Technical Director/Associate Director, Carbon Management / Net Zero & Scope 3

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Job description

Do you want to work for a leading international sustainability consultancy in a growing team?
Ricardo Energy & Environment (REE) is a leading sustainability consultancy combining energy, climate change, environmental and chemical risk expertise with strong IT and economics capability. Operating across the world, we work in partnership with our customers to help transform the way they work, empowering business leaders with award winning consultancy advice. With unrivalled sector insight and a reputation for producing innovative solutions, we offer a stimulating and rewarding environment in which to work.

Our company vision is to create a more sustainable world for the future, which is the driver behind everything we do as a business.
To deliver our vision, over the last 10 years, we have delivered projects that have shaped UK and international government policy to align with achieving net zero carbon emissions, reduced operational costs across the public and private sector through decarbonisation and delivered strategies for large scale carbon reduction in multiple industrial sectors. Our reputation for innovation, passion and integrity in the work we deliver means we are recognised as an organisation that provides high quality advice to our clients.

We know we bring about positive sustainable change and are looking for someone equally driven to deliver our vision.
Our business consists of a team of over 650 consultants, engineers and scientists with world-leading energy, climate change and environmental expertise complemented by powerful digital and techno-economic capabilities. Our Sustainability team has grown rapidly over the last year from 36 to 55 staff and we expect continued strong growth over the coming years.

Purpose:
The success we are having as a business means there are significant opportunities to expand our services and delivery, so we are seeking to recruit a highly experienced consultant at Associate Director or Technical Director level to lead, expand and develop our net zero, energy and carbon management strategy work working across the breadth of our capabilities within REE. We require an individual to lead and direct a range of projects to help organisations tackle their scope 3 emissions. The role will have a mix of delivery and business development activities, subject to the experience of the successful candidate.

Sitting in our established Sustainability business area, part of a 200 person strong 'Sustainable Infrastructure & Operations' business unit and the 650 person Ricardo Energy & Environment division, you will be an expert in identifying and engaging with sustainability professionals at Director and Board level across the private and public sectors, working with them to deliver the range of sustainability and carbon management services we offer.
We are looking for someone to take advantage of our excellent capability and track record, leveraging it to drive the growth trajectory of this team.
You will be responsible for identifying, shaping and growing our net zero, energy and carbon management strategy and scope 3 offerings. You will be supported by a fantastic team of consultants within a strong existing team structure.

Your ability to identify and develop opportunities which will raise the profile of the team and the services we provide is important, as is the ability to hold strategic conversations at a senior level; assess needs and develop technical propositions and take the clients on their sustainability journey. As a result, you will most likely be working in a consultancy environment, possibly with experience working within a public or private sector organisation, a FTSE250 company or a local authority and you'll be well networked in the sustainability arena.

This is an exciting opportunity to really help to drive our business forward, building on an already highly successful delivery team. We are looking for a professional and consultative individual looking to enhance their skills further within a rewarding and fast paced environmental consultancy business with the opportunity for excellent career growth.

Key accountabilities:
Within a collaborative and supportive team of consultants, you will be responsible for winning and delivering projects (mainly with clients in the private sector) on energy and carbon management, net zero, supply chain improvements and reducing scope 3 emissions. Client liaison, project management and technical delivery will be required from initial client engagement through to provision of final reports. To assist our team, the successful candidate will:
• Be capable of taking a lead on, directing and delivering existing and new net zero, energy and carbon management projects.
• Understanding the impacts of evolving changes in the UK and international environmental sector and its implications and opportunities for the team.
• Delivering year-on-on year growth in a consultancy setting.
• Working with industry partners and channels to develop new offerings or delivery partnerships.
• Working with a consultancy team to ensure the quality and consistency of delivery of best in class service to our clients to maintain Ricardo's premium brand.
• Working with a wider business development team and leadership team responsible for developing other offerings to support new opportunities across different areas of work.

Key competencies and experience
You will have a technical or business background with relevant experience covering some or all of these areas:
• Have a proven track record of technical consultancy delivery in energy and carbon management, net zero, supply chain improvements and reducing scope 3 emissions.
• Have practical career experience and be able to demonstrate relevant technical capability, effective project direction and management, and excellent communication skills.
• Have a higher education qualification (Bachelor's Degree) in an environmental or engineering discipline, or otherwise to have a good track record working in an environmental role, so that you can demonstrate your knowledge.
• Ideally have experience of working in the consultancy sector, or organisational responsibility for the outputs from contracted consultants, to demonstrate that you have the necessary commercial awareness. We are also interested to talk to candidates currently performing environmental roles directly within industry especially where they have a strong commercial awareness.
• Demonstrate technical expertise across the following areas:

o Energy and carbon management planning and strategy
o Net Zero strategy development and associated Science Based Targets
o Carbon accounting, compliance, and measurement techniques and calculation methods for scopes 1 and 2 and CR reporting software, including in-depth understanding of scope 3 emissions sources and how to mitigate them
o Carbon footprinting, verification and assurance
o Carbon data analysis and modelling

• Knowledge of sustainability reporting would be advantageous (e.g. CDP, GRI, SECR FTSE4Good etc.)
• Regulatory compliance - knowledge of both current and future environmental and energy related legislation.
• Experience of identifying and developing business opportunities is desirable.
• You will need to hold a Full UK Driving licence for this position.

Skills and behaviours:
• Analytical skills with ability to identify, develop and implement solutions.
• Excellent writing skills to communicate clearly and without errors - accuracy and attention to detail are vital.
• Strong client and stakeholder communication skills e.g. influencing, negotiation, presentation and relationship management skills.
• Project direction skills that demonstrate ability to manage and account for time spent, and to deliver work on time and budget.
• Team working and leadership and ability to coordinate and prioritise activities to ensure delivery of agreed targets.
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively.
• High level of computer literacy, including familiarity with the full Microsoft Office software suite and potentially industry analysis tools.
• A flexible approach - able to see where help is needed and support colleagues as necessary.
• Be comfortable juggling a variety of tasks in a sometimes fast-paced operational environment.
• High levels of drive and commitment; a self-starter, problem solver with the ability to turn ideas into reality.

In our sustainability team we really enjoy the great work we do, so we will be looking for someone with a similar attitude - enthusiastic, committed, responsible, open and reliable.

Working here:

This is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with the opportunity to make a difference. You will have a fantastic opportunity to develop your career with us through our broad range of projects, mentoring opportunities and a personalised approach to your learning and development.

We are always keen to hear from people who have driven, ambition and a flair for innovative thinking. Ricardo Energy & Environment has an ambitious diversity, equality, and inclusion approach as explained here.

Our People are important to us and we take pride in our wellbeing programmes and policies that support individuals including flexible working, carers policy, mental health first aiders and readily available support through our extensive Employee Assistance programme.

Once you have submitted your application a member of our Recruitment Team will be in touch. Please be aware that the timing can vary dependent on the volume of applications that we receive for each role and in some cases, we may start to review applications prior to the closing date.