Sustainability Strategy Manager

As Sustainability Strategy Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of a portfolio-wide sustainability strategy, translating ESG goals into clear, actionable plans that drive measurable improvements across a large, multi-site estate. You will take ownership of sustainability performance, governance and reporting, ensuring compliance with key regulations such as MEES, IFRS and TCFD, while embedding robust systems, policies and data processes. Working closely with senior stakeholders and supply chain partners, you will deliver initiatives across energy, water, waste and carbon reduction, manage significant budgets, and influence decision-making at all levels to achieve long-term environmental and business value.

As Sustainability Strategy Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of the organisation’s portfolio-wide sustainability strategy. You will be responsible for translating ESG ambitions into actionable plans, ensuring compliance with current and emerging legislation, and driving measurable improvements across a large, complex, multi-site estate.

You will own sustainability performance, reporting, and governance, ensuring robust systems, policies, and data processes are in place to meet internal targets and external regulatory requirements (including MEES, IFRS, and TCFD). Working closely with senior stakeholders and supply chain partners, you will deliver impactful sustainability initiatives across energy, water, waste, and carbon reduction.

This role carries significant responsibility, including oversight of approximately £30m in budgets, and requires strong commercial awareness, stakeholder engagement, and the ability to influence at all levels. 

At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.

For this job, you'll spend at least two days per week, or if part-time, you'll spend 40% of your working time, based at either our Swindon, Northampton or London office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.

If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

What you’ll be doing

You’ll take the lead in shaping and delivering the sustainability strategy across the property portfolio, turning ESG goals into clear, practical actions with defined ownership. You’ll keep a close eye on performance, analysing and reporting progress, and making sure all internal and external reporting – including updates at board level – is accurate and on track.

You’ll play a key role in driving improvements across energy, water, waste and carbon, working with suppliers and using tools like energy modelling and lifecycle analysis to identify opportunities. You’ll also make sure everything stays aligned with key regulations such as MEES, IFRS and TCFD, while embedding strong policies, data standards and recognised frameworks like BREEAM, WELL or LEED.

At the same time, you’ll build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and partners, influencing decisions, managing complex contracts and helping to create a culture of innovation and continuous improvement across sustainability
 

About you

• Strong understanding of sustainability legislation, reporting standards and ESG frameworks (e.g. MEES, IFRS, TCFD), alongside familiarity with certifications such as BREEAM, WELL or LEED
• Experience managing sustainability performance through data, KPIs and regulatory requirements, with strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret and communicate complex data
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels, including delivering clear and effective board-level reporting
• Proven ability to manage budgets, supplier relationships and complex contracts, combined with strong organisational and planning skills to deliver strategic initiatives at pace
• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset with strong critical thinking skills, able to operate with autonomy, manage complexity, and drive continuous improvement with a passion for sustainability

Our customer first behaviours put customers and members at the heart of how we work together. They are the set of behaviours that every colleague needs to display, in every role:

• Feel what customers feel - We step into our customers’ shoes, using their feedback and insights to empathise with them and to understand their needs, so that every decision we make starts and finishes with our customers in mind

• Say it straight - We are brave in speaking out and saying what we think – we’re honest and direct with good intent, openly sharing diverse perspectives to reach the best conclusions and using language everyone can understand

• Push for better - We don’t settle for mediocrity, we challenge the status quo, taking responsibility for continuous improvement and personal development

• Get it done - We prioritise what will have the greatest impact, we are decisive, and we take accountability for delivering brilliant customer outcomes

You can strengthen your application by showing how our customer first behaviours resonate with you, and where you may have already demonstrated these.
 

The extras you’ll get

There are all sorts of employee benefits available at Nationwide, including:

• 25 days holiday, pro rata

• Access to private medical insurance

• A highly competitive pension to help you build a strong foundation for retirement

• Access to an annual performance-related bonus

• Training and development to help you progress your career

• A great selection of additional benefits through our salary sacrifice scheme

• Life assurance to provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones in the event of your death

• Wellhub – access to a range of free and paid options for health and wellness

• Up to 2 days of paid volunteering a year

Banking – but fairer, more rewarding, and for the good of society

We forge our own path at Nationwide.

As a mutual, we’re owned by our members - those customers who bank, save or have a mortgage with us. We challenge the financial sector status quo. We don’t see customers as the engine of our own profit. We share our profits with them and put their needs first. Always there when they need us. Supporting them and their lives.

If you’re inspired by fairer finances, passionate about making a meaningful impact, and truly care about our customers, you’re one of us.

At Nationwide, you are challenged to grow and rewarded for doing so. Valued. Recognised. Inspired to be your best. As a community, we want our working lives to count. As a team, we celebrate what we achieve. As a standard-setter, we work for the good of customers, communities, and broader society.

We are purpose-driven. Uncompromisingly customer. Unstoppably Nationwide.

What to do next

If this role is for you, please click the ‘Apply Now’ button. You’ll need to attach your up-to-date CV and answer a few quick questions for us. 

We respond to everyone, so we will be in contact shortly after the closing date to let you know the outcome of your application.