Sustainability Officer

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.

The Chief Operating Officer Group works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities.

The group is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Communications, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Private Office, Security, Estates and Information.

We’re looking to fill two roles within HOPS Environmental Sustainability Team:

Role 1 is a Sustainability Officer (Climate Change, Net Zero and Water) who will play a key role in identifying/developing the suite of policies and action plans to deliver targets set out in the Greening Government Commitments (GGC) targets and Home Office’s Climate Change Adaptation, Net Zero and Water Strategies. The role holder will actively work to reduce our carbon emissions, better manage our water consumption and make our estate and operations more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Role 2 is a Sustainability Officer (Circular Economy and Ecology) who will play a key role in identifying/developing the suite of policies and action plans to deliver targets set out in the Greening Government Commitments (GGC) targets and Home Office’s Circular Economy, Waste and Ecology Strategies.

Both roles will sit within Home Office Property Services (HOPS) and the role holders will work to deliver our Greening Government Commitments (GGC) and wider environmental aims.

Role 1 Climate Change, Net Zero and Water

You will have responsibility for identifying and developing policies and action plans for the departments net zero, climate change adaptation and water strategies.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Working closely with the Sustainability Strategy and Policy Lead, subject matter experts and wider stakeholders to identify, develop and implement actions to support delivery of the department’s Climate Change Action Plan, Net Zero target, Water Management Plan and related GGC targets.
• Monitoring and reporting progress against internal and external targets and commitments, in collaboration with the Sustainability Data and Reporting Team.
• Embedding regulatory requirements and emerging best practice into standards for the departments Climate Change and Net Zero policy and procedures, driving sustainable outcomes wherever possible.
• Creating and embedding climate change, net zero and water policy, procedures and guidance into delivery of HOPS wider delivery.
• Providing subject matter expertise and advice on climate change, net zero and water matters, including support and direction to Procurement, Facilities Management, Project Delivery colleagues and our staff and building users.

Role 2: Circular Economy and Ecology

You will have responsibility for identifying and developing policies and action plans for the departments waste & circular economy & ecology strategies.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Working closely with the Sustainability Strategy and Policy Lead, subject matter experts and wider stakeholders to identify, develop and implement actions to support delivery of the Circular Economy strategy and related waste management activities and related GGC targets.
• Monitoring and reporting progress against internal and external targets and commitments, in collaboration with the Sustainability Data and Reporting Team.
• Embedding regulatory requirements and emerging best practice into standards for the departments waste management processes, driving circular economy outcomes wherever possible.
• Providing subject matter expertise advice on circular economy and waste management matters, including support and direction to Procurement, Facilities Management, Project Delivery colleagues and our staff and building users.

Ecology

• Working closely with the Sustainability Strategy and Policy Lead, subject matter experts and wider stakeholders to identify, develop and implement actions to support delivery of the department’s ecology commitments.
• Developing a biodiversity baseline for key land holdings on the Home Office estate, develop an action plan and manage the implementation of nature recovery initiatives.
• Providing technical advice, guidance, training, resources and support to project delivery teams in delivering voluntary nature recovery initiatives and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG+10) requirements for construction projects, working with stakeholders such as project teams, local authorities and local interest groups to implement best practice nature outcomes for our property projects.
• Overseeing the management and maintenance of Home Office’s land holdings, driving continuous improvement of our natural capital assets.

Broader Responsibilities (applies to both roles):

• Ensuring that all areas of responsibility drive environmental improvement and support the government’s sustainability agenda and targets.
• Building constructive working relationships with Home Office and HOPS stakeholders and third-party contractors to support delivery of their objectives.
• Maintaining a culture of responsiveness, responsibility, continuous improvement, mutual support and pride in where we work.

You will be expected to keep abreast of current and emerging innovation on all aspects of sustainability, with particular focus on your own areas of responsibility and factor this into future interventions.

You will be crosscutting across different areas of sustainability and you will be required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Working pattern

Due to the business requirements of these roles, they are only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available.

Training

You will receive full training and support to perform your preferred role.

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