Director of Industry Transformation/

As momentum around the climate and ecological crises build, the role of a sustainable built environment in tackling these, as well as improving our health, wellbeing, and quality of life is increasingly understood – and now demanded. And significantly for our team, our organisation is right at the centre of this transformation. The UKGBC’s mission has soared in importance for public and private sector organisations so, at this pivotal moment for our industry, we need passionate, bright and creative people to help us make positive change happen.

THE ROLE

This role reports directly to the Chief Executive, and is responsible for shaping leading and securing funding for UKGBC’s programmatic work to develop evidence, tools, best practice guidance around sustainable built assets.

It is a strategic and industry-facing leadership role, working closely with UKGBC business members who span the entire built environment value chain to plan, fund, and deliver impactful projects that enable them to make tangible progress towards UKGBC’s vision of a sustainable built environment. The role will take a strategic view across all UKGBC’s programmatic work, but will initially focus on UKGBC’s priority impact areas of net zero carbon, climate resilience and nature.

As a member of the Leadership Team, the Director of Industry Transformation is also involved in the design and implementation of the overall organisational strategy, and contributes to the day-to-day operational decision-making. As a small, purpose-driven organisation, it’s crucial that all  Leadership Team members are able to both operate strategically and also be hands-on when necessary, adopting a constructive and problem-solving attitude.

The role requires effective collaboration across the whole team to ensure maximum integration and efficiency, particularly with the policy and places, and learning and leadership teams – both of which rely on content and knowledge developed in the programmatic work – and also the communications, events, and membership teams, to maximise the value proposition for business members.

 

A self-leadership mentality is a key requirement for all UKGBC team members, who are actively supported in their own ongoing learning and personal development. The whole team is also brought together on a regular basis in order to foster a connected, diverse, and highly engaged culture that benefits the individuals and the organisation as a whole.

UKGBC OVERVIEW

UKGBC is growing fast in profile, size, and impact, and our increasingly agile approach to working enables us to be an inclusive, flexible, diverse, and caring employer. We are a purpose-driven, dynamic, and ambitious charity made up of a team who are all passionate about working together for a better-built environment.

 

An industry-led network with a mission to radically improve the sustainability of the built environment with 700+ member organisations spanning the entire value chain, we represent the voice of the industry’s current and future leaders who are striving for transformational change.

 

We collaborate to advocate, enable and inspire accelerated leadership and action, primarily by business and government, on climate change, resource use, nature & biodiversity, health & wellbeing and socio-economic impact. We also engage our members in advocating a progressive message to the government, informing and influencing policy at national and local levels.

UKGBC is committed to providing equal opportunities to all existing and prospective colleagues. We aim to be inclusive to everyone regardless of ethnicity, religious beliefs, gender, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation or political beliefs.

 

JOB SUMMARY

Job title:  Director of Industry Transformation

Job purpose:  To lead UKGBC’s programmatic work that produces practical guidance for businesses across the built environment value chain around how to achieve more sustainable built assets; testing technical feasibility alongside economic and market viability.

Line Manager: Chief Executive

Length of contract: Permanent

People: Team of circa ten inc. three direct reports. Four other directors across the organisation.

Financial: Circa £1m income target, and circa 500k cost budget (excl. employee expenditure)

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Programmatic oversight (c.40%) 

• In consultation with members, and with reference to wider industry initiatives, identify additional tools, support and guidance that businesses need to accelerate the transition to more sustainable built assets
• Scope, design and oversee the delivery of impact and income-generating programmes and projects that meet business needs.
• Lead on programme and project management processes and tools – prioritising simplicity and efficiency and ensuring that these are fit for purpose in an agile purpose-driven culture
• Provide Director level oversight of all industry-facing outputs relating to sustainable built assets – with initial priority on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and resilience and nature-based solutions – with ultimate accountability for quality control and impact generation
• Working closely with the Director of Communications Policy & Places, ensure full alignment between technical considerations emerging from the Industry Transformation Programmes team and the policy positions adopted by UKGBC with both central, devolved and local governments
• Working closely with the Director of Experiential Learning & Leadership, design and co-facilitate opportunities to convene members together with a view to co-creating solutions, and engage in practical collaborative projects that move the mission forwards
• Working closely with the Director of Membership, ensure the deployment of expertise and content
• Working closely with the Director of Impact & Operations plan for, measure, and evaluate tangible outcomes from each of the industry transformation programmes

