Job reference: SRF47283
Salary: £45,585 - £56,021 per annum
Closing date: 26/08/2024
Department: Estates
Location: Whiteknights Reading UK
Employment type: PM-ALC
Division: Sustainability and Decarbonisation
Hours Per Week: 35 hours per week
Job live date: 02/08/2024
Employment Basis/Type: Full time, Fixed Term

Job Description

An exciting opportunity to lead on the delivery of the University’s ambitious Net Zero Carbon Plan as part of its award-winning Sustainability team in Estates.  The Head of Decarbonisation will manage a multi-million budget, including managing staff responsible for the University’s utilities contracts and efforts to reduce consumption, cost and carbon, and a University-wide sustainability champions programme.

Your previous energy experience will see you leading initiatives to understand, measure and reduce the University’s carbon emissions across all scopes, particularly with a focus on heat decarbonisation, travel and supply chain emissions.

The University is ranked by People & Planet as the greenest in the UK, and the post holder will work closely with the wider Sustainability and Estates teams to steer and deliver University-wide initiatives to support ongoing progress towards the University’s ambitious sustainability goals and its reputation as a sustainability leader in the higher education sector.

You will have:

  • Excellent experience of energy reduction in a range of buildings, as well as renewable energy and heat decarbonisation solutions.
  • A good understanding of carbon reporting guidelines and best practice, including in the definition and delivery of decarbonisation strategies.
  • Experience of managing £1m+ supply contracts and budgets.
  • Strong communication skills at all levels, both written and verbal, with an ability to influence and facilitate change.
  • Previous supervisory experience

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

The post is for an initial fixed term of 12 months.  It is anticipated that a permanent post will be recruited for, towards the end of this period.


Closing date: 26 August 2024

Interviews will be held: 10 September


Contact role: Energy & Sustainability Director

Contact name: Dan Fernbank

Contact phone: 0118 3785075 / 07808 647189

Contact email: d.fernbank@reading.ac.uk


Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. By reference to the applicable SOC code for this role, sponsorship may be possible under the Skilled Worker Route.  Applicants wishing to consider the SWR must ensure that they are able to meet the points requirement before applying.  There is further information about this on the UK Visas and Immigration Website.

The University is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce, supports the gender equality Athena SWAN Charter and the Race Equality Charter, and champions LGBT+ equality. Applications for job-share, part-time and flexible working arrangements are welcomed and will be considered in line with business needs.


Take a look around the company https://www.reading.ac.uk/