Sustainability & ESG Lead

Sustainability & ESG Lead  

Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 per annum 

Department: ​ General Counsel & Company Secretary, Chief Operating Office 

Contract: ​ Permanent​ 

Hours: Full-time (we’re happy to discuss flexible working arrangements)  

Location: ​Stratford, London​ ​Office-based with high flexibility (typically 1-2 days per week in the office)​  

Closing date: 17th November 

​​This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications are received or once a suitable candidate is found​  

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer.  

​​We are professionals with purpose, beating cancer every day. But we need to go much further and much faster. That’s why we’re looking for someone talented, someone determined, someone like you. ​  

We have an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and motivated Sustainability expert to join us. 

In this position you’ll lead on the development, implementation, delivery and reporting of Cancer Research UK’s sustainability and Environmental, Social & Governance strategy, whilst also championing ESG & Sustainability across the whole organisation. You will also be leading on defining and delivering the plan to deliver on CRUK’s commitments in its EDI Strategy. 

In a supportive working environment, you’ll discover something new every day, whether it’s a new connection, a new method of engagement or a talent you never knew you had. You’ll also be surrounded by people who are as dedicated to beating cancer as you are. 

What will be some of the main responsibilities?  

• Key primary accountability on leading the refresh of Cancer Research UK’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy, addressing aspects such as nature, waste and water. 

• Develop CRUK’s ambitions and focus to continue being a responsible organisation, working closely with executive management and Cancer Research UK’s Council of Trustees to set the ambition and organisational priorities for ESG for Cancer Research UK in the short, medium and long term.  

• Continually developing and delivering against an organisation-wide implementation plan to help ensure that Cancer Research UK delivers against its ambition on sustainability and ESG, including establishing an effective delivery framework and developing targets / measures of success. 

• Champion & facilitate sustainability and ESG across the organisation.  

• Establish and maintain partnerships with external and internal stakeholders, effectively building and leveraging relationships to aid delivery of the sustainability and ESG strategy. 

• Continue to effectively build, develop and lead a strong, values-led, energetic, ambitious and resilient team of environmental, social and governance subject matter experts, whilst overseeing responsibility for our Sustainability Strategy, EDI Strategy, Modern Slavery and our Responsible Sourcing agenda. 

What skills are we looking for?  

• Significant experience of sustainability and ESG in a large and complex organisation. 

• Excellent, interpersonal, communication, influencing and negotiating skills. 

• Experience of setting strategy and goals and enabling collaboration to support delivery across an organisation. 

• Collaboration will be key. Ability to collaborate, motivate, inspire and work effectively with a variety of different internal and external stakeholders.  

• Ability to develop and maintain established external networks across public, private and third sector to share best practice.  

• Significant experience and knowledge across all areas of sustainability including: EDI, energy, waste, water, carbon, environment, social and ethically agendas.  

• Significant experience and knowledge of responsible organisation standards, and ESG reporting and benchmarking frameworks. 

What will I gain?  

Each and every one of our employees contributes to our progress and is supporting our work to beat cancer. We think that’s impressive.  

In return, we make sure you are supported by a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools, policies and processes to enable you to do your job well.  

Our benefits package includes a substantial retirement plan, a generous and flexible leave allowance, discounts on anything from travel to technology, gym membership, and much more.  

We don’t forget people have lives outside of work too and so we actively encourage a flexible working culture.  

Our work – from funding cutting-edge research to developing public policy – will change the world. It’s exciting to be part of our team.  

How do I apply?