Associate Director Sustainability
CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK
Executive Summary Welcome to the University of Oxford. We aim to lead the world in research and education for the benefit of society both in the UK and globally. Oxford’s researchers engage with academic, commercial and cultural partners across the world to stimulate high-quality research and enable innovation through a broad range of social, policy and economic impacts. We believe our strengths lie both in empowering individuals and teams to address fundamental questions of global significance, while providing all our staff with a welcoming and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to develop and do their best work. Recognising that diversity is our strength, vital for innovation and creativity, we aspire to build a truly diverse community which values and respects every individual’s unique contribution. While we have long traditions of scholarship, we are also forward looking, creative and cutting-edge. Oxford is one of Europe’s most entrepreneurial universities and we rank first in the UK for university spin outs, and in recent years we have spun out 15-20 new companies every year. We are also recognised as leaders in support for social enterprise. The University’s buildings and estate are not only necessary for our academic work; they also contribute to Oxford’s reputation as a city of learning, heritage and culture. They form a vital part of the rich architecture of the city and provide a beautiful environment for visitors and Oxford residents, as well as University staff and students. The Associate Director Sustainability is an important leadership role responsible for driving forward the University’s net zero and environmental ambitions. The postholder will provide expert advice to the University’s senior leaders, providing strategic direction on sustainable development and environmental policy, developing implementing and managing a programme of environmental improvement. The postholder will be expected to keep up to date with current and new technologies and work with the academic and research community to understand emerging opportunities. Join us and you will find a unique, democratic and international community, a great range of staff benefits and access to a vibrant array of cultural activities in the beautiful city of Oxford.
Trevor Payne Director of Estates
About the University of Oxford
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26,000 23,000 68% 46% 160
Ranked first in the world in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings for 2017 to 2024. A record eight consecutive years.
Students come to Oxford from more than 160 countries and territories (as of 1 December 2022).
Of our total student body is made of International students - around 12,075 students.
Of UK students admitted in 2022 were from the UK school state sector, making the majority of undergraduate students.
People applied to Oxford in 2022 with only 3,300 places available. Entry to undergraduate courses at Oxford continues to be competitive.
There are more than 26,000 students at Oxford, including 12,470 undergraduates and 13,920 postgraduates.
Environmental Sustainability Strategy Oxford University’s Environmental Sustainability Strategy was approved by Council on 15 March 2021. The strategy sets two ambitious targets: to achieve net zero carbon and to achieve biodiversity net gain, both by 2035
The strategy is underpinned by the following four ‘enablers’: • Governance - Embedding environmental sustainability in the University’s governance and decision-making; - The Environmental Sustainability Subcommittee, established in 2021 as a subcommittee of the Planning and Resource Allocation Committee (PRAC), is chaired by Dr David Prout, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Resources) and has representatives from across the University and student body. The Subcommittee holds overall responsibility for environmental sustainability at the University. • Reporting - Developing a system of annual reporting of carbon emissions and biodiversity impact within the first twelve months, which will be published in the University of Oxford’s Annual Review and financial accounts; • Funding - Establishing the Oxford Sustainability Fund, making £200 million available for sustainability initiatives over the next 15 years, to finance the programme of action required to reach net zero carbon and biodiversity net gain by 2035; • Offsetting - Establishing a policy to guide our use of carbon offsetting and biodiversity offsetting.
The strategy focuses on these ten priority areas: • Research - Increase research and engagement in environmental sustainability.
• Curriculum - Offer all students the opportunity to study environmental sustainability, either within or outside the examined curriculum. • Carbon emissions from University buildings - Reduce carbon emissions related to our energy consumption to a minimal level. • Biodiversity - Identify and address the University’s principal biodiversity impacts through its operations and supply chain, and enhance biodiversity on the University’s estate. • Sustainable food - Reduce the carbon emissions and biodiversity impact of our food. • Sustainable resource use - Reduce the environmental impacts of our consumption and supply chain. • International travel - Reduce aviation emissions from University staff and student travel and offset the balance of emissions. • Local travel - Limit transport emissions by reducing the need to travel, encouraging walking, cycling and the use of public transport and managing the demand to travel by car. • Investments - Ensure that the University, as an investor, is part of the solution to climate change and biodiversity loss. • Learning from the pandemic - Build on the experience of the pandemic and the potential shift to more environmentally sustainable working practices.
