Head of ESG (FTC, Maternity Cover - 12 Months) (0733)

Sage Housing; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job description

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About Sage Homes

Sage Homes is an innovative Blackstone and Regis business addressing the housing crisis in England by making good homes affordable for people across the country who need them.

Since 2017 we have delivered around 17,000 new homes across affordable rent, shared ownership and social rent for individuals and families. In 2021 Sage Homes became the largest provider of new affordable housing in England, and we continue to deliver high quality affordable homes across the country.

We have invested more than £3 billion into high-quality affordable housing. Our entrepreneurial spirit combined with our technical expertise has got us to where we are today and will enable future sustainable growth.

About the role:

Sage Homes is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of ESG to lead our corporate sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) programmes. The maternity cover role for Head of ESG will have a primary focus on the development of the roadmap to net zero for Sage Homes.

As the successful candidate, you will be working with colleagues across the business to evaluate the different potential decarbonisation scenarios and scope out the most efficient path for Sage and our customers. The aim is to progress to a clear set of recommendations to investors and the Sage Board to build into the 30-year corporate plan.

In addition, you will deliver the internal and external sustainability communications and reporting strategy, including developing content, tracking metrics, gathering quantitative and qualitative data, evaluating impacts and outcomes and developing an industry-leading sustainability report.

This position requires an experienced and detail-oriented project management professional who is passionate about enterprise sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

ESG Strategy & Net Zero Roadmap

• Lead the delivery of our ESG strategy and initiatives.
• Develop and implement a roadmap to net zero, working cross-functionally to evaluate decarbonisation scenarios and present recommendations to the Board.
• Oversee the reduction of Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Act as Sage's sustainability ambassador with internal teams, investors, regulators, and industry groups.
• Collaborate on internal communications and education to build ESG awareness and engagement.

Leadership & Team Management

• Manage and support the ESG Analyst and Community Manager.
• Guide ESG development across teams and lead the ESG Steering Committee.

Data, Reporting & Insights

• Oversee data collection, tracking, and impact evaluation across ESG programmes.
• Develop sustainability communications and reports in line with key frameworks (e.g. SRS, ESG SHWG, Blackstone guidelines).
• Provide regular insights and updates to leadership and the Board.

About you

• Proven ESG experience, ideally within housing, consulting or corporate sustainability.
• Strong project and stakeholder management skills with a strategic mindset.
• Confident communicator with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Skilled in sustainability reporting frameworks and ESG standards.
• Degree in a relevant field; Master's or MBA preferred.

We are committed to ensuring you have the best career here at Sage. As well as regular support and guidance from your manager you can expect to receive a variety of learning and development opportunities to support you as you grow within our business. This includes internally and externally delivered development programmes and opportunities to study for professional accreditations and qualifications.

Culture and benefits:

At Sage Homes, we want to empower diverse, ambitious people to thrive. We are fast-paced and inclusive, and encourage our people to use their passion, curiosity and inventiveness to help us create safe places for our customers to flourish.

To make sure our colleagues feel welcome and cared for, we provide a suite of excellent benefits, including:

• 25 days holiday, and an additional day for every year's service (up to five years)
• Annual discretionary bonus scheme
• A health cash plan, with financial support for a range of options including physiotherapy, opticians, dental and private online GP sessions
• Study support package, helping you achieve your personal and professional development ambitions
• Workplace Pension - matching personal contributions up to 5%
• Cycle to Work scheme, helping you save up to 40% on a new bike and accessories
• Electric car scheme, enabling you to rent a brand-new electric car at low-cost payments
• Wellbeing support through MyndUp
• Two days' paid volunteering leave a year, allowing you to support causes you care about
• Charity fundraising support, with match-funding up to £1,000 for good causes

We believe that investing in our people is key to our success. Our benefits are designed to support your well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance, ensuring you feel valued and empowered to make a difference every day.