Job Description
Head of Sustainability
Position Details
Executive Support Division, Professional Services
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £51,799 to £60,022. With potential progression once in post to £78,265 a year
Grade 9
Full time
Permanent
Closing Date: 4th January 2022
Interview Date: Please note that first round interviews will take place on 13th January, and final interviews on 26th January.
Background
The University of Birmingham's Strategic Framework 2030 sets out our ambition to be one of the world's leading Universities. With world-class research and outstanding global education as our core mission, we will strive to increase the volume and quality of our research to make an even greater difference to the world around us. We will be the UK's exemplary civic university, remaining firmly committed to our foundations in the highly diverse communities, people, and economy of the city of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Birmingham 2030 strengthens our commitment to sustainability as one of the core pillars of our activity. We will use our research and education to make a major global contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and have set out a headline aim to be net zero carbon for scope 1 and 2 by 2035 and overall by 2045. As a research-intensive University founded on social responsibility, we have the expertise and partnerships to play a significant role in tackling global sustainability challenges.
Job role
The Head of Sustainability is a new senior role created by the University with a wide-ranging remit to lead and coordinate delivery of the sustainability goals and priorities across the University, as set out in our Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework. Working with members of the University Executive Board, senior academics, the Directors of Estates, Campus Services, Finance and their teams, and staff and students across the institution, you will support the University to deliver our sustainability ambitions.
This is an exciting opportunity to be the professional lead for sustainability in a large and complex institution which is an anchor institution for our region. You will develop an overall plan to deliver our ambitious sustainability targets, ensure we are collecting and monitoring the data we need, and provide expertise and positive challenge to ensure we achieve our targets. You will work with academics who are at the forefront of tackling climate change and will support culture change amongst staff and students across the University to enable us to operate more sustainably. Above all, you will make things happen.
You will be working in an organisation with a long record of substantial contributions to issues of sustainability through a significant programme of related research, education, and operational activities, including:
• A substantial partnership with Siemens focused on a pathway to net zero for scope 1 and 2 by 2035.
• Carbon accounting and biodiversity to deliver scope 3 targets by 2045.
• Significant impact in climate-related research and practice which is highly embedded across all five Colleges of the University. Highlights include: Tyseley Energy Park, which is central to initiatives to decarbonise energy across the city of Birmingham; the Birmingham Institute for Forest Research, our unique study of how temperate forests manage high levels of carbon dioxide; partnering with business to investigate and develop innovative solutions to achieve responsible business success. studies of gender inequality, legislation and accounting.
• A joint founder of the World Alliance of Universities on Carbon Neutrality, which brings together 28 global universities aiming to boost their contribution to fighting climate change and achieving net zero targets.
• A senior academic working to embed sustainability in all our educational programmes.
• A senior academic leading a research institute in sustainability, co-ordinating and developing global research excellence and profile, including engagement in COP26 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• A vibrant community of staff and students, including our Guild of Students, championing sustainability on our campuses.
• An responsible investment strategy devised to deliver the principles of environmental, social and governance investing, supported by regular reporting on the areas of investment.
• The University is a member of the UN Global Compact, a signatory to the Race to Zero for universities and colleges, and a member of the COP26 universities network.
Based within the Executive Support Division, you will be in the heart of the University and close to the senior leadership who are committed to achieving the University's ambitious sustainability targets in our external impact on the world around us, and our own sustainability. You will have a passion for, and in-depth understanding of, the key issues for sustainability, allied with a strong awareness of how large, complex organisations such as universities operate. With an ability to influence at all levels, your senior leadership and relationship skills will mean you play a key part in facilitating teams from across the University to deliver a coordinated plan. Confidence in working with, analysing and presenting data is vital.
The University of Birmingham and our Professional Services
At Birmingham, we teach and research across the full breadth of academic disciplines, creating a vibrant community with multi-disciplinary opportunities for research and education. We are a truly international community, comprising more than 8,000 staff, 38,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni. The University is organised into five Colleges: Arts and Law, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Life and Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, and Medical and Dental Sciences.
During the last decade, the University has been transformed. Our strong emphasis on intellectually rigorous education and pioneering research across the full breadth of disciplines has led our students to attain increasingly impressive outcomes, and our research has enjoyed growing global significance and societal impact.
