Environmental Sustainability Manager (6-month Maternity Cover)

Job Description

Context

West London Business (WLB) works to ensure West London is an amazing place to do business. North-West London is the UK’s global gateway – a pre-COVID £73 billion GVA economy underpinned by 120,000+ businesses. We are a non-profit business-led leadership forum, with members including Heathrow and Amazon Web Services (AWS), as well as key regional firms such as Fuller, Smith & Turner and Bigham’s. WLB has 15,000+ supporters and convenes 30+ events per annum, including the West London Business Awards. Our members work together through WLB to raise West London’s global economic competitiveness and catalyse action for people and planet.

WLB delivers various business support programmes that lead London’s transition towards Net Zero and helps hundreds of micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) across the capital to understand, manage and reduce their carbon impact either via holistic Net Zero support or through targeted energy support programmes. Three programmes are delivered by the Green Business Action team at WLB: The pan-London Better Futures programme, Tower Hamlets Energy Reduction Programme and Hackney Impact energy support programme. Our vision is for every MSME to be more resilient and grow responsibly. Our mission is to offer practical and accessible support so organisations can survive the energy crisis and make a positive difference.

You will be part of a small and dynamic team that is directly responsible for delivering this ambitious and highly impactful programme that will make lasting change in the capital and move us towards a low carbon future.

WLB is an inclusive and supportive organisation, and we encourage people from all backgrounds, belief systems, identities and any other characteristics to apply for this role. Diversity and integrity are key to the success of our programme.

Better Futures is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus

Job Purpose

To support and help manage the successful delivery of West London Business’ Green Business Action support packages, including Better Futures, Hackney Impact and Tower Hamlets Energy Reduction Programme plus other related activities and partnerships as they arise.

Main Responsibilities

Business engagement and Project Delivery (80% of time)

Support in the delivery of all three Green Business Action programmes.

Responsible for engaging with SMEs to ensure their involvement in and sign up to the programmes, following up on leads and post-project reporting and feedback. This will entail the use of email as well as direct calling.

Ensure the customer journey is delivered correctly, making sure all communication steps are met.

Manage and own spreadsheets to provide PM with appropriate data.

Update Pipedrive and Salesforce accurately to capture companies and individuals who are engaging in the programme.

Keep track of programmes delivery through Asana and produce weekly updates for PM and the team.

Keep abreast of news, new technologies, innovations, and relevant learning opportunities to ensure the business support provided remains relevant and pertinent to participants.

Help the team to come up with business educational content about sustainability to be used on online learning platform and in webinars and workshops.

Perform the role and manage resources in accordance with WLB’s policies and procedures, including sound business ethics and health & safety standards. Support the Head of Business Decarbonisation with updating programme progress on Asana and help compile the monthly reports within West London Business, to project partners, and funders.

Support the Green Business Action team to generate up-to-date Net Zero learning content for online webinars, live workshops, and other events (networking events, hackathons, expert drop-in sessions etc.).

Develop strong stakeholder relationships

Marketing and Communications (20% of time)

Support the marketing team by providing relevant Net Zero content.

Attend external meetings, events and seek out speaking opportunities that promote the Green Business Action London (GBAL) support programmes and grow a positive brand reputation.

Identify industry experts that can deliver bespoke content

Produce ‘sales’ literature for use by partners and stakeholders.

Working Relationships

West London Business Head of Business Decarbonisation (Line Manager)

West London Business Chief Programmes Officer

West London Business Supply Chain Director

GBAL Marketing and Communication Content Manager

GBAL Marketing, Communications & Engagement Manger

GBAL Business Energy and Sustainability Manager

West London Business Member and Communications Manager

West London Business Chief Executive and any other staff and volunteers

Communications with businesses regarding the programme area

Better Futures partners: GLA, Imperial College London, Sustainable Workspaces.

Local Authority Leads

Business support organisations (BIDs, Chamber of Commerce, Community Energy Managers etc.)

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential: Educated to or working towards level 6 - Degree level, Higher Apprenticeship or equivalent.

Desirable: Educated in a subject area related to environmental science, systems thinking and/or social change

Experience

Essential

Proven track record of working in similar roles professionally.

Working with businesses professionally in a customer facing role as a client or consultant, preferably with SMEs.

Presenting information in a factual and concise manner.

Experience with an engagement or community building team either working professionally or as a volunteer.

Desirable

Experience delivering similar programmes including elements of CleanTech, environmental sustainability, Net Zero and/or Energy.

Experience of delivering publicly funded (or similar) projects or programmes.

Knowledge

Essential

Working knowledge of how to deliver high-quality environmental sustainability and business-facing programmes

Project management, communication, and events coordination processes.

Understanding of the political context of London including the relationship between businesses, Local Authorities and the GLA.

Good knowledge of climate change, carbon auditing, environmental sustainability, Net Zero and wider industry knowledge to support decarbonisation.

Mathematically literate – ability to understand and interpret statistical data, including using and interpreting excel formulas, and creating graphs/charts

Desirable

Capable of rapidly mastering new subjects.

Good understanding of energy related content such as energy efficiency measures in buildings the home or office.

Skills

Essential

Adept at prioritising and self-management to work effectively alone, as well as part of and leading a team.

Demonstrable ability and experience of providing secretariat support and managing meetings.

Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex ideas into easily digestible written and verbal content for correspondence, learning content, and forms of communication.

Capable of rapidly mastering new subjects.

A practical problem solver.

Excellent IT skills, including Outlook, Excel, Powerpoint and Word, mail merge etc.

Excellent project management skills with knowledge of Asana, and/or other management software.

Adept at using Pipedrive and Salesforce (or other CRM systems)

Good oral communication skills to work effectively with professionals at all levels.

Excellent presentation skills for public speaking, meetings and other live events.

Desirable

Technical skills for energy related business support and business carbon management.

Business development skills related to Net Zero strategy and changing business models.

Disposition

Organised

Quick learner

Careful, accurate, pays attention to detail.

Able to work to deadlines.

Willingness to learn and share skills with colleagues.

Confident

Calm under pressure.

Able to work on own and as part of a team.

Able to communicate with people at all levels.

Pleasant telephone and email manner.

Energetic with a positive approach to enthuse and motivate

Salary and benefits

Six-month full time Maternity cover, followed by part time extension subject to organisation needs.

£35,224 per annum full-time salary (pro rata) 5 days per week (40 hours/week)

20 days holiday, plus bank holidays pro rata – rising by one a day per year of service to max 25 days after five years of service.

Employee healthcare and pension.

The post will be based at Venture X White City. Hybrid working two days a week working from home are optional.

Application

By cover letter and CV to [email protected]

Deadline 5pm on Friday 26th January 2024.