Senior Sustainability Consultant - Communications Company

This job is brought to you by Jobs/Redefined, the UK's leading over-50s age inclusive jobs board.

This is a great opportunity for someone with strong financial and corporate communications skills, combined with advisory experience in the ESG and sustainability space,

You will be joining our corporate reporting team and advise our exceptionally strong client base of FTSE 100 and FTSE250 companies primarily on their annual reports.

Companies are increasingly expected - and required - to incorporate ESG and sustainability issues such, net zero strategies and climate transition plans, into their decision-making at a strategic and operational level.

The Black Sun Insights and Advisory team works closely with regulators, industry bodies and clients to provide the highest standards of advice and support on all aspects of corporate and sustainability communications and reporting, helping companies navigate the regulatory landscape from ISSB and CSRD to the proposed US SEC regulations.

The successful candidate will be a key member of our 15-strong team, focusing on Sustainability Reporting and Sustainability Strategy development, including conducting CSRD-aligned Double Materiality Assessments. He/she will also work closely with all parts of the Black Sun business - helping to win new business, developing strategic roadmaps for clients, and contributing to Black Sun's award-winning thought leadership and best practice consultancy services.

Key responsibilities

The role of a Senior Sustainability Consultant (Sustainability team) is to own client accounts and provide consulting and advisory work primarily on their sustainability reports, climate reports, and participate in sustainability strategy development work including conducting double materiality assessments.

He/she will also lead internal workstreams and engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders (including external organisations and partners).

Client work and business development

• To research, assess and review companies' external communications and disclosure (e.g. Sustainability, Annual, Climate Reports.) and provide advice on their reporting strategy with a focus on sustainability.
• To work with clients in shaping their sustainability disclosures and strategies, in line with current and forthcoming disclosure requirements, with an excellent understanding of the rapidly evolving regulatory reporting landscape.
• To provide best practice strategic advice on sustainability strategy, ESG and reporting strategy, GRI, TCFD-aligned disclosures and wider communication to clients, using their expertise and knowledge to drive debates and meet client expectations
• To lead strategic communications presentations, peer analysis, benchmarking and content audits/guidelines
• To conduct deep dive research into the corporate communications of Black Sun clients to assess their current communications approach, content and overall effectiveness.
• To lead engaging client workshops, presentations and external events on best practice communication with a particular focus on topics such as strategy, ESG, climate, and relevant regulations.
• To work on double materiality assessments, that are CSRD-aligned
• To co-lead (with account team or Director) client relationships and business development initiatives (e.g. to help pitch for new business)
• To co-lead pitching for new business and developing sustainability communication and consultancy products
• To contribute to Black Sun's thought leadership and editorial productions and external relations

Team

• Support knowledge share, education, guidance within teams, within department and between departments
• Co-Lead on internal workstreams and projects, convening others

Skills and experience:

• At least five years' of work experience in a relevant sector (e.g. a. sustainability reporting consultancy, communications consultancy etc.) with a focus on sustainability
• Solid understanding and knowledge of sustainability standards and frameworks, including but not limited to TCFD, ISSB, CSRD, CSDDD etc. keeping up to date with latest developments
• Solid experience in researching, reviewing and evaluating companies' external communications (e.g. Annual Reports; ESG/Sustainability Reports etc.)
• Good experience in facilitating workshops, stakeholder interviews with clients and internally (not a requirement)
• Strong knowledge of key trends in sustainability reporting - key issues, engagement channels, stakeholder needs
• Rounded individual that brings a good mix of attention to detail, people skills and proactiveness, eager to learn and improve
• Can-do attitude that embraces teamwork while being able to handle projects individually

Come join us!

Black Sun Global

Across the globe, there is a powerful movement demanding that businesses focus on purpose, sustainability, and wider value creation. It has never been more important for organisations to build and maintain trust with their key audiences. And that's where Black Sun come in - we are a partner to some of the biggest brands and businesses worldwide - helping them to build enduring relationships with their stakeholders and spark positive change through better engagement and inspiring communications.

We define, articulate and shape the corporate story, bringing it to life across different channels and content formats. Our team is made up of over 150 talented specialists working across the UK, Europe, South Africa and Asia - analytical thinkers, forward-looking creatives, digital experts and inspiring change makers!

For more than twenty years, we have won many awards and recognition for our work - but great work doesn't happen by magic. Join Black Sun and you will become part of a, diverse, and inclusive community - a team of passionate and skilful people who will expand your horizon, energise your talents and ignite that spark of magic within you.

You will have the opportunity to make a difference every day, shaping the future of communications and creating positive change - and most importantly, to have fun along the way.

The Positive Change Group

Black Sun is the founding agency at the centre of The Positive Change Group. The Positive Change Group is a truly international stakeholder advisory and engagement collective of like-minded specialist agencies with a shared ambition to help bold and visionary businesses Spark Positive Change - to make a deeper impact on society, shape more ethical practices, build inclusive communities and deliver more sustainable performance.

The Group currently consists of four pre-eminent agencies: Black Sun Global, People-Made, Stratton Craig and GoCo. Each agency brings together deep expertise on different aspects of stakeholder advisory and engagement - including brand culture, strategic communications, reporting, ESG advisory, analytics and creative storytelling. Current clients within the Group include major international firms, such as AstraZeneca, Burberry, Diageo, Meta, Olam, Virgin Atlantic and Vodafone.

With headquarters in London, Singapore, and offices worldwide, the group is transforming the way companies engage with their customers, employees, investors, and communities worldwide. As business increasingly recognises that long-term success is dependent on the support and advocacy of their stakeholders - the Positive Change Group is helping their clients to inspire trust, build more positive relations and create sustainable value for the people that matter most to them.

support and advocacy of their stakeholders - the Positive Change Group is helping their clients to inspire trust, build more positive relations and create sustainable value for the people that matter most to them.

Interview process

Phone chat with talent acquisition manager
1st Interview with hiring director
2nd interview with hiring director and hiring manager, presentation of task

Benefits
In addition to a competitive salary based on skills and experience, as an employee at Black Sun, you will have access to a range of great benefits and perks, including:

25 days holiday per year with 'bonus' days for long service
Bonus scheme
Personal development opportunities
Group life assurance
Group personal pension plan
Employee assistance programme
Hybrid working:
We have developed a hybrid way of working, governed by three fundamental principles: Colleague, Client, and Culture. This means that however you decide to deliver work, you should protect all these 3 C's. After a period of onboarding, employees can work from home, office and, where applicable, on-site with clients. The number of days is dependent on teams, role, time of year and deliverables.

Here at Black Sun we pride ourselves on being committed to offering equal opportunities to all potential employees and have zero tolerance for discrimination. We foster a business culture where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best work and be relevant in a rapidly changing world

View our Privacy Notice here : Privacy Notice - Black Sun Global (blacksun-global.com)