Carbon & Environment Lead
12 month Fixed Term Contract

Who are we?

First Rail is part of FirstGroup, one of the leading rail operators and one of the largest bus operators in the UK.  FirstGroup operates services throughout the UK and Ireland, with over 30,000 employees providing services that make travel smoother and life easier.  FirstGroup works hard to reduce its impact on the environment, introducing cleaner and more environmentally responsible methods of transport

About the job

We have an exciting opportunity for a Carbon and Environment Lead to join our team.  Reporting to the Sustainability Director, you will support the Sustainability Director in raising the profile of sustainability within First Rail and our train operating companies. You will support the Sustainability Director in embedding the rail industry Sustainable Rail Blueprint within First Rail. You will provide your carbon and environmental expertise, to First Rail Holdings projects. Typical projects include working with West Coast Partnership Development in developing their Integrated Sustainable Development Strategy for High Speed 2, bidding for new business opportunities and providing carbon and environmental consultancy services to our train operating companies. You will be required to work within cross-functional teams, leading where appropriate. You will build a strong network of contacts throughout First Rail Holdings operating companies and actively seek out opportunities.

Your main responsibilities will be:

• Leading on sustainability for West Coast Partnership Development (HS2).
• Providing consultancy support on carbon and environment for our train operating companies. This may cover a range of topics such as supporting development of decarbonisation strategies, developing noise and air quality strategies and external reporting.
• Deputising for the FirstRail Sustainability Director when required.
• Work closely with the FirstGroup corporate responsibility team and train operating company sustainability teams to coordinate activities such as sustainability reporting.
• Actively seek out assignments.
• Tracking First Rail's contribution to FirstGroup's science based targets.

Other Responsibilities

• To support the Group's Vision, strategy, and Values.
• To comply with all Group safety policies, and role-model the principles and behaviours of our Be Safe programme.
• To maintain a comprehensive knowledge of the Group's objectives and business plans.
• To establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues throughout the Group, industry and the supply base.

Special Working Conditions

• To travel throughout the UK and work away from home on occasion.

As a minimum, you will need to have:

Essential:

• Educated to relevant degree level (or equivalent professional experience).
• Proven experience in an environmental/sustainability role, managing compliance with UK regulatory requirements and implementation of science-based targets.
• Proven ability, and confidence, to successfully engage with key stakeholders across a complex business structure, including peers and senior leaders.
• Keen understanding of how data is used to identify opportunities for improvement, to support business cases and drive change.
• Persuasive in the presentation of analysis, trends, results, and forecasts.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Results driven; a problem solver; proactive; a finisher.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-starter, with the ability to work independently within a fast-paced team, and to tight deadlines.
• The ability to operate effectively at senior levels, inspiring confidence at all levels by demonstrating resilience, mature judgement and calmness under pressure.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in a consultancy role.
• Experience of the transport sector (or similar) and its sustainability agenda.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., IEMA / IES) at Full level or higher.

We all belong at First Rail . FirstGroup's vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, across its group of businesses, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.

We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.

We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.

We review all roles and job descriptions to ensure they are accessible and, where possible, we support and provide flexible working options; we recommend that you refer to each vacancy description for further details.

If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below.  We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.

https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/

https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/