Job Title: Sustainability and Climate Change Manager
Closing Date: 28 June 2024
Department: Health, Safety and Sustainability
Location: Falkirk with Hybrid Working
Hours per week: 37
Grade: F – starting from £45,621
Job Description
Scottish Canals are the custodians of the nation’s canal network and surrounding estates. Our vision is to invest in the canal network to generate lasting benefit for people and communities; celebrating their industrial heritage, ensuring they offer quality green and blue spaces for people and communities and contribute to Scotland’s resilience in tackling climate change.
Our success is rooted in valuing the contributions of our entire team – we care, we create, and we collaborate to continue to deliver a whole range of activities from boating, paddling, walking, and wheeling to living and playing and improving canals for our visitors and communities. We also work collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to contribute to a wealthier, fairer, greener, and more resilient Scotland.
As an employer we offer a truly unique opportunity to be part of our team, help us realise our vision and contribute to safeguarding our heritage and ensuring our canals flourish now and in the future.
We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Sustainability and Climate Change Manager to join the Health, Safety and Sustainability team based in Falkirk (base may be negotiable). This position will play a significant and pivotal role in setting out our sustainability agenda and leading on the implementation of our Net Zero Carbon Routemap through climate conscious action.
The role is offered on a permanent basis, and with a starting salary of £45,621 (Band F). Working hours are 37 Hours per week, Monday-Friday.
Scottish Canals offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 28 days, plus 10 public holidays, along with enhanced sick pay, discounted shopping vouchers, health cash plan and a contributory pension scheme with up to 10% employer contribution.
Primary responsibilities of this role:
- Provide a visionary leadership approach and management of the Scottish Canals Corporate and Social Responsibility Agenda, specifically in relation to climate change, biodiversity, and sustainability.
- Develop and deliver on strategies, projects, and action plans for Net Zero, and sustainability that align to the Scottish Government’s National Performance Framework as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals and maximising Just Transition opportunities.
- Lead the planning and delivery of significant climate adaption actions for our estate, operations, and heritage assets including offices, visitor attractions, ports, transport, and greenspace as part of our Capital Investment Plan.
- Building and nurturing partnerships with other public bodies, local authorities, private enterprise, and voluntary organisations, which support Scottish Canals’ wider contribution to A Net Zero Nation, Biodiversity and Nature Gain, the Circular Economy, and Natural Capital
- Develop and deliver a robust and effective monitoring and reporting framework for Net Zero and fulfilling Scottish Canals’ annual sustainability statutory reporting requirements including the Public Bodies Climate Change Duties report.
- Working with colleagues across the business to respond to Net Zero adaption by providing support, training, and communications to improve organisational systems and processes.
Skills and experience:
- Significant knowledge and experience of the climate change and sustainability agenda in Scotland, including key legislative and social drivers for change.
- Experience of successfully developing and delivering on Net Zero and sustainability projects and programmes and ideally knowledge of compliance with related regulatory frameworks and standards such as ISO14001, Net Zero Public Buildings Standard, and ISO 50001 Energy Management Systems.
- Relevant experience of leading and delivering on multi-year capital projects including project management, budget/resource management, risk management, change management and reporting.
- A Proven track record in building effective relationships that generate confidence, respect, and collaborative working at all levels, and working with sensitivity and political acuity.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, focused on evidence and insight, able to interpret and contextualise complex information and situations to identify solutions, shape guidance and advice, and embed good practice.
- Strives for continuous improvement, innovation, and efficiency, taking responsibility for managing and improving standards, policies, processes, and governance relating to climate change and sustainability.
- Good awareness of current and innovative sustainability trends with a good understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Educated to degree level, or equivalent experience alongside a relevant qualification in programme or project management.
Personal qualities and abilities
- The ability to be resilient, flexible, and adaptable in your approach to ensure that competing or conflicting demands from different stakeholders can be delivered and commitments can be achieved.
- A commitment to your own personal and professional development to ensure that you keep up to date with the knowledge, skills, and competencies to undertake your role.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to engage, influence and persuade individuals and groups of people about technical concepts in a way that is easy to understand and meaningful to them.
- The ability to apply Scottish Canals values (Care, Collaborate, and Create) and associated behaviours to everything that you do at Scottish Canals.
Scottish Canals reserve the right to close this vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.
For more information and to apply see here.
