Current Vacancy: Head of Climate Action & Investment

VACANCY: Head of Climate Action & Investment 

Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) 

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join one of the sector’s leading purpose driven membership organisations with the aim of improving the sustainability of commercial buildings.  

We are looking for a senior leader to play a central role in shaping the direction of, and delivering, BBP’s programme of work across climate, investment and wider sustainability issues. This is a highly visible and influential role at the intersection of sustainability and commercial real estate investment and management.

The BBP has a strong reputation for delivering an industry leading and highly impactful programme of work combining leadership, practical tools and knowledge sharing to drive transformational change across the industry.  You will work closely with leading investors and industry stakeholders to drive forward the integration of sustainability into real estate decision-making, reflecting continually evolving industry challenges and member needs.  

The BBP is a small and agile organisation and this role combines workstream strategy and delivery. The successful candidate will be expected to set direction and shape the workstreams and take an active role in delivering outputs, convening stakeholders and ensuring momentum across workstreams. This is also an opportunity to contribute to the wider success of the BBP through influencing organisational strategy and developing thought leadership, working directly with the Board, CEO and the BBP Executive Team.  

About Us 

The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is a not-for-profit collaboration of 55 leading UK property owners with £360bn+ AUM, alongside the Managing Agents Partnership (MAP), representing leading property managers. The work of the BBP is guided by our aim to improve the sustainability of commercial buildings and currently driven by our 2030 Vision to amplify, embed & pioneer sustainability within the sector.  

We deliver practical, ambitious solutions to sustainability challenges in commercial real estate, working closely with members, industry experts, NGOs and wider stakeholders to drive market transformation.  

The BBP is governed by its Board and its members play an active role in shaping the programme of work and co-creating outputs for the benefit of members and the wider industry. Our working culture reflects our commitment to sustainability, and we have a highly committed, collaborative and knowledgeable Executive team.  

Key Focus Areas of the Role 

• Net zero carbon and the BBP’s Climate Commitment  
• Climate resilience, nature and adaptation  
• Integration of sustainability into investment processes, capital allocation and asset strategy  
• Engagement with industry frameworks, standards and initiatives  
• Translating sustainability into value, risk and performance within real estate decision-making  

Who We’re Looking For 

You are a credible and commercially aware leader with strong experience in sustainability and/or commercial real estate, and the ability to operate effectively in a stakeholder-led environment. 

You will be comfortable working with senior stakeholders, shaping direction in complex and evolving areas, and translating technical topics into clear, practical outputs that drive real-world impact. 

You will be committed to the BBP’s aims and happy working with other members of the team to ensure that the BBP delivers real impact.   

Reporting to: CEO 
Location: Home-based contract with travel into London (average c2 -4 days per month), with flexibility expected according to organisational need. 

Contract: Permanent 
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (flexible arrangements considered) 
Salary: Competitive within the not-for-profit sector and commensurate with experience 
Start Date: As soon as possible 

Application closing date: 30 May 2026. We expect significant interest in this post, and will be screening applications as they are received, early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to close advertising prior to 30th May. 

Interviews: Commencing as soon as possible 

Please note: all applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK / the relevant work visa. 

Benefits 

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (plus additional service-based entitlement)  
• Pension (7% matched)  
• Flexible working hours & arrangements  
• Private health insurance with Vitality  
• Life Insurance & Critical Illness Cover 
• Support for professional memberships & development 
• Annual Volunteering Day 
• Wellbeing initiatives  

How to apply 

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining your suitability for the role to: info@betterbuildingspartnership.co.uk 

Equal Opportunities 

BBP is committed to ensuring a fair, transparent and inclusive recruitment process. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. All candidates will be considered based on their skills, experience and alignment with the role requirements. 

Find out more 

Please see the full job description below for further details. 

JOB DESCRIPTION 

HEAD OF CLIMATE ACTION & INVESTMENT 

BETTER BUILDINGS PARTNERSHIP 

We are looking for a senior leader to play a central role in shaping the direction of, and delivering, the BBP’s programme of work across climate, investment and wider sustainability issues. This role sits at the intersection of sustainability and commercial real estate investment and management, with a strong focus on market engagement, industry leadership and the development of practical, member-led outputs. 

