Overview
The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) will play a critical leadership role in aligning departmental strategy and operations with national and international social and environmental sustainability goals. Reporting to the Commercial Director, the CSO is the head of the sustainability function within HMRC, with the opportunity to influence the Executive Committee and HMRC Board.
The CSO will drive the embedding of sustainability across procurement and supply chains, operations and our estate. The CSO will influence and collaborate with senior leaders across the enterprise to ensure the integration of the department’s sustainability ambitions in both our investment lifecycle and in the day-to-day actions of our workforce.
Person specification
Essential:
- Deep understanding of UK and international climate and environmental policy and frameworks, including the Net Zero Strategy, the Climate Change Act, the Environmental Improvement Plan and the Taskforce for Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.
- Working knowledge of climate science, carbon accounting, and environmental systems, with the ability to apply systems thinking to policy and operational decisions.
- Proven experience influencing senior stakeholders, including Executive Boards and C-suite representatives at external partners, with an ability to build credibility and trust at all levels.
- Experience of influencing investment business cases, with the capability to embed sustainability in procurement and supply chains, operations and estates.
- Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams of subject matter experts, working with suppliers and other stakeholders within, and on behalf of, large and/or complex organisations.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to translate technical information into compelling narratives for a range of audiences.
- Confident using evidence and data to inform strategy and track performance, including emissions baselining and government metrics and targets.
Desirable:
- Familiarity with UK frameworks and reporting standards, including government sustainability reporting frameworks, HM Treasury Green Book and private sector mechanisms (TCFD, GRI).
- Familiarity with climate and environment-related frameworks (such as the GHG Protocol, SBTi, ISO 14001). Ability to identify and advocate for innovative solutions and emerging technologies.
This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.