Visit our Environmental Sustainability Strategy Q&A page for responses to some of the key questions regarding the strategy.
Our Estate The University’s estate, comprising buildings for research, teaching, learning, and administration, has been growing at around 5% a year for the last 15 years. Today there are around 260 buildings across 13 sites in and around Oxford. We aim to provide our staff and students with state-of-the-art facilities within an inspiring and historic setting, to improve opportunities for interdisciplinary working, and to minimise our environmental impact. We invest in the estate to enable new or improved ways of working; this includes the decommissioning and transformation of inappropriate spaces. How we manage and develop the estate is underpinned by our environmental policies. To support this investment, we have on average of 80 building and refurbishment projects ongoing at any one time, with an annual expenditure in excess of £100m. This cost is met through a combination of University funds, Government grants and initiatives, and donations.
Click on the pack to view our ambitious Estate Strategy.
University of Oxford Estate Strategy The University’s Estate Strategy 2024–2029 sets out the guiding principles that will enable us to deliver the excellent facilities that will support our academic mission.
Our estate in numbers Over 270 buildings that we use for teaching, research,
The University’s estate is large, diverse, and complex, and it has been growing steadily for many years. We are proud of the many excellent buildings we have created, but we need to balance investment in new facilities with the ongoing maintenance of our existing estate to create far more pleasant and comfortable environments for work and study, supporting the University’s core academic mission of research, education, public outreach and innovation. This means delivering an estate that meets the needs of staff and students and meets modern standards in terms of accessibility and safety, provides a stimulating learning environment, well suited to its purpose and is sustainable over the long term in both financial and environmental terms. We must also ensure we provide the resources needed to maintain this high standard. Our Estate Strategy aims to put us in a position to do all this. It does not exist in isolation; it is one of the enabling elements that will underpin delivery of our overarching strategic aims and the University’s mission: the advancement of learning by teaching and research and its dissemination by every means. The strategy was produced in close collaboration with colleagues all over the collegiate University, and by reflecting on what we have been told through a wide range of engagement and consultation activities. While quality and functional suitability are key priorities, so is the flexibility to adapt as our needs change in future so that the estate continues to support the University’s core mission. It will be delivered through a set of linked guiding principles.
administration, sports, libraries, museums, and ceremonial events. 200 properties that we manage commercially, including office space, warehouses, and property. The University estate contains some of Oxford’s oldest and finest buildings. The oldest dates from 1326 , and 20% of our buildings are listed, including the Radcliffe Camera, Sheldonian
Key principles At the heart of the strategy are guiding principles that will inform the long-term management of the estate during this period. They are: z The purpose of the estate is to support the University’s core academic mission of research and education, including public outreach and innovation . z The functional estate must be f i t for purpose and adaptable to meet existing and developing academic priorities . z The University must conserve its historic built and natural environment , ensuring appropriate and careful use of listed buildings and green spaces. z The University estate must meet threshold standards (quality, legal compliance, and environmental sustainability). z The University estate must be affordable and financially sustainable .
Theatre and Old Bodleian Library. Green spaces including 70 acres of green parkland in central Oxford
1000 acres of ancient semi-natural forest at
Wytham Woods Agricultural land around the city,
including over 100 acres at Park Farm on the banks of the Cherwell which can be used for academic research.
University of Oxford Estate Strategy
A virtual tour of the estate can be viewed here.
Meet the team The Environmental Sustainability team sits within Estates Services, one of the central administrative departments of the University. Find out more here .
