Sustainability Manager

Job Description

Pre-Construction Sustainability Lead

Location: Germany

Salary: €60,000 – €100,000 + package

Confidential – Leading Main Contractor

A leading international main contractor delivering major projects across Data Centres, Industrial, Advanced Manufacturing and Mission Critical sectors is seeking a Pre-Construction Sustainability Lead to join their expanding European team. This is a key strategic role focused on embedding sustainability, carbon reduction and certification pathways at the earliest stages of project development.

You will act as the technical authority for all pre-construction sustainability requirements, ensuring that environmental performance, building certification strategies (LEED, BREEAM, DGNB, WELL), material selection and low-carbon solutions are integrated into bid, design and planning phases from day one.

The Role

• Lead sustainability input during tender, bid and early design stages across major construction projects.
• Develop pre-construction sustainability strategies including LEED/BREEAM/DGNB pathways, LCA approaches, circularity measures and energy efficiency options.
• Analyse client sustainability requirements, propose technical solutions and influence design direction.
• Advise estimators, planners and design managers on sustainability impacts and cost implications.
• Prepare sustainability documentation, evidence frameworks, project sustainability plans and bid submissions.
• Work with design consultants, supply chain partners and internal teams to ensure sustainability targets are achievable, costed and embedded into scope.
• Identify opportunities for carbon reduction and environmental innovation at concept stage.
• Support the transition from pre-construction to delivery teams, ensuring sustainability strategy continuity.

About You

Essential:

• Experience in sustainability within construction, ideally from a main contractor or major design consultancy.
• Strong knowledge of LEED, BREEAM, DGNB or WELL certification frameworks.
• Experience influencing early-stage design decisions and developing sustainability strategies.
• Strong understanding of embodied carbon, materials, LCA principles and environmental best practice.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to guide bid teams and present to clients.
• Fluent in English (German beneficial but not essential).

Desirable:

• Sustainability accreditations (LEED AP, BREEAM AP, DGNB Consultant/Auditor).
• Experience with data centre, industrial or mission-critical projects.
• Familiarity with European sustainability standards and reporting requirements.

What’s on Offer

• Salary: €60,000 – €100,000 + package
• Opportunity to work on major, complex and high-profile projects across Germany and wider Europe
• Hybrid working flexibility
• A senior role with clear progression into regional sustainability leadership
• The ability to directly influence design, tender success and long-term environmental strategy