Associate Director – Building Performance & Sustainability
Associate Director – Building Performance & Sustainability
London, UK
Hybrid Working – 3 days in the London office per week
Permanent position
£75,000+ per annum (dependant on level of experience)
An internationally recognised engineering consultancy is seeking an experienced Associate Director or Technical Director to lead and expand its Building Performance & Sustainability capability within its London team.
This is a senior leadership opportunity for an ambitious sustainability professional with deep technical expertise in building performance, operational energy, embodied carbon, and sustainable design delivery. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping low-carbon strategies across major UK developments while helping clients achieve net zero and wider ESG objectives.
Working within a multidisciplinary environment, you will lead the delivery of complex and high-profile projects across a broad range of sectors, influencing sustainability outcomes from concept through to completion.
The Opportunity
You will provide strategic and technical leadership across building performance and sustainability services, acting as a trusted adviser to clients, design teams, and internal stakeholders. The role combines technical excellence, project leadership, client engagement, and team development within a growing national sustainability network.
This position offers the opportunity to work on landmark projects and major frameworks, helping to shape future-focused sustainable environments across the UK.
Key Responsibilities
Technical Leadership
Lead the development and assurance of energy, carbon, and sustainability strategies for complex developments and mixed-use schemes.
Provide expert guidance on:
Operational energy and operational carbon
Embodied carbon reduction
Building performance optimisation
Low-carbon and net zero design strategies
Oversee technical modelling inputs, reporting quality, and evidence-based sustainability recommendations.
Advise on UK sustainability legislation, planning policy, and industry standards including BREEAM, WELL, NABERS, and LEED.
Ensure technical consistency, governance, and quality assurance across project delivery.
Project & Team Coordination
Coordinate multidisciplinary sustainability inputs across live projects and bids.
Act as the primary sustainability lead between clients, consultants, and wider project teams.
Translate ambitious sustainability goals into practical and commercially deliverable solutions.
Support programme management, resourcing, and workload prioritisation across multiple commissions.
Maintain oversight of project performance, delivery quality, and commercial health.
Client Engagement & Business Development
Develop strong client relationships and represent the business in meetings, workshops, and design reviews.
Lead and support major bids, proposals, and framework submissions.
Shape technical approaches, scopes, delivery strategies, and value propositions.
Identify opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration and business growth.
Promote innovation and industry best practice within sustainability and building performance.
Team Leadership & Capability Development
Mentor and support consultants and senior team members through coaching, peer review, and technical guidance.
Contribute to recruitment, capability building, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Support delivery forecasting, fee management, and financial awareness across projects.
Help drive continuous improvement through technical standards, frameworks, and training initiatives.
Requirements
The successful candidate is likely to demonstrate:
Significant experience delivering sustainability and energy strategies on large-scale or complex developments.
Strong technical expertise in:
Building performance
Energy strategy
Operational and embodied carbon
Sustainable building design
Excellent client-facing and stakeholder management skills.
Strong understanding of the UK design and construction process.
Experience leading bids, proposals, and work-winning activities.
Commercial awareness including fees, forecasting, and project delivery performance.
Knowledge of UK planning policy and sustainability requirements relating to net zero carbon outcomes.
Previous people management, mentoring, or team leadership experience within a consultancy environment.
Ability to obtain UK Security Check (SC) clearance.
Qualifications
Degree qualified in Engineering, Sustainability, Environmental Design, Architecture, or a related discipline.
Chartered status (or working towards chartership) with a relevant professional institution is desirable.
What's on Offer
Opportunity to work on nationally significant and high-profile sustainable development projects.
Flexible hybrid working arrangements.
Strong commitment to professional development, mentoring, and chartership support.
Inclusive and collaborative working culture.
Comprehensive wellbeing and flexible benefits package.
Clear pathway for career progression within a growing sustainability and building performance practice.
This is an excellent opportunity for a senior sustainability professional looking to take on a strategic leadership role within a highly respected consultancy delivering industry-leading sustainable design solutions across the built environment.
If this position sounds of interest, then please apply below or get in touch with Zoe Elliott at;
Eden Brown is committed to equality in the workplace and is an equal opportunity employer