The Role
Budget and the Oxford Carbon Management Fund. Ensure reports on funding and spend are structured to help decision making. • Develop bids for funding from eg Capital Plan based on well scoped Business Plan demonstrating evidence of alignment with the Sustainability Strategy and value for money. • Lead on review of opportunities for commercial partnerships to deliver sustainability infrastructure on key sites. • Develop and shape the strategic approach to decarbonisation and energy saving, ensuring that key stakeholders are engaged and support the approach. Provide evidence of progress. • Lead the Environmental Sustainability team, ensuring that the team are effectively meeting objectives, including energy efficiency, carbon reduction, biodiversity, travel, waste reduction and support for the development of sustainability curriculum proposals. • Develop and lead Biodiversity objectives, working with the stewards of the ‘Oxford Green Estate’ to champion biodiversity across the Estates and other land owners across the city. • Manage the development of data and dashboards to demonstrate progress against Sustainability objectives for the University and its supply chain. Provide effective reporting and communication to committees and the wider University. • Promote the Sustainability Design Guide develop effective communication and training on the guide, ensuring Capital Projects understand how to use the guide to deliver cost effective sustainable projects. • Work collaboratively across the University and wider community to promote and communicate Oxford University’s sustainability ambitions.
good understanding of best practice for delivering sustainability objectives across a diverse portfolio of University buildings.
Job title Division
Associate Director Sustainability
UAS
Department
Estates Services : Operations team The Malthouse, Tidmarsh Lane, Oxford, OX1 1NQ
Location
This post requires a highly motivated and enthusiastic person with considerable experience and a firm commitment to maintaining high standards for service delivery. He/she will collaborate and support the wider Estates Strategic leadership team in the development and delivery of the Estates Services vision and strategy. This is a key role reporting to the Director of Operations. They will work closely with the Head of Engineering and Maintenance and with the Capital Projects teams to embed sustainable practice and implement sustainability and biodiversity projects. Flexible working Flexible hybrid working Is offered for this role. The successful candidate will be expected to spend time in Oxford on a weekly basis to support their team and build stakeholder relationships. Responsibilities Strategic Leadership and Contribution: • Lead the delivery of the objectives of Oxford University’s Sustainability Strategy, provide expertise and guidance to the senior members of the University. • Manage and support the Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee (ESSC) providing relevant and timely information to allow the committee to make decisions in support of the Sustainability Strategy. • Manage budgets, including the Sustainability
Grade/salary
Grade 10: Competitive
Hours
Full Time - Hybrid working offered 3 days a week on site
Contract type Permanent Reporting to
Director of Operations
The Associate Director of Sustainability is an important leadership role responsible for driving forward the University’s net zero and environmental ambitions. The postholder will provide expert advice to the University’s senior leaders, providing strategic direction on sustainable development and environmental policy, developing implementing and managing a programme of environmental improvement. The postholder will be expected to keep up to date with current and new technologies and work with the academic and research community to understand emerging opportunities. The Associate Director of Sustainability will provide strategic direction to the teams under their control, leading a team of professional staff responsible for delivering; energy efficiency, biodiversity, guidance on sustainable construction and retrofit, travel policy and waste reduction This is a role that involves long-term planning and foresight, ability to develop relationships across the University and beyond and a
Candidates should possess appropriate professional qualifications and substantial experience at a senior management level in the field of building and/or estate management within a large and complex organisation. Person Specification
In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the following attributes:
Essential selection criteria • A good first degree or equivalent in a relevant subject • Direct experience of implementing an Environmental Management System in the private sector or a university. • Substantial work experience in an environmental or sustainability related role • Substantial experience of delivering a programme of carbon reduction • Experience in leading and managing a team of professional staff • Experience of reporting including developing data and dashboards to demonstrate performance against targets • Business case development experience
• Experience in successful project management • Experience in developing and managing budgets • Experience of change management
Desirable selection criteria • Postgraduate qualification in any environmental science • Membership of an appropriate professional body • Previous Higher Education experience
How to Apply
The University of Oxford has engaged the services of the Management Recruitment Group, to whom applications should be sent.
To apply, please submit a comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV) along with a short covering letter that sets out your interest in the role and highlights any pertinent experience/expertise that you would bring to the position. For a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please contact: Hannah Searle hannah.searle@mrgglobal.com Sian Gardiner sian.gardiner@mrgglobal.com
Please email your application to hannah.searle@mrgglobal.com
Recruitment Programme Sunday 5th January
Closing date
w/c 6th January w/c 13th January
MRG preliminary interviews
Shortlist meeting
From w/c 20th January
1st stage informal /formal panel interview
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