives across the organisation's housing stock, including the development and implementation of retrofit strategies aligned to sustainability targets and regulatory standards.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership

Foster a culture aligned with organisational values and empower team members to thrive.

Lead by example, setting a high standard for behaviour and performance.

Provide leadership, coaching, and support to direct reports and their teams to deliver on objectives and develop their capabilities.

Support change initiatives and encourage innovation and adaptability.

Organise regular team meetings to monitor performance and drive progress on agreed action plans.

Monitor and act on employee engagement levels within the team.

Core Tasks and Outputs

Retrofit Strategy and Performance

Lead delivery of the organisation's retrofit strategy across various housing types, ensuring quality and value for money.

Develop and maintain a roadmap to achieving EPC C across the housing stock, taking into account funding and cost-effectiveness.

Collaborate with the Director of Sustainability to establish objectives and KPIs for retrofit and EPC C targets.

Support development of dashboards to monitor performance towards 2030 EPC C targets and other KPIs.

Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of retrofit performance and compliance.

EPC and Energy Data

Stay updated on EPC reform and policy changes, assessing implications for housing strategy.

Support integration of energy data systems and EPC databases.

Enable the use of tools and methods for identifying retrofit priorities and interventions.

Provide regular reports on progress, risks, and opportunities.

Communication and Collaboration

Produce best practice case studies and reports to showcase achievements and sector learning.

Collaborate with residents, internal teams, and contractors to ensure successful delivery.

Promote resident engagement and minimise disruption during retrofit works.

Monitor external trends and funding opportunities to support innovation.

Funding Leadership

Lead planning, coordination, and submission of grant funding applications.

Manage post-installation compliance and reporting, including meeting TrustMark requirements.

Heat Networks

Oversee heat network operations and ensure compliance with the latest regulations and performance standards for communal heating systems.

Financial Management

Plan, set, and monitor budgets in accordance with financial procedures.

Promote value-for-money in all purchases and operational activities.

Oversee and maintain the sustainability function's Value for Money action plan.

Communication

Support senior leadership with updates, reporting, and board-level communications.

Build strong relationships with external organisations, regulatory bodies, and professional advisors.

Oversee relationships with service providers and manage contract renewals and procurement