Principal Sustainability Consultant

We are working with a well-established, multidisciplinary consultancy to appoint a Principal Sustainability Consultant to join their growing sustainability team in Cardiff. This is a senior, client-facing role offering the opportunity to lead complex projects across the built environment and play a key role in shaping sustainability strategy and delivery.

The Role

This is a varied and influential position suited to an experienced sustainability professional who enjoys combining technical leadership with project and team management. The successful candidate will take ownership of sustainability delivery on medium to large-scale projects across all RIBA stages, while also supporting wider team development.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as Sustainability Discipline Project Lead on medium to large projects, including supporting outline and detailed planning submissions
• Leading sustainability workstreams on major projects, supporting senior leadership on delivery
• Developing and coordinating project programmes and resource plans
• Leading client and design team workshops, clearly communicating technical and strategic sustainability advice
• Delegating, managing, and reviewing technical work produced by junior team members
• Delivering and overseeing a range of technical sustainability assessments, including:
  • Energy performance modelling (Part L, Part O, thermal comfort, operational energy)
  • BREEAM and other environmental and wellbeing certifications (e.g. HQM, WELL)
  • Energy strategies to support planning and design development
  • Whole life carbon assessments and Net Zero carbon strategies
• Contributing to internal technical excellence initiatives to maintain industry-leading capability
• Mentoring and developing junior consultants in technical delivery and project management

Required Experience & Core Competencies

Applicants are not expected to cover every area below, but should demonstrate depth in key focus areas and a willingness to broaden expertise.

Essential experience includes:

• Energy and building performance consultancy, including advanced simulation work
  • Building Regulations Part L (Elmhurst and/or IES)
  • Part O and thermal comfort assessments
• Proven experience leading projects and managing resources
• Experience mentoring and developing junior consultants
• Delivery of environmental and wellbeing certifications (e.g. BREEAM, HQM, WELL) at design and post-construction stages
• Whole life carbon assessments, ideally using platforms such as One Click LCA
• Experience supporting successful planning applications and working with local authorities

Desirable Experience

• Operational energy modelling (e.g. CIBSE TM54, NABERS UK, Passivhaus / PHPP)
• Development of holistic sustainability strategies and implementation plans
• Environmental impact assessment related to climate change and carbon
• Circular economy statements
• Fee proposal development
• Line management experience

About You

• Currently operating at Principal level (or equivalent) within sustainability consultancy
• Degree-qualified in a relevant discipline with a strong technical foundation
• Professionally registered and working towards Chartership (Chartership advantageous)
• Confident leading workshops and engaging with multidisciplinary design teams
• Strong communicator with a collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Motivated by delivering genuinely impactful sustainability outcomes

This role offers the opportunity to join a respected consultancy at the forefront of