Head of ESG

Head of ESG

Location: UK / Remote - with expected nationwide travel

Competitive salary + £6,900 Car Allowance

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (40 hours/week, Mon–Fri)

About the role:

Are you ready to do something bold, different, and meaningful?

We’re seeking a visionary and hands-on Head of ESG to lead the development and delivery of our Environmental, Social, and Governance strategy across Mears Group. This is a brand-new, high-impact role that will shape our sustainability journey, drive responsible business practices, and deliver measurable impact - environmentally, socially, and financially.

You’ll be the driving force behind our ESG ambitions, embedding them into the heart of our operations and culture. From strategic planning to transparent reporting, stakeholder engagement to regulatory compliance, you’ll ensure our ESG approach is proactive, ethical, and future-ready.

This is your opportunity to bring energy, ambition, and commitment to a role where you can truly do something different - and be able to look back and say, “I did this.”

Duties:

• Develop and lead short, medium, and long-term ESG strategy aligned with Group objectives
• Engage and influence internal and external stakeholders to embed ESG across the business
• Represent Mears at ESG-related events, conferences, and client meetings
• ‘Lead internal ESG related reporting in liaison with business leads (e.g. demonstrating ESG strategy progress, ESG Board, Mears Group PLC Board updates etc)’
• ‘Lead external ESG related reporting in liaison with the Net Zero team and other departments as required (e.g. TCFD, UK SDS transition, SDGs, MSCI, FTSE4Good, Sustainalytics, CSRD, GRI, Mears Group PLC Annual Report and others as required)
• Collaborate with and support workstream leads on Healthy Planet, Improving Lives, and Good Governance
• Manage relationships with sustainability ratings agencies and drive score improvements
• Support delivery of our Net Zero strategy and social housing retrofit services
• Develop and implement a strategic approach to Social Value across the Group
• Partner with the Mears Foundation to support community priorities
• Champion ESG culture change through communication, training, and leadership
• Chair and manage the ESG Board to ensure our ESG strategy is effectively delivered and continuously evolves 
• Undertake and maintain an ESG materiality assessment as part of our ESG strategy approach
• Act as a strategic advisor to the Board, translating ESG risks and opportunities into actionable insights that drive long-term value creation
• Ensure ESG strategy is future-proofed, agile, and responsive to emerging global trends, regulatory shifts, and stakeholder expectations
• Align ESG strategy with client expectations, contractual obligations, and sector-specific sustainability goals
• Lead the integration of ESG principles across all business functions, ensuring consistency and cohesion in delivery
• Develop ESG frameworks and toolkits to support operational teams in embedding best practices
• Monitor and evaluate ESG performance across the Group, identifying gaps and driving continuous improvement
• Collaborate with Bid and Commercial teams to embed ESG into tenders, proposals, and client-facing materials
• Provide ESG input into investment decisions, risk assessments, and strategic planning processes
• Oversee ESG-related data governance, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and readiness for audit or assurance
• Build internal capability through mentoring, knowledge-sharing, and development of ESG champions
• Stay ahead of industry developments, regulatory changes, and innovation in ESG to inform strategy and maintain competitive advantage
• Foster partnerships with external organisations, NGOs, and academic institutions to enhance ESG impact and credibility
• Lead ESG due diligence for acquisitions, partnerships, and major projects
• Ensure alignment between ESG strategy and other Group priorities, including DE&I, digital transformation, and workforce development

Experience / Qualifications

• Proven track record in ESG strategy development, implementation, and reporting
• Experience with sustainability frameworks and reporting (e.g. TCFD, UK SDS transition, SDGs, MSCI, FTSE4Good, Sustainalytics, CSRD, GRI)
• Strong stakeholder engagement and investor communication skills
• Background in customer-focused services and project delivery
• Line management and cross-functional leadership experience
• Preferred: Experience in PLCs and PLC Annual Reporting, social housing, or government sectors
• Deep expertise in ESG, sustainability, and governance
• Strategic thinker with operational agility
• Excellent communicator across all levels
• Skilled in data analysis, impact measurement, and risk mitigation
• Ability to influence, negotiate, and lead change
• Comfortable working in matrix environments and cross-functional teams
• ESG/sustainability related qualification
• Membership of a relevant professional body
• Full UK driving license

Personal attributes:

• A self-starter with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Deeply passionate about sustainability and social impact
• Resilient, adaptable, and emotionally intelligent in a fast-paced environment
• Skilled at managing competing priorities and tight deadlines with composure
• Collaborative and creative, with a commitment to continuous improvement
• A strategic thinker who can see the big picture and connect the dots
• An exceptional communicator and influencer across all levels
• Energetic, driven, and unwavering in your commitment to making a difference

Benefits we can offer you:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Private Medical Care for you and your family
• Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment.
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
• Family friendly policies

Ready to lead the charge in building a better future? Apply now and join a team that’s improving lives, protecting the planet, and driving good governance with purpose.

Please note: Shortlisting and first-stage interviews will take place at the beginning of October.

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

To drive a Mears vehicle, you must be aged over 21 have held your license over 3 months and have less than 9 points.

Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant DBS/Security checks before commencement of employment.

Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.

At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.