Principal Sustainability Consultant

Lewis Davey; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established consultancy in Cardiff seeks a Principal Sustainability Consultant to lead sustainability delivery on large projects. This influential role requires solid expertise in energy consultancy, project management, and mentoring junior staff. Applicants should be degree-qualified and ideally registered towards Chartership. The position offers hybrid working and opportunities for professional development while making significant impacts in sustainability strategy and project delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in energy and building performance consultancy, including advanced simulation work.
• Proven experience leading projects and managing resources.
• Experience mentoring and developing junior consultants.

Responsibilities

• Acting as Sustainability Discipline Project Lead on medium to large projects.
• Leading client and design team workshops, communicating sustainability advice.
• Delivering technical sustainability assessments including energy performance modelling.

Skills

Energy and building performance consultancy

Project leadership

Mentoring junior consultants

BREEAM and WELL certifications

Whole life carbon assessments

Education

Degree in a relevant discipline

Tools

IES

One Click LCA

Job description

Location:Cardiff (Hybrid working available)
Sector:Built Environment / Sustainability Consultancy

We are working with a well-established, multidisciplinary consultancy to appoint a Principal Sustainability Consultantto 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 asSustainability Discipline Project Leadon 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 atPrincipal 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 sustainability in the built environment, with clear scope for influence, progression, and technical leadership.