Advert
This post is currently open to employees of Cardiff University only. Please do not apply if you do not have a current contract of employment with the University.
Internal Applicants Only - Sustainability Engagement Officer
About You
We are seeking an exceptional candidate with significant experience in delivering and communicating sustainability related behaviour change and engagement programmes in complex organisations. You will have excellent communication, stakeholder management and networking skills to influence and engage a diverse and vibrant community within the University. You will conduct yourself in a professional manner, building effective relationships with stakeholders to encourage positive change.
About The Role
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the growing Carbon Net Zero Team and help shape the sustainability performance of a world-class institution. The team is based within the Estates and Campus Facilities Division which has responsibility for looking after the university buildings and infrastructure.
The Carbon Net Zero Team are a major contributor to delivering on the University’s commitment to be net zero carbon for scope 1 and 2 by 2030. This role will be pivotal in helping the university reduce its carbon emissions. The main purpose of the role is to engage and assist schools, colleges, and professional service departments with the implementation of positive environmental practices by offering advice, guidance and encouragement. You will also be responsible for helping support the communication for net zero projects and programmes led by the Estates and Campus Facilities department.
To Be Successful In This Role You Will Have
- A Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience in a relevant subject area
- Substantial experience of developing and delivering in-person and digital communication and engagement campaigns, training courses, workshops, and presentations to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders within the sustainability discipline.
- Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people.
- Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with range of potential outcomes.
This is a full time, open ended post.
Salary: £33,482 - £36,130 per annum (Grade 5)
We Offer
- a very generous employer contributory pension scheme;
- a generous annual leave allowance (37 days) plus statutory bank holidays, so that you can enjoy a positive work life balance;
- an excellent reward package that recognises the talents of our diverse workforce;
- a wide range of personal and professional development opportunities.
Closing date: Thursday, 11 September 2025
External applications are currently not being considered for this post. If the decision is made to open the post to external candidates, the strapline at the top will be removed and you will be given ample time to apply – please check back periodically for details.
Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds who have the ambition to create a University which seeks to fulfil our social, cultural and economic obligation to Cardiff, Wales, and the world. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.
Applications may be submitted in Welsh, and an application submitted in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than an application submitted in English.
Job Description
The Sustainability Engagement Officer is part of the Carbon Net Zero Team. Based within the Estates and Campus Facilities Division. The Carbon Net Zero Team are a major contributor to delivering on the University’s commitment to be net zero carbon for scope 1 and 2 by 2030. This role will assist with supporting the University’s strategic focus on sustainability and net zero carbon through the delivery of effective communications and University-wide behaviour change and engagement programmes.
Job Purpose
This new role, working within the Carbon Net Zero team within the Estates and Campus Facilities department, will engage and assist academic and professional service departments with the implementation of sustainability practices, with a focus on energy reduction. Reporting to the Net Zero Programme Manager, the individual will be required to engage with relevant stakeholders, including senior management across the university to support positive change towards net zero.
Duties and Responsibilities
Key Duties
- Provide professional advice and guidance on sustainability and carbon reduction processes and procedures to internal and external customers that will have institute wide impacts, using judgement and creativity to suggest the most appropriate course of action where appropriate, and ensuring complex and conceptual issues are understood.
- Work closely with the University’s Environmental Compliance Officers (ECOs), with support from the Net Zero Team to develop and deliver energy efficiency engagement and behaviour change campaigns to reduce energy wastage and maximise energy efficiency.
- Take responsibility for resolving issues independently within sustainability engagement projects and initiatives where they fall within set role objectives
- Investigate, monitor, and evaluate the effectiveness of the sustainability initiatives and behaviour change campaigns, creating recommendation reports, and communicating the outcome.
- Establish working relationships and develop appropriate communication links with key contacts across Schools/Directorates and others as required to encourage and support their involvement in sustainability projects and initiatives.
- Create specific working groups from colleagues across the University to develop and deliver energy efficiency engagement and behaviour change campaigns to reduce energy wastage and maximise energy efficiency, to achieve university sustainability objectives.
- Plan and deliver specific small scale sustainability communication and engagement projects, co-ordinating and supervising project teams created as needed. This will include the University’s annual sustainability week, Green Impact, LEAF and others as required.
- Develop and deliver effective in-person and digital communication and engagement campaigns, training courses, workshops, and presentations to a wide range of university stakeholders in support of the University’s Sustainability objectives, leading to sustainable behaviour change across the University.
- Undertake a variety of administrative duties to support the department. This will include communication support on carbon reduction projects implemented by the Carbon Net Zero team and other sustainability leads across the University.
- Instruct and guide stakeholders across the University including staff and students, to understand how simple changes to behaviour can reduce energy usage and associated carbon emissions.
- Work closely with other colleagues responsible for communicating strategic priorities, e.g. research, civic mission, and education.
- Keep abreast of sustainability engagement activities in Russell Group/other comparable Universities and share best practice.
Job Description Continued In Additional Information....
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
Qualifications And Education
- Degree/NVQ 4 or equivalent Professional membership/experience in relevant subject
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- Substantial experience of developing and delivering in-person and digital communication and engagement campaigns, training courses, workshops, and presentations to a wide range of internal and external stakeholders within the sustainability discipline.
- Able to demonstrate professional knowledge within sustainability and experience of stakeholder engagement to give advice and guidance to internal and external customers, enabling a desired change in behaviour.
- IT literate in Microsoft Office and knowledge of communications applications/platforms and social media platforms
Customer Service, Communication and Team Working
- Ability to communicate conceptually detailed and complex information effectively and professionally with a wide range of people, in both writing and face to face.
- Evidence of ability to explore customers’ needs and adapt the service accordingly to ensure a quality service is delivered.
- Proven ability to develop networks in order to contribute towards the university near and long-term sustainability ambitions.
Planning, Analysis and Problem solving
- Evidence of ability to solve expansive problems using initiative and creativity; identifying and proposing practical solutions and resolving problems with range of potential outcomes.
- Excellent organisational skills, including evidence of ability to work unsupervised to deadlines, planning and setting priorities for own work and that of others and monitoring progress.
- Evidence of ability to undertake and deliver specific projects and supervise short term project teams.
Desirable Criteria
- Fluency in Welsh, written and oral
- Experience of working in a Higher Education environment
- Postgraduate/Professional qualification
Additional Information
Job Description continued....
General
- Respond in a timely and accurate fashion to queries raised by staff, students and senior staff.
- Manage your own learning and development in association with your line manager.
- Undergo personal and professional development that is appropriate, and which will enhance performance.
- Ensure that an understanding of the importance of confidentiality is applied when undertaking all duties
- Abide by University policies on Health and Safety and Equality and Diversity
- Perform other duties occasionally which are not included above, but which will be consistent with the role.
Salary Range Min.
33,482
Salary Range Max.
36,130
Job Category
Estates
Grade
Grade 5
