Senior Environmental Sustainability Specialist
With the data centre market poised for substantial growth, AVK is dedicated to addressing the increasing demand for energy by pioneering sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.
AVK is currently developing a new Sustainability Strategy, titled “The Footprint We Leave”, encompassing three pillars – Powering a Cleaner Planet, Powering Positive Change and Powering a Just Net-Zero Future, to be achieved by 2050. The Senior Environmental Manager will be supporting the strategy development for Pillars 1 and 3, lead improvements in AVK’s environmental performance, ensure compliance and own reporting across all UK and EU operations and project sites.As part of AVK’s growing Sustainability team, this role ensures the company meets and exceeds environmental regulatory obligations, while helping to shape a low-carbon, low-waste future for the business and its clients in the data centre sector.
This is a hands-on strategic and operational role focused on compliance excellence, data-led reporting to inform decision-making, and a credible, practical and measurable environmental roadmap
Key Responsibilities:
Environmental Strategy- Lead the development and implementation of AVK’s environmental strategy, including a roadmap towards our net-zero goal by 2050, biodiversity initiatives and broader CSR ambitions.
- Design and embed initiatives to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions, improve internal resource efficiency, and manage operational environmental risks.
- Collaborate closely with the Head of CSR and the Responsible Sourcing Manager to ensure alignment between environmental objectives and broader sustainability goals.
- Own, maintain and continuously improve on AVK’s ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS), ensuring up-to-date risk registers (legal, environmental, other relevant impacts) and audit readiness across all sites.
- Ensure compliance with relevant environmental regulations including energy (e.g. ESOS), waste management obligations (e.g. waste carrier and exemption licenses, consignment notes), and other reporting requirements.
- Support internal and external audits, inspections, and tender requirements related to environmental credentials.
- Lead the development and delivery of AVK’s Sustainability Report (environmental sections), aligned to recognised international reporting standards (e.g. GRI) and external stakeholder expectations.
- Oversee SECR and internal Environmental Impact Reports, including project-specific embodied carbon reporting.
- Put systems and processes in place to improve environmental data quality across the business by coordinating data collection for drivers of Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emission categories.
- Collaborate with the Responsible Sourcing Manager to ensure environmental expectations are incorporated into supplier onboarding and Scope 3 reporting.
- Engage with customers to understand environmental expectations and turn requirements into clear, practical delivery mechanisms.
- Support Sales Teams in bidding for new projects and engaging customers on AVK’s environmental commitments.
- Contribute to supplier education around embodied carbon and environmental data requests, especially for high-impact categories / strategic suppliers (e.g. generators).
- Build environmental awareness within AVK through training, campaigns, and guidance materials (e.g. toolbox talks, internal comms briefings, digital learning tools).
- Champion environmental thinking within project planning and engineering conversations.
- 7+ years in environmental management, environmental compliance, and ESG reporting
- Deep understanding of ISO 14001, ESOS, SECR, and Scope 1-3 emissions
- Practical experience with embodied carbon reporting, carbon accounting methods, and lifecycle analysis principles
- Strong technical and regulatory knowledge, especially in the UK and EU. Familiarity with CSDDD and CSRD requirements
- Strong problem-solver with ability to turn data into clear insights for decision-making
- Confident working cross-functionally, including with engineering, project delivery, service, CSR/sustainability, supply chain, sales and legal teams
- Degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Sustainability, or a related field
- IEMA Full Member or any other recognised certification (or working toward it)
- Familiarity with data centre infrastructure and sustainability expectations of major clients in the industry (e.g. hyperscalers) is a plus
- Private Health Insurance
- Performance Bonus
- 25 days annual leave + bank hols
- Birthday Off
- Pension Plan
- Hybrid working / Flexible working
AVK|SEG does not discriminate on the race, colour, religion, sex, age, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits. We will endeavour to respond to all applicants however due to the volume of responses, we can only guarantee that candidates who have been shortlisted will be contacted.