Overview

Are you a visionary sustainability leader ready to drive system-wide change and shape a greener future for healthcare?

We are seeking an exceptional specialist to champion, lead and accelerate the sustainability and Net Zero ambitions of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust (FHFT) and our Integrated Care System (ICS). This high‑profile role will elevate the organisation’s sustainability agenda across local, regional and national platforms—ensuring our performance stands out as a beacon of excellence within the NHS.

As the organisation’s senior sustainability lead, you will provide expert guidance, strategic direction and programme leadership to deliver our Green Plans and achieve Net Zero targets. You will assure the Board on sustainability performance, regulatory compliance and carbon reporting, while identifying opportunities to accelerate progress and exceed national expectations.

Working with Executives, clinical and operational leaders, you will embed sustainability into everyday practice by providing the training, tools and behavioural‑change programmes needed to transform services. You will lead the development and delivery of long‑term strategies that improve population health, enhance care quality, drive efficiencies and maximise social value across the ICS.

You will lead and develop a specialist sustainability team, oversee governance and reporting, and drive delivery through strong policies, data frameworks and a broad programme of work across all emission sources. From developing business cases and chairing sustainability groups to managing climate risks, statutory reporting and Green Wards initiatives, you will play a central role in shaping a more sustainable future for our communities.

This is a unique opportunity to lead transformative change at scale, influence at Board level and help deliver a Net Zero healthcare system with lasting impact.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

  • Educated to degree level in a related discipline
  • Educated to a post-graduate qualification or equivalent experience
  • Membership of a sustainability related association (IEMA or CIWM etc)
  • Experience in managing a sustainability and decarbonisation agenda
  • Experience working in a large complex public sector organisation
  • Significant experience in writing a broad range of business cases
  • Proven leadership experience in managing a team
  • Experience in liaising and negotiating with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority to Board level.
  • Specialist sustainability knowledge acquired through courses and experience to master’s level or equivalent
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Comfortable with working autonomously
  • Proactive and resilient approach
  • Knowledge of current environmental and sustainability legislation and policy
  • Experience of delivery projects against competing priorities and deadlines
  • Experience of managing operational and capital budgets
  • Experience of procurement processes and frameworks
  • Able to receive complex information and negotiate agreement
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Able to prioritise significant workloads
  • Knowledge of Microsoft Office software / IT skills
  • Experience of delivering complex multi stakeholder projects
  • Logical and consistent approach to data collection and monitoring, recording and audit with ability to identify and analyse trends

Desirable:

  • Experience as a sustainability leader in the NHS
  • Developing training tools and courses in sustainability
  • Prince2 or similar project management methodology
  • Knowledge of continuous improvement methodologies
  • Knowledge of operational and technical aspects of the NHS (waste, Hard/Soft FM etc)