Sustainability Consultant Graduate Watford, East of England, England
Job description
Would you like to Elevate your career at BRE?
Elevate is BRE’s fast-track development programme in becoming a subject specialist and supporting us in being industry leaders in the built environment. Through joining our Elevate programme, you will be challenged, developed, coached and supported on your path to becoming a subject matter expert in your field.
You will spend your first nine months working in your home role of BREEAM Technical Consultant Graduate. You will also have the option of completing two skills development placements at three months each, where these are intended to upskill you in pre-identified areas, followed by your final nine months back in your home role, also working on an exciting project and presentation.
Why does the role exist?
We’re looking for a numerate candidate to join our busy Strategic Advisory team with a focus on sustainability in the built environment. You will assist in delivery of consultancy and research projects in a range of interesting and evolving topics for a mixture of clients (Government and commercial).
The role offers exciting opportunities with significant personal development in building performance evaluation, operational carbon, embodied carbon, data analysis and presentation techniques, problem solving, housing and energy policy knowledge as well as customer interaction.
It will encompass several of the following elements, depending on project and team need:
- Investigation of low carbon construction products, resource efficiency and assessing embodied carbon impacts
- Engaging on programmes to develop and deliver net zero strategy and decarbonisation advisory services
- Research and numerical modelling of energy efficiency retrofit and the supply chain
- Building performance evaluation monitoring and in-use evaluation to understand operational carbon impacts
- Investigating whole life carbon assessments for assets and the potential for low carbon heat sources.
- Writing research reports and presenting findings to customers.
- Innovative uses of data and the application of data capture and presentation to deliver a more efficient process and better outcome for clients.
- Research on trends in energy efficiency, building typology and carbon emissions.
- Developing indicators & methods to help enable clients to make carbon-based decisions
- Interpretation and validation of results.
The value you will add:
- Delivery of work in line with agreed KPIs, contributing to the area’s achievement of commercial objectives. Enable and assist in the delivery of a portfolio of existing projects
- Assisting in the ability to organise day to day project resources for longer-term projects providing clarity and efficiency in delivery.
- Conducting consultancy and research activities following guidance within the framework of a specific operation.
- Carrying out complex quantitative and literature/policy analyses and report on results.
- Contributing to the development of new work.
- Providing new perspectives to identify issues and resolve those within their capability and knowledge and report more complex issues to more senior roles.
- Contributing to keeping us up to date with the relevant landscape and changing client needs. These might include sustainable development principles, techniques, and their application; the construction industry and built environment, such as sustainable building design principles and technologies, building regulations and codes; existing and planned Government policies in related areas; net zero carbon, waste, circular economy, energy performance and building regulations.
How will success be measured?
- Financial contribution to monthly net income targets and work delivery to the satisfaction of the project managers.
- The quality of work input and delivery measured against agreed specification, timeliness and within budget allocations.
- A positive mindset ensuring compliance with necessary mandatory health and safety needs and BRE procedures.
- Effectiveness in organising own activities to meet project and customer deadlines.
What skills and experience does the role need?
- A degree in a STEM subject (preferably numerical, energy, building services, building design, sustainability, or engineering related).
- A genuine interest in the built environment and driving towards net zero carbon.
- Good understanding of emerging trends and opportunities, e.g. as presented by the climate emergency and the UN SDGs (sustainable development goals).
- An understanding of the built environment policy landscape including the policy drivers, stakeholders, legislation, regulations.
- Knowledge of how carbon is measured, reported, validated and disclosed by companies e.g. BREEAM, SBTI, CRREM.
- Adaptable, agile and enthusiastic approach with the ability to work co-operatively as part of a team to complete tasks on time to budget and to consistently high standards.
- Ability to communicate technical concepts in clear terms in written reports and publications and through client presentations.
- Ability to acquire, develop, report and analyse data (qualitative and quantitative) as required for projects.
- Good proficiency with Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel and PowerPoint (and ideally engineering / technical software and/or GIS experience).
How we will help to Elevate your career:
You will have the opportunity to take part in various development activities such as:
- Personal development plans
- Structured coaching in blocks of six sessions with identified deliverables for each block
- Structured mentoring from a senior leader at BRE
- A personal development fund of £1,000 for additional qualifications, conferences or industry events
- Scheduled group development workshops on consultancy skills, problem-solving and presentation skills
- Group transition workshops to support you with the transition out of the Elevate programme and into your team
What salary and benefits does the Elevate programme offer?
Your salary will start at £30,000 in year one, with an increase to £32,000 in year two, then upon a successful interview and completion of the Elevate programme, you will be promoted into a higher-level role in your home team, with a salary of at least £34,000.
We offer a whole host of benefits to our colleagues:
Benefits for you and your family
- 25 days annual leave
- Volunteering day
- Flexible hybrid working options
- Learning and development opportunities including free access to our BRE Academy and Percipio courses
- Life assurance – 4x basic salary
- Onsite nursery
- Enhanced maternity package
Rewarding and recognising you
- Annual salary review
- Pension scheme with 5% matching employer contribution
- Pensions advice
- Recognition schemes including retail vouchers and cash awards
- Employee referral scheme (£1,000)
- Professional membership reimbursement
Supporting your health and wellbeing
- Lifeworks – employee assistance programme
- Healthpartners – cash back on a wide range of health and wellbeing costs including prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care and more
- Regular health and wellbeing events
- Onsite restaurant
- Free onsite parking including free EV charging points
- Local bus service to site
- Cycle to work scheme
What to expect from the application process:
- Stage 1 – Complete your application form and upload your CV onto our careers site by 10th March
- Stage 2 – Successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete online assessments by 24th March
- Stage 3 – Successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a remote Teams screening conversation with a member of the Resourcing team by 7th April
- Stage 4 – Successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an Assessment Day at our Science Park in Watford on one of the following dates: 9th May, 11th May, 16th May or 18th May
- Stage 5 – Offers to be made and feedback to be provided to unsuccessful candidates by end of May
- Start date for successful hires – Monday 11th September 2023
About BRE:
BRE contributes to a thriving and sustainable world by developing science-led solutions to built environment challenges, making buildings better for people and for the environment. You can find out more here: About us | BRE Group
Our BRE Behaviours:
Collaboration – Communication, Networking/ partnerships, Teamwork
Impactful – Continuous improvement, Trusted experts, Accountability/ ownership
Commercial – Sustainable, Customer focus, Business acumen
*Please note this role is flexi-hybrid (1-2 days per week on site)*
We’re building a diverse and talented team at BRE because we know that different perspectives, experiences and skills will help us be more innovative and mean that we can help deliver effective solutions for our customers.
This is a non-exhaustive summary of your role and is non-contractual. In addition to the above, you may be required to undertake additional duties in order to properly execute your role. This job description is subject to variation from time to time in order to meet the changing needs and requirements of our industry, as well as customer and business demands.
The experience requirements above are provided for guidance purposes, however we would welcome applications from candidates with more or less relevant experience who can demonstrate their suitability for the role.
Whilst this advert may state a specific location or hours, we encourage flexibility and are happy to have a conversation on how this role could be fulfilled in a different way.
Please also note that should we receive a large number of applications for the role, we may close the advert sooner than the specified closing date, so please do apply at your earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.
