Head of Property Sustainability and Sustainable Design

Head of Property Sustainability and Sustainable Design 
£80,000 to £90,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 4) 
Home-based within the UK with occasional travel to our head office in Manchester city centre

As this role is linked to a business case, any ‘at risk’ colleagues who apply will be given priority. Please make sure you tick the ‘at risk’ box on your application if this is applicable.

We’re looking for a Head of Property Sustainability & Sustainable Design to lead our sustainability agenda within Co-op’s Property team. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of Co-op’s estate, delivering on our sustainability strategy while creating commercial value and positive social impact.

Why this role matters

At Co-op, we’re moving forward while others step back. Our goal is simple: deliver more for our communities and the planet. This role is key to achieving that. You’ll lead a team that embeds sustainability into every property decision, helping us reach net zero for scope 1 and 2 emissions, cut water and resource use, boost biodiversity, and build climate resilience. It’s about balancing environmental goals with commercial benefits.

What you’ll do

• Lead and develop the Property Sustainability & Sustainable Design team, role-modelling Co-op values and inclusive leadership
• Define and deliver the property sustainability strategy, aligned with Co-op’s wider sustainability goals
• Manage sustainability risks and ensure robust mitigation plans
• Drive the development of climate resilience strategies and biodiversity planning across our estate
• Oversee sustainable building design and our Sustainability Showcase Stores programme
• Make sure sustainability requirements are met in large-scale property projects
• Take accountability for property sustainability reporting as part of Co-op’s annual sustainability reporting
• Engage with external networks to share best practice and champion innovation
• Prioritise resources to address the most material sustainability needs
• Deliver initiatives within agreed budgets and timelines, challenging stakeholders to prioritise sustainability

What you’ll bring

We’re looking for someone who has:

• Experience leading sustainability teams in a large organisation
• Knowledge of sustainability within the property sector would be beneficial 
• Strategic thinking and commercial acumen
• Experience managing capital and revenue budgets
• Excellent leadership skills and the ability to build high-performing teams
• Strong communication skills to simplify complex ideas
• Ability to influence and challenge stakeholders to get the right results

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays 
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare 
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• Coaching and training to support your career development
• Wagestream app – giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn

Building a diverse environment

We’re actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.

We'll ask whether you’d like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.
If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we’ll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.

You can find out more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

You can find out more about the Disability Confident scheme at Disability Confident Scheme - Co-op Colleagues and more about our commitments to diversity and inclusion at Diversity and Inclusion