The University's Professional Services are led by the Registrar and Secretary. We aim for best-in-class Professional Services in support of the University's academic mission. Across all of our Professional Services, we recognise that it is our people who are the heart of what we do, and so we are focussed on creating a culture for them to thrive. We support this through our sector-leading staff development programme: the Birmingham Professional.
The Head of Sustainability is based in the Executive Support Division, which is led by the Chief of Staff, and brings together the teams that support policy, planning, data analysis, governance, legal advice, and change management, for the University. We work closely with the Vice-Chancellor and the executive team. Teams in the division are involved in many aspects of the University's work, and you will be able to draw on the advice and expertise of colleagues who understand and work with many parts of the institution.
Working for the University offers a wide range of benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, opportunities to join staff networks, formal and informal learning and development opportunities, and flexibility.
When completing the application form, please note that the shortlisting panel will be particularly interested in your response to the section that says: This section should set out your reasons for applying, skills and experience, and other interests and activities as appropriate to the person specification. You may also attach a CV if you wish, however, shortlisting will be predominantly based on the information in the application form.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Strategy, Policy and Planning
• Work closely with the University's executive lead for Sustainability (the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of College, Life and Environmental Sciences) to provide leadership and coordination for the development and implementation of the University's Sustainability Delivery Plan.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in Colleges and Professional Services to coordinate and support the University's sustainability activities, including in research, education, knowledge exchange, and estates and campus operations.
• Engage with students to understand their requirements in relation to sustainability, working with colleagues across the University to convert these into actions.
• Work with the executive lead for Sustainability to manage the work of the Sustainability Steering Group, ensuring agendas, papers, and minutes are produced on time, and recommendations to and from the University Executive Board are implemented.
• Keep abreast of current thinking and developments in sustainability and higher education, forming networks with, for example, sustainability leads in similar UK and global universities, and working in partnership with key organisations in our city and region.
• Providing expert advice and guidance on sustainability on aspects such as regulation, environmental legislation, procurement, staff and student behaviour.
• Identify external and internal resources to support the University's sustainability work, including writing business cases, and making applications for funding.
• Advise the University Executive Board on the adoption of voluntary accreditation schemes, standards, management systems related to sustainability and the impact of their adoption...... click apply for full job details
Position Details
Executive Support Division, Professional Services
University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham UK
Full time starting salary is normally in the range £51,799 to £60,022. With potential progression once in post to £78,265 a year
Grade 9
Full time
Permanent
Closing Date: 4th January 2022
Interview Date: Please note that first round interviews will take place on 13th January, and final interviews on 26th January.
Background
The University of Birmingham's Strategic Framework 2030 sets out our ambition to be one of the world's leading Universities. With world-class research and outstanding global education as our core mission, we will strive to increase the volume and quality of our research to make an even greater difference to the world around us. We will be the UK's exemplary civic university, remaining firmly committed to our foundations in the highly diverse communities, people, and economy of the city of Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Birmingham 2030 strengthens our commitment to sustainability as one of the core pillars of our activity. We will use our research and education to make a major global contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and have set out a headline aim to be net zero carbon for scope 1 and 2 by 2035 and overall by 2045. As a research-intensive University founded on social responsibility, we have the expertise and partnerships to play a significant role in tackling global sustainability challenges.
Job role
The Head of Sustainability is a new senior role created by the University with a wide-ranging remit to lead and coordinate delivery of the sustainability goals and priorities across the University, as set out in our Birmingham 2030 Strategic Framework. Working with members of the University Executive Board, senior academics, the Directors of Estates, Campus Services, Finance and their teams, and staff and students across the institution, you will support the University to deliver our sustainability ambitions.
This is an exciting opportunity to be the professional lead for sustainability in a large and complex institution which is an anchor institution for our region. You will develop an overall plan to deliver our ambitious sustainability targets, ensure we are collecting and monitoring the data we need, and provide expertise and positive challenge to ensure we achieve our targets. You will work with academics who are at the forefront of tackling climate change and will support culture change amongst staff and students across the University to enable us to operate more sustainably. Above all, you will make things happen.
You will be working in an organisation with a long record of substantial contributions to issues of sustainability through a significant programme of related research, education, and operational activities, including:
• A substantial partnership with Siemens focused on a pathway to net zero for scope 1 and 2 by 2035.
• Carbon accounting and biodiversity to deliver scope 3 targets by 2045.
