Head of Sustainability

Wickes is currently recruiting for a newly created Head of Sustainability role based in our Watford Support Centre with a remit of managing our overarching sustainability programme and leading on our environmental programmes.

Reporting into the HR Director the successful candidate will work with experts and other key stakeholders based within the business to deliver against a sustainability agenda which enhances business performance and supports the Company’s strategy and long-term interests.

Wickes’ culture is a best-kept secret; it’s a collaborative, down to earth, fun and inclusive environment where people feel part of a winning team. It’s an exciting time in Wickes’ history as following strong growth, 2020 will be the year that Wickes demerges from the Travis Perkins group and becomes a FTSE 250 company in its own right. 

The Role: Head of Sustainability

As Head of Sustainability, you will be responsible for coordinating our sustainability offer company-wide and be the “voice of environmental awareness” to all stakeholders in the business.

Key Accountabilities

• Review and evolve the current sustainability framework as needed (across all social, environmental and economic topics)

• Assess compliance with core aspects of the existing sustainability programme to understand gaps and priorities

• Establish appropriate internal controls and measurement systems to support sustainability efforts

• Ensure effective governance of all aspects of the sustainability agenda

• Lead on external sustainability reporting (Annual Report, website and other)

• Work closely with multiple departments to drive the Sustainability agenda  

• Develop an overarching environmental strategy and work with relevant internal stakeholders to deliver, including management of legal requirements, determining key risks and opportunities, managing down costs and completing mandatory and performance reports.

• Set targets and objectives for carbon, waste and timber

• Complete carbon reporting at least annually for the mandatory disclosures in the Annual Report;

• complete the CDP Climate Change disclosure and other environmental investor disclosures as needed.

Skills & Experience; Head of Sustainability  

• 5-10 years’ experience in implementing and guiding sustainability programmes and initiatives at both a strategic and operational level

• Industry-relevant experience preferred

• Degree or higher in sustainability, environmental engineering/science or related discipline

• Understand sustainability expectations and trends.  Ability to balance financial goals with increasing external expectations

• Experience influencing and engaging internal stakeholders from branch level up to Board level.  

• Knowledge of and experience working with sustainability frameworks, protocols, targets and disclosures (e.g., UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CDP, Science-based Targets (SBTs), Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Modern Slavery Act (MSA) statement, etc.);

• Excellent interpersonal skills

• Experience of leading, often without direct reporting lines, to deliver against targets

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the confidence to handle both complex and sensitive contacts

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy;

• Ability to prioritise and multi-task

• Commercial outlook and analytical mind.

A full job description will be available upon request