This is a highly visible and influential role, working closely with BBP members and a wide range of industry stakeholders to drive forward the integration of sustainability into real estate investment and asset management.  

SUMMARY 

• Contract: Permanent 
• Location: Home-based contract with travel into London (average c2 -4 days per month), with flexibility expected according to organisational need. 
• Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week 
• Reporting to: CEO 
• Salary: Competitive within the not-for-profit sector and commensurate with experience 
• Start Date: As soon as possible 
• Application closing date: 30 May 2026. We expect significant interest in this post, will be screening applications as they are received, early applications are encouraged and we reserve right to close early. 
• Interviews: Commencing as soon as possible 
• Please note: all applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK / the relevant work visa 

Benefits: 

• 28 days holiday + bank holidays (plus additional service-based entitlement)  
• Pension (7% matched)  
• Flexible working hours & arrangements  
• Private health insurance with Vitality  
• Life Insurance & Critical Illness Cover 
• Support for professional memberships & development 
• Annual Volunteering Day 
• Wellbeing initiatives  

1. THE BETTER BUILDINGS PARTNERSHIP (BBP) 

The Better Buildings Partnership (BBP) is a not-for-profit collaboration of 55 leading UK property owners with £360bn+ AUM and the Managing Agents Partnership (MAP) is a collaboration of the leading Property Managers. We deliver practical, ambitious solutions to sustainability challenges in commercial real estate, engaging with members, industry experts, NGOs, and wider stakeholders. 

2. ROLE OVERVIEW 

Reporting to the CEO, this role is responsible for leading a significant portion of the BBP’s programme of work, with a particular focus on climate action, investment and the integration of sustainability into real estate decision-making. 

The role combines external stakeholder engagement, programme leadership and the development of industry guidance, with a strong emphasis on translating complex and evolving topics into practical outputs for members. 

The role spans the following core areas: 

• Net zero carbon and the BBP’s Climate Commitment 
• Climate resilience, nature and adaptation 
• Integration of sustainability into investment processes, capital allocation and asset strategy 
• Engagement with industry frameworks, standards and initiatives 
• Translating sustainability into value, risk and performance within real estate decision-making 

The role requires strong judgement on where BBP can add most value, and the ability to prioritise activity accordingly. 

As a small and agile organisation, BBP requires this role to operate across both strategy and delivery. The successful candidate will be expected to set direction and shape the programme, while also playing an active, hands-on role in delivering outputs, convening stakeholders and ensuring momentum across workstreams. 

3. CORE RESPONSIBILITIES 

a) Programme leadership and delivery 

• Lead and oversee delivery of key BBP workstreams, including: 
  • Net Zero Carbon 
  • Climate Resilience 
  • Investor Engagement 
  • European Investment 
• Set direction for workstreams in collaboration with co-chairs and members 
• Ensure outputs are aligned with member priorities and deliver tangible value 
• Oversee planning, prioritisation and coordination across multiple projects 

b) Development of guidance and outputs 

• Lead the development of member-led guidance and industry outputs, with specific current priorities for 2026-27 including but not limited to: 
  • The BBP’s Net Zero Carbon Audits Guide (in development during 2026) 
  • Investment-focused outputs (e.g. integration of sustainability into underwriting, asset management and exit) 
  • Evolution of the BBP’s Climate Commitment / Net Zero Carbon Pathway Framework 
  • Climate resilience and nature guidance 
  • Sector-specific outputs (e.g. life sciences, data centers, Built To Rent etc.) 
• Translate complex technical topics into clear, practical and decision-useful outputs, supporting effective dissemination and uptake across the industry 
• Ensure outputs are grounded in real-world member experience and market practice 

c) Member engagement and facilitation 

• Convene and facilitate working groups, knowledge sharing sessions and workshops 
• Engage members to test ideas, build alignment and gather insight 
• Enable and support members in applying BBP guidance in practice 
• Maintain strong relationships with member representatives across sustainability, investment and asset management functions 

