Sustainability & Carbon Consultant

Job Description

Overview 

We are seeking a technically strong early career Sustainability and Carbon Consultant to join the Engineering & Design Sustainability team within our Buildings & Places practice. The role combines project delivery, carbon analysis and wider sustainability advice, helping multidisciplinary teams turn evidence backed sustainable design aspirations into practical and implementable design solutions.

The role focuses on whole-life and embodied carbon, alongside broader holistic sustainability advisory services for new-build, retrofit projects and master planning projects. You will support clients and multidisciplinary design teams from feasibility and strategy through design, delivery and construction. Your work will include setting project-specific sustainability goals, developing carbon baselines and performance targets, identifying hotspots, testing options and supporting practical reductions through the PAS 2080 carbon reduction hierarchy, circular-economy principles, sustainable material selection, passive design and a fabric-first approach. 

You will also develop and deploy bespoke project sustainability frameworks, working with multidisciplinary teams to set and deliver project-specific targets across environment, climate adaptation, resources, energy, economics, connectivity, community and wellbeing.  

You will take ownership of agreed project workstreams and smaller commissions, while working within established technical assurance, resourcing and project‑management arrangements. You will contribute to effective project delivery through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, while continuing to build your technical capability and experience.

AtkinsRéalis is one of the world's leading design, engineering and project management consultancies. Our Buildings Sustainability team supports high-profile projects across cities and development, education, residential, aviation, defence, energy and manufacturing. As part of a collaborative and supportive team, you will work alongside sustainable design specialists while developing your technical expertise, client-engagement skills and project-delivery experience. 

Your role

• Deliver whole life and embodied carbon assessments for new-build and retrofit building projects, including baseline assessments, hotspot analysis, design optioneering and carbon reduction recommendations. 

• Develop and maintain building carbon models using project information from architectural, structural and building services design teams, cost plans, bill of quantities or site information. 

• Develop, implement and report project-specific sustainability and carbon strategies throughout the design process, translating agreed objectives into measurable targets, coordinated actions and clear recommendations. 

• Provide technical advice on circular economy principles, sustainable materials selection, waste minimisation, energy efficiency, passive and low-carbon design solutions. 

• Contribute to multidisciplinary sustainability and carbon workshops, clearly communicating technical findings to clients and design teams. 

• Prepare high-quality technical reports, presentations and client deliverables, ensuring outputs are robust, accurate and accessible to technical and non-technical audiences. 

• Support the management of smaller commissions, including task planning, programme coordination, budget monitoring, quality checks and timely escalation of delivery risks. 

• Contribute to bids and proposals through technical and quality content preparation. 

• Contribute to the development of team capability by sharing knowledge and learning, supporting colleagues where appropriate, participating in internal training, and actively developing your own technical skills and experience.

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across AtkinsRéalis to integrate carbon and sustainability considerations into building design and delivery. 

• Occasionally represent AtkinsRéalis at industry and networking events with professionalism. 

About you 

The ideal candidate is hard-working, thorough, enthusiastic and approachable and can confidently integrate into and influence multi-disciplinary teams with technical knowledge and expertise with a strong eye for detail. The essential requirements below describe the core experience and capabilities needed for the role. The desirable criteria highlight additional knowledge and qualifications that would be advantageous. We also welcome equivalent combinations of relevant project experience, research, professional practice and continuing professional development. 

• Possess a degree or equivalent qualification in architecture, engineering, construction, sustainability, environmental science, climate change, carbon management or a related built-environment discipline. Working towards a relevant professional qualification (ARB, CEnv, or other) is desirable. 

• Proactive, organised and adaptable, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain technical quality across multiple building projects. 

• Curious and committed to sustainability, with an informed understanding of recent industry developments and relevant national and international policy, standards and guidance. 

• Strong experience developing and interrogating carbon models for building design, including defining assumptions, reviewing inputs, identifying hotspots and translating results into practical design recommendations. 

• Demonstrable experience delivering whole life and embodied carbon assessments for building projects across relevant design and construction stages, with the ability to work independently and collaborate with multidisciplinary design teams. 

• Working knowledge of recognised standards and methods for assessing building carbon, including the RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment Professional Standard, second edition, and PAS 2080 Carbon Management. 

• Experience using building life cycle assessment and carbon modelling tools such as One Click LCA, to develop assessments, test design options and extract results. 

• Working knowledge and familiarity with building construction technology, including envelope, structural and MEP systems, with the ability to interrogate design proposals to identify carbon reduction and sustainable opportunities. 
• Proficient with MS Office tools, especially Excel, Word and PowerPoint. 
• Working knowledge of circular economy principles, sustainable material selection, resource efficiency and wider building sustainability considerations, with the ability to apply these principles to design decisions. 

• Strong analytical skills and critical thinking, with the ability to inform assumptions, interrogate design and materials data, and identify findings and trends clearly. 

• Strong report writing, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to different audiences. 

• Familiarity with building sustainability and performance frameworks such as BREEAM, WELL and Passivhaus would be advantageous. 

Rewards & benefits 

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life. 

Be rewarded. Find out more. 

About AtkinsRéalis 

We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. 

Find out more. 

Additional information

Security clearance 

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance. 

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we are committed to offering an interview to all applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria. If you would like to be considered under this commitment, please let us know at the application stage. 
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Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.