• Significant impact in climate-related research and practice which is highly embedded across all five Colleges of the University. Highlights include: Tyseley Energy Park, which is central to initiatives to decarbonise energy across the city of Birmingham; the Birmingham Institute for Forest Research, our unique study of how temperate forests manage high levels of carbon dioxide; partnering with business to investigate and develop innovative solutions to achieve responsible business success. studies of gender inequality, legislation and accounting.
• A joint founder of the World Alliance of Universities on Carbon Neutrality, which brings together 28 global universities aiming to boost their contribution to fighting climate change and achieving net zero targets.
• A senior academic working to embed sustainability in all our educational programmes.
• A senior academic leading a research institute in sustainability, co-ordinating and developing global research excellence and profile, including engagement in COP26 and the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
• A vibrant community of staff and students, including our Guild of Students, championing sustainability on our campuses.
• An responsible investment strategy devised to deliver the principles of environmental, social and governance investing, supported by regular reporting on the areas of investment.
• The University is a member of the UN Global Compact, a signatory to the Race to Zero for universities and colleges, and a member of the COP26 universities network.
Based within the Executive Support Division, you will be in the heart of the University and close to the senior leadership who are committed to achieving the University's ambitious sustainability targets in our external impact on the world around us, and our own sustainability. You will have a passion for, and in-depth understanding of, the key issues for sustainability, allied with a strong awareness of how large, complex organisations such as universities operate. With an ability to influence at all levels, your senior leadership and relationship skills will mean you play a key part in facilitating teams from across the University to deliver a coordinated plan. Confidence in working with, analysing and presenting data is vital.
The University of Birmingham and our Professional Services
At Birmingham, we teach and research across the full breadth of academic disciplines, creating a vibrant community with multi-disciplinary opportunities for research and education. We are a truly international community, comprising more than 8,000 staff, 38,000 students, and over 350,000 alumni. The University is organised into five Colleges: Arts and Law, Engineering and Physical Sciences, Life and Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, and Medical and Dental Sciences.
During the last decade, the University has been transformed. Our strong emphasis on intellectually rigorous education and pioneering research across the full breadth of disciplines has led our students to attain increasingly impressive outcomes, and our research has enjoyed growing global significance and societal impact.
The University's Professional Services are led by the Registrar and Secretary. We aim for best-in-class Professional Services in support of the University's academic mission. Across all of our Professional Services, we recognise that it is our people who are the heart of what we do, and so we are focussed on creating a culture for them to thrive. We support this through our sector-leading staff development programme: the Birmingham Professional.
The Head of Sustainability is based in the Executive Support Division, which is led by the Chief of Staff, and brings together the teams that support policy, planning, data analysis, governance, legal advice, and change management, for the University. We work closely with the Vice-Chancellor and the executive team. Teams in the division are involved in many aspects of the University's work, and you will be able to draw on the advice and expertise of colleagues who understand and work with many parts of the institution.
Working for the University offers a wide range of benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, opportunities to join staff networks, formal and informal learning and development opportunities, and flexibility.
When completing the application form, please note that the shortlisting panel will be particularly interested in your response to the section that says: This section should set out your reasons for applying, skills and experience, and other interests and activities as appropriate to the person specification. You may also attach a CV if you wish, however, shortlisting will be predominantly based on the information in the application form.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Strategy, Policy and Planning
• Work closely with the University's executive lead for Sustainability (the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of College, Life and Environmental Sciences) to provide leadership and coordination for the development and implementation of the University's Sustainability Delivery Plan.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in Colleges and Professional Services to coordinate and support the University's sustainability activities, including in research, education, knowledge exchange, and estates and campus operations.
• Engage with students to understand their requirements in relation to sustainability, working with colleagues across the University to convert these into actions.
• Work with the executive lead for Sustainability to manage the work of the Sustainability Steering Group, ensuring agendas, papers, and minutes are produced on time, and recommendations to and from the University Executive Board are implemented.
• Keep abreast of current thinking and developments in sustainability and higher education, forming networks with, for example, sustainability leads in similar UK and global universities, and working in partnership with key organisations in our city and region.
• Providing expert advice and guidance on sustainability on aspects such as regulation, environmental legislation, procurement, staff and student behaviour.
• Identify external and internal resources to support the University's sustainability work, including writing business cases, and making applications for funding.
• Advise the University Executive Board on the adoption of voluntary accreditation schemes, standards, management systems related to sustainability and the impact of their adoption...... click apply for full job details
About University of Birmingham