Director of Environment and Sustainability
New Yesterday
About Us
Transport for London (TfL) play a key role in shaping what life is like in London. Our transport infrastructure and public transport network is admired around the world. We are literally changing London for the future - making it one of the best cities to live, work and visit.
Our purpose is to move London forward safely, inclusively and sustainably - this is why we exist. Our vision is to be the strong, green heartbeat for London and this role is integral to achievement of these aims. Our passion to create a fairer, greener, healthier and prosperous city is ambitious. By 2041, we aim to make 80 per cent of all journeys by foot, cycle, or public transport, affirming our commitment to prioritising public health and enhancing overall travel experiences.
Our Vision Zero ambition is our most important foundation to ensure the safety of everyone who uses our streets and transport network. Our focus on achieving our net zero target is a critical corporate focus for TfL. We are working to help drive TfL forward towards achieving our ambitious safety & green targets, making the safety and well-being of our colleagues and customers is our top priority.
About the Role
Reporting to the Chief Health & Safety Environment Officer in our Safety Health and Environment (SHE) function, this is a new senior leadership role responsible for shaping and driving TfL's environmental and sustainability agenda in alignment with the Mayor's Transport Strategy and TfL's wider strategic objectives. You will lead an amazing team of strategic and technical experts and manage an annual budget of £3-4 million dedicated to research, monitoring and project initiation. You will lead the development of strategy, policy and performance frameworks that embed sustainability into the heart of TfL's operations, ensuring environmental, social and economic factors are considered in all decision-making.
As a member of the Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Senior Leadership Team, you will provide subject matter expertise and strategic advice across TfL and, where relevant, other GLA-family organisations. You'll be accountable for ensuring compliance with environmental legislation, improving risk management and interpreting policy at London, national and international levels to define clear priorities and targets.
The role will lead cultural and behavioural change across the organisation, promoting TfL as a progressive, sustainability-focused organisation. You'll oversee the tracking and reporting of environmental and sustainability performance, ensuring robust governance and continuous improvement. This includes setting and delivering targets on carbon reduction, waste minimisation, sustainable resource use and biodiversity enhancement.
You will also be responsible for building internal capability, commissioning research to strengthen the evidence base and leading pan-TfL engagement and training programmes to raise awareness of sustainability impacts and obligations.
A key part of the role involves identifying cost efficiencies and supporting TfL's financial savings targets, while ensuring sustainability remains central to business delivery. You'll work across the value chain to influence outcomes and contribute to TfL's long-term resilience and success.
About You
You are a recognised leader in environmental performance and sustainability, with significant experience gained in large, complex organisations, public and private (essential). You bring expert-level knowledge across the full spectrum of environmental and sustainability accountabilities, including decarbonisation, climate risk, biodiversity, green infrastructure and organisational sustainability (essential). You have a comprehensive understanding of current environmental issues, regulatory frameworks and industry best practices alongside deep expertise in Safety, Health and Environmental Management (essential).
You've operated confidently at a senior level, influencing Chief Officer and Board-level discussions with experience navigating complex regulatory and legal frameworks (essential). You understand the importance of compliance and have helped organisations build mature, resilient cultures around environmental responsibility (essential). Your ability to develop credibility, coach and influence stakeholders, internally and externally, is matched by your gravitas and professional reputation in the field.
You are a strong people leader, capable of managing, motivating and developing high-performing teams (essential). You're comfortable working under pressure, using performance data and trends to drive strategic decisions and communicate complex sustainability concepts to diverse audiences.
You bring a passion for driving positive environmental impact, demonstrated through corporate cultural change and strategic influence (essential).
A master's degree in a relevant discipline is preferred, and professional membership of bodies such as IEMA is highly desirable. You understand the Mayor's Transport Strategy and TfL's business priorities, and you&apos're ready to lead TfL's journey toward environmental excellence with clarity, confidence and purpose.
Spotlight Session
Our Chief Safety, Health & Environment Office, Lilli Matson, will be hosting a 30min online session to provide further insight into this role at 2.30pm on Thursday 18th September 2025. If you would like to attend, please contact talentacquisitionandexecutiverecruitment@tfl.gov.uk and we can extend an invitation to join via MS Teams.
How to apply
Please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV along with a cover letter (no more than 2 A4 pages Arial size 12).
We recommend that you consider the motivations, skills, knowledge and experience required for this role and ensure your application outlines where meet these criteria.
Closing date for applications will be Sunday 28th September.
We anticipate for interviews to commence W/C 3rd November
For a more detailed copy of the job description, please contact James Hodder or Nita Denner on talentacquisitionandexecutiverecruitment@tfl.gov.uk
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to represent the city we serve, which will help us become a more innovative and efficient organisation. Our goal is to make our recruitment as inclusive as possible. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all the essential criteria.
Hybrid Working
Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.
NPL Applications
Applications to internally advertised roles can only be accepted from temporary workers who are on PAYE terms via agency, or PAYE via Umbrella Companies. Temporary workers who are paid through their own limited companies are not covered by the Agency Worker Regulations and are ineligible to apply.
NPL members of staff are not eligible to apply to secondment opportunities.
We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.
- Location:
- London
- Job Type:
- FullTime
- Category:
- Other
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