Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure

The largest single educator of girls in the UK, the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), is seeking to recruit to the crucial role of Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure.

The GDST is the UK's leading network of independent girls’ schools, with over 3,500 staff, and nearly 19,000 students between the ages of 3 and 18.  As a charity that owns and runs a network of 23 schools and 2 academies in England and Wales, reinvesting in education. Founded in 1872, the GDST has a long history of pioneering innovation in the education of girls and is the UK’s largest educational charity.

Reporting to the Director of Estates, this role acts as the Sustainability expert across the Trust, with the primary focus being delivery of the decarbonisation strategy and environmental programmes. This will involve creating and managing sustainability policies, informing sustainable construction, refurbishment, retrofit and infrastructure/maintenance management across the estate.  As the new lead for Sustainability at the GDST, the postholder will continue to embed sustainability across the organisation and will interface with a broad range of stakeholders including each School, as well as colleagues and departments in Trust Head Office.

The role is key in contributing to the GDST sustainability strategy and wider strategic vision, the Estate Strategy, and manages the Green Steering Group.  The Head of Sustainability and Infrastructure will also act as the lead contact and technical advisor for sustainability on capital projects (both new build and refurbishment), as well as leading on sustainability programmes and infrastructure matters relating to estate management and capital maintenance, as both technical and trusted advisor across the trust on these issues. 

The role calls for an individual with a passionate and highly motivated disposition and who will embrace the exciting challenge of leading sustainability strategy and purpose across the leading independent network of Girls’ schools in the UK.  We are seeking an individual that enjoys both the strategic and delivery focused aspects of a sustainability and infrastructure role, who has the ability to develop and enhance sustainability strategy, but that also has a proven track record of leading the delivery of high-impact projects and programmes resulting in improved sustainability performance.

The GDST offers a range of excellent benefits including generous pension (up to 12% employer contribution) and annual leave entitlements (30 days annual leave plus public holidays), significant fee remission (a discount of up to 50% on fees for children at GDST schools), access to extensive professional development opportunities, a range of health and wellbeing benefits, together with a flexible, progressive and inspiring working environment.

If you are a sustainability professional that would be motivated by taking up an influential and impactful role with an organisation that really does make a difference, take a look at the candidate brochure here and the GDST Sustainability page here to learn more.

For a briefing call please contact our retained advisors Craig Douglas (craig.douglas@mrgglobal.com) or Ben Duffill (ben.duffill@mrgglobal.com) at MRG.   Applications should be sent to craig.douglas@mrgglobal.com and ben.duffill@mrgglobal.com. 

Closing date for applications is 11th October 2023.  Interviews are scheduled to take place during w/c 30th October 2023.

The GDST is committed to diversity, inclusion and real change: a family where every individual is valued, respected and included.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and child protection screening will apply to this post.