 

Commercial accountability (20%) 

• Review and refine the business model for programmatic work at UKGBC – overseeing the funding and resourcing of business-led programme and project work to ensure that it remains self-sufficient
• Working closely with the CEO and Director of Impact & Operations, identify and secure fundraising and commercial partnership opportunities that will unlock funds to enable UKGBC to continue convening its members to deliver impactful outcomes
• Develop and monitor departmental plans, budgets and resource schedules for all Industry Transformation Programmes, and provide accurate forecasts on monthly basis
• Financial and legal management – ultimate accountability for achieving departmental business plan and budgets, including income generation through partnership funding and wider fundraising

Governance and operational management (c.10%) 

• Strategy development and implementation  – as a member of the leadership team, play a key role in short and long-term organisational and departmental objectives, horizon scanning and risk management, KPI tracking, impact evaluation, and day to day operational decision-making.
• Prepare for, and participate in, Board meetings and workshops, and develop trusted relationships with the UKGBC Trustees

 

Leadership and People Management (10%)

• Day to day line management, motivation and empowerment of Industry Transformation team (plus consultants / secondees where necessary), and act as champion for organisational culture and values
• Prepare for, and lead or participate in, UKGBC team meetings, workshops and other events
• Build strong relationships across the whole UKGBC team, maximising integrated ways of working and high-performing efficient culture, and act as a role model for wider UKGBC team members in terms of leadership, empowerment and support

 

Membership, Partnerships & Profile (c. 20%) 

• Engage regularly with a large number of UKGBC members (both Gold Leaf and standard), to influence, inform and ultimately determine what is required from UKGBC to accelerate progress, and ensure high levels of engagement, significant Impact, and long-term retention
• Identify, target, and secure new members in close liaison with the membership team
• Conduct regular partner and competitor mapping exercises to identify strategic partnerships that would enhance UKGBC’s ability to achieve short and long-term goals, and play lead role in negotiating and managing such relationships where appropriate
• Build relationships with strategically important industry organisations and potential funding organisations
• Represent UKGBC as a spokesperson at industry conferences and events to raise our profile as widely as possible, and to promote our key messages to media and other outlets industry

 

DECISION MAKING AUTHORITY

Without reference

• Resource allocation and line management within directly managed team
• Day to day managerial decisions on the delivery of project deliverables
• Operational decisions to maintain organisational efficiency and effectiveness
• Expenditure (in line with annual budget) up to a maximum of £10k per transaction.
• Speak at and attend industry events
• Ongoing member relations, recruitment and retention

 

With reference

• Cross-departmental resource allocation
• Development and launch of new projects or membership initiatives
• Funding model for programmatic work
• Outsourcing decisions, and third-party appointments
• Recruitment
• Annual budget setting and ongoing financial reporting including monthly forecasts
• Major investments or unbudgeted costs
• Contract management for incoming secondments, P/T consultants, and internships

 

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

KEY COMPETENCIES

Essential

• Honesty, integrity and the highest standards of probity
• Passion for UKGBC’s mission and a personal drive to succeed
• Strong commercial awareness, including experience of generating income and developing new business, and developing and managing budgets
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills
• Excellent research and analytical skills with exemplary standards of quality, accuracy and timeliness
• Excellent planning, organisational and project management skills, and experience of managing a team with limited resources to tight deadlines
• Aptitude in decision-making and problem-solving
• Strong line management experience and leadership qualities in terms of motivating and inspiring team members to perform at their best
• Ability to develop and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, and ideally a large network of existing contacts in the UK industry

 

Desirable

• Creativity and problem-solving mindset
• Strong existing network of relevant contacts in UK industry and government

 

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

• Extensive experience in advisory, consultancy, commercial or research roles
• Significant knowledge of the property and construction industry, ideally with a focus on investment, development and financing
• Deep and wide-ranging knowledge and understanding of climate change mitigation, climate resilience & adaptation, nature & biodiversity in a built environment context
• Degree in relevant sustainability and building-related subject
• Property, construction, or sustainability-related professional qualifications such as from RICS, RIBA, IEMA.
• Experience of various research methodologies including qualitative, quantitative and digital
• Strong network of contacts and relationships within the UK built environment sector

 

Desirable

• Experience of obtaining funding from corporates/foundations/gov agencies
• Knowledge of current technological innovations
• International experience and understanding of sustainable development in different jurisdictions