Senior Sustainability Consultant

Job Description Senior Sustainability Consultant Are you looking to break the mould and take your passion for sustainability to the next level?
Are you a STEM discipline scientist looking to apply your skills and knowledge to a (very) wide range of real world challenges and play a significant part in making sustainability the foundation of everything we do?
That sound like you?
Then we want to hear from you!
We're looking for an energised and visionary Senior Sustainability Consultant who isn't afraid to disrupt the status quo, challenge assumptions and create real-world impact.
If you're fuelled by big ideas and have the skills to back them up, we want to talk to you!
As a leader in our team, you'll be responsible for transformative sustainability projects that make businesses better, smarter, and more resilient.
You'll dive deep into cutting-edge, science-based research, partner with clients to build strategies, and deliver solutions that help secure a better future.
Who we are The Earth, and every species on it, is facing a climate and ecological emergency.
Small World Consulting  exists as a response to that emergency.
We challenge and support organisations to take meaningful and effective action, and to become exemplars both in their industries and beyond.
We help our clients to lead the change needed for a smooth transition to the low-carbon world, which we believe can be a better place.
Our team is laser-focused on creating innovative, planet-positive solutions that drive change, not just talk about it.
We collaborate with industries ready to evolve, and we make it happen with creativity, data, and passion Our work includes, but is not limited to:  Carbon assessment, hybridised emissions modelling, and science-based advice , focusing critically on end-to-end supply chains;  Big picture analysis , enabling organisations to understand where they fit into the global context and highlighting what they can do to help both humans and the environment thrive; Developing and implementing a robust  ESG Assessment Framework  for companies and investors that focuses on meaningful action to tackle the climate and ecological crisis;  Food and Land Systems , advising on sustainable diets, menus, supermarket practices and land management, including ecologically sound and effective carbon removal;  Communication , raising awareness of the climate emergency through talks, articles, book promotion and social media.
We say it like it is, we support our clients in facing every challenge, and we call out greenwash.
We are a small company and every employee matters.
As a team, we support each other to develop and thrive in a work environment founded on honesty, kindness and respect.
The Role You will work closely with a range of client organisations and be responsible for a diverse portfolio of projects that deliver meaningful insights and offer opportunities to drive real and sustainable change.
You will be undertaking elements of primary research and using our in-house data and modelling methodologies to assess operational (Scope 1 & 2) and supply chain (Scope 3) carbon footprints for a wide range of businesses and public-sector bodies.
In parallel, you will contribute to continuous updating of our in-house models by adding new and better data, and by refining the modelling methodologies and tools, including our in-house EEIO and MRIO models[1].
Using your carbon estimates, you will assist clients in their development of strategic responses to the climate and ecological emergency, and will provide advice to clients on carbon reduction actions and targets, drawing on but not limited by roadmaps such as SBTi.
Excellent analytical skills and an understanding of the current climate and sustainability agenda are essential.
Person Specification The Small World team cares deeply about the climate and ecological emergency.
We speak our minds without compromise, but with respect and professionalism.
In doing so we help our clients to gain perspective, make informed decisions, and acquire agency.
We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds, and encourage creative freedom as well as more technical data analysis.
About you:  You have strong quantitative and analytical skills, and are passionate about using data and models to help a wide range of clients solve complex problems related to sustainability.
You are able to work independently and use your initiative to solve problems, but will also be supported by the excellent team around you.
You have a keen eye for detail but will also be able to stand back and see the wider perspective.
You care about the quality and realism of your analysis and its ability to inform practical decision-making.
You are excited about working in a sustainability consultancy that tries to get to the core of the issues and provides clarity where it has been lacking.
You enjoy a collaborative working culture.
Employment Specifics Answerable to:   Tom Notman (CEO) Reports to:   Carbon Accounting Leads/CEO Employment Contract, Period and Wage Permanent contract | 37.5 hrs per week | Initial annual gross salary of £49,811 – £67,000 depending on qualifications, skills & experience, with regular performance-linked increments.
Main Place of Work Small World Consulting is based in offices at Lancaster Environment Centre on the Lancaster University Campus, and you will be expected to come into the office at least two days a week .
Flexible working is possible, but employees must be willing to travel for regular team meetings, team-building days or key client activities.
Main Duties o   Work closely with Small World Consulting colleagues to provide detailed estimates of operational and supply-chain carbon emissions for a broad range of organisations (using our in-house models), and develop client solutions.
o   Work as a trusted advisor to clients on carbon-reduction actions and targets, drawing on but not limited by UK-wide roadmaps such as the Sixth Carbon Budget, and introducing additional levers where appropriate.
o   Lead the ongoing development of our in-house carbon assessment models and tools.
o   Manage a diverse portfolio of client projects and lead on their delivery.
o   Translate client needs into viable projects, and prepare proposals outlining company requirements and identified solutions to be developed by Small World Consulting.
o   Use a collaborative approach to engage with clients, communicate results and develop decarbonisation targets.
o   Manage the production of client propositions, proposals and quotes for new and existing clients.
o   Undertake the necessary project administration for your portfolio with new and existing clients, from project initiation through to completion and invoicing.
o   Provide flexible support in the development of Small World Consulting as a business, which may also, from time to time, include the Director's extended roles as a published author, public speaker and Professor at Lancaster University.
o   Support case study development and external communication of project success stories.
o   Produce and deliver presentations to public, private and third-sector organisations.
o   Work collaboratively as part of a supportive team of industry specialists providing consulting services.
Essential Criteria: Educated to at least Master's level with degree in a STEM discipline.
Knowledge of current global issues: Climate Change/Net Zero, Sustainable Development Goals, Science-Based Targets Knowledge of carbon accounting.
Strong quantitative skills in the areas of model development and data analysis.
Advanced user of MS Excel, and competent in MS Outlook, Word and PowerPoint.
Evidence of transferable skills for working across sectors, e.g.
with small, medium and large businesses, public sector or academic settings.
Ability to develop new specialist competencies in carbon accounting required for specific projects and clients.
Ability to present information in an accurate and appropriate format, and to communicate effectively with a wide range of clients.
Experience of developing models or data analysis tools, using Excel and/or programming languages.
Experience of working to deadlines and under one's own initiative, managing a project from start to finish, and delivering against targets.
Desirable Criteria: Programming skills in Python (preferable) or R.  Willingness and ability to travel nationally to meetings and events on an occasional basis.
Experience of carbon accounting methods.
Experience of working as a consultant.
Experience of working in an office environment and undertaking various administrative tasks to a high standard.
Life in Lancaster Our offices are based in Lancaster Environment Centre on the Lancaster University campus.
The campus is on the outskirts of town on the edge of the countryside, with a regular bus service and cycle routes to Lancaster city centre, and parking available.
Lancaster is a small city about an hour North-West of Manchester, just off the M6.
It has good rail and motorway connections, with a West Coast Mainline train station enabling direct train journeys of around 2h30 to London and around 2h to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
There are local lines providing transport to Manchester in 1h, Liverpool in 1h30, Leeds and Birmingham in 2h and Windermere in 40 mins.
A big draw for many of our staff is the proximity to breathtaking countryside – with the fells of the Forest of Bowland AONB a few miles away, the coast of Morecambe Bay nearby, and the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks about 40 minutes away.
As a city, Lancaster is lively with a good pub and coffee shop scene, several annual music festivals, a pretty canal through the centre, and a medieval castle and Victorian park.
[1] https://www.sw-consulting.co.uk/mrio.