d) External stakeholder engagement and market shaping 

• Lead BBP engagement with key external initiatives and industry bodies 
• Represent BBP externally at industry events, working groups and forums 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across the investment, advisory and policy landscape 
• Identify and shape BBP’s position in areas where the market is evolving or unclear 
• Work closely with the Communications team to shape and deliver the external narrative around BBP’s climate and investment work, ensuring outputs are effectively communicated across BBP channels (including reports, website, LinkedIn, events and media) 

e) Market intelligence and insight 

• Ensure BBP remains at the forefront of industry thinking and influence 
• Monitor key market, regulatory and industry developments 
• Provide clear and relevant briefings to the BBP Executive and members 
• Identify emerging themes and implications for BBP’s programme of work 

f) Wider organisational contribution and team support 

• Contribute to the effectiveness of the wider BBP team, including supporting the development of colleagues and sharing knowledge across workstreams 
• Ensure alignment of programme activity with BBP’s overall strategy and priorities, actively connecting work across areas such as measurement and benchmarking, owner and occupier engagement, innovation and technology, and managing agents 
• Support integration of outputs across the broader BBP work programme, helping to build a coherent and consistent narrative 
• Contribute to BBP strategy, operations and organisational management where appropriate, including input to planning, reporting and internal processes 
• Support preparation for Board and Executive meetings, including development of materials and strategic input 

Indicative weighting of the role 

The responsibilities above are highly interconnected and often delivered in parallel. The approximate emphasis of the role is: 

• Programme leadership and delivery: ~30% 
• External stakeholder engagement and market shaping: ~20% 
• Development of guidance and outputs: ~20% 
• Member engagement and facilitation: ~15% 
• Market intelligence and insight: ~10% 
• Wider organisational contribution: ~5% 

4. PERSON SPECIFICATION 

We are looking for a highly capable and credible individual with strong experience in sustainability and/or commercial real estate, and the ability to operate effectively in a stakeholder-led environment. 

Essential criteria 

• Strong understanding of commercial real estate investment and asset management, and how sustainability relates to value and risk 
• Experience engaging with senior stakeholders across industry, including investors, asset managers and external initiatives 
• Ability to operate in complex and evolving areas, helping to shape direction and build consensus 
• Strong track record in developing industry guidance, research or thought leadership 
• Excellent facilitation and stakeholder management skills 
• Ability to translate complex technical topics into clear, practical, decision-useful outputs 
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills, with the ability to contribute to thought leadership and external communications 
• Proven ability to manage multiple workstreams and priorities effectively 
• A collaborative and pragmatic approach, with the ability to work effectively in a small, high-performing team 
• Demonstrated ability to operate seamlessly across strategic leadership and hands-on delivery, translating high-level direction into practical outputs 
• Comfortable operating in a small, agile organisation, combining strategic leadership with hands-on delivery 

Desirable criteria 

• Direct experience working with, or alongside, real estate investors or asset managers 
• Experience engaging with key industry frameworks and initiatives (e.g. net zero carbon, climate risk, industry benchmarks) 
• Experience representing an organisation externally, including speaking at events or contributing to industry forums 
• Experience working across European markets or with international stakeholders 
• Understanding of emerging areas such as climate resilience, nature or broader sustainability themes within real estate 

5. ROLE PROFILE / KEY ATTRIBUTES 

• Credible and confident operating at senior level, both internally and externally 
• Comfortable convening and influencing diverse stakeholder groups, often without formal authority 
• Strong judgement on where BBP can add most value, with the ability to prioritise accordingly 
• Able to operate effectively in ambiguous and evolving areas, providing clarity and direction 
• Combines strategic thinking with a pragmatic, delivery-focused approach 
• Able to shape and communicate a clear external narrative that strengthens BBP’s influence in the market 

6. DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY 

This role offers a significant opportunity to shape both the BBP’s programme and the wider market. The successful candidate will play a central role in driving forward the integration of sustainability into real estate investment and decision-making, while developing their own profile as a leader in the sector.