Associate Director (Sustainability)

Job Description

Are you a Sustainability professional looking to shape the future of our planet? We are looking to recruit a Sustainability Team Leader for our China business, based in either Shanghai or Beijing.

Buro Happold’s Sustainability team are industry leaders in the field of ESG, low carbon and sustainability design in the built environment. Our projects range from working with national and local Government to support policy makers, to developing low carbon energy and sustainability strategies for the design and planning of new developments or to assisting clients to decarbonise their existing buildings and estates.

We are looking to expand our established sustainability consultancy team in China and are seeking a Sustainability Team Leader who will be based in either our Shanghai or Beijing office to lead this growing part of our China business.

In this position, you will grow and lead a multidisciplinary sustainability team, working with a diverse range of clients including developers, architects, and asset owners/operators. You will report to the Regional Head of Sustainability (based in Beijing) and be able to win and deliver consultancy and strategic advisory work on the basis of your own expertise, knowledge and network, with the support from sustainability APAC leaders and other senior business leaders in China.

Key Duties

• Client engagement: engaging directly with established Buro Happold clients in China to understand their sustainability challenges and to present and showcase our ESG, sustainability and net zero offering.
• Business development: preparing bids and proposals and responding to tenders to win work.
• Collaboration: working with other Buro Happold teams in China, Asia-Pacific and elsewhere (particularly the UK) to develop winning bids and to deliver successful projects.
• Recruitment and line management: recruiting staff with the support from Talent Acquisition team to grow a team in China.
• Project management and delivery of consultancy services, including the management of multi-disciplinary teams.
• Thought leadership: preparing thought leadership articles and presenting at key external events to showcase Buro Happold’s expertise and contribute to the sustainability debate in China.

Your Skills & Experience

• Proven track record of winning work to provide ESG, sustainability and net zero consultancy services for the built environment. A well-established network of clients and collaborators.
• Significant experience of delivering ESG, low carbon and sustainability consultancy and strategic advisory services to a range of private and public sector clients.
• Experience with line management and in establishing new geographical offices.
• An understanding of the China policy and regulatory framework relating to energy use, carbon emissions and sustainability of buildings.
• A detailed knowledge of the measures and systems for reducing carbon emissions within the built environment, including energy demand reduction, renewable energy generation, and low carbon energy supply and demand management options.
• Master’s degree in engineering, physics, sustainability/energy, related, although strong candidates with other science backgrounds will be considered.
• An ability to communicate effectively in Mandarin and English and write concise and clear reports.
• Willingness to travel.

What we offer

• Join a mission and values-led business with ambitious sustainability objectives (read our net zero roadmap here).
• We believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours.
• You'll get strong support from regional and global leadership team for both business and personal career development.
• There will be tremendous on-the-job training both in person and online; you'll also be able to collaborate and learn from a global community of sustainability and environmental practitioners in the UK, Germany, US etc.
• We place a lot of value in employee well-being and you'll enjoy a generous holiday allowance of 20 days per year.

Ready for something a little less ordinary?

Apply now to start your career journey with us.