Purpose of the Role

This role is responsible for leading the delivery of a client’s ESG strategy within multi-tenanted operational office/s within our Property Management portfolio. The ESG Manager will be primarily site-based, working closely with the property management team, occupiers, and service partners to drive ESG performance and embed sustainability best practices into day-to-day operations.

The successful candidate will act as the key ESG lead for the client, ensuring strategic alignment, operational excellence, and continuous improvement in sustainability outcomes. This role requires leadership skills, requiring strong stakeholder engagement, technical expertise, and the ability to influence and inspire teams across multiple sites.

Savills culture is one of trust and respect, teamwork and collaboration. Our teams and our clients benefit when we work together, listening to and learning from each other. Above all, we value the motivation of our people. This is evidenced by our wellbeing offer, our capability to facilitate flexible working and our support to enjoy a healthy work life balance.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate should have a holistic knowledge of sustainability and its practical application within the operational built environment and broad knowledge of ESG issues that affect the built environment and real estate.

An ESG Manager will be required to deliver services including, but not limited to:

• Lead the delivery of the client’s ESG strategy across all operational sites, ensuring strategic alignment and performance.
• Act as the primary ESG lead for the client, managing all ESG-related communications and initiatives.
• Lead ESG performance monitoring, reporting, and improvement initiatives at asset level, including energy, water, waste, air quality, and social value. Ensure robust ESG data governance, including data integrity, consistency, and compliance with privacy regulations.
• Manage the social value annual programme and client-allocated capex budget.
• Collaborate with PM IT to enhance ESG data systems and reporting capabilities.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of net zero carbon pathways for individual assets.
• Lead ESG-related meetings with internal and external stakeholders, providing strategic guidance and technical insight.
• Communicate through formal presentations and reports, produced to high quality standard.
• Drive improvement and innovation in sustainability performance across all assets.
• Oversee ESG performance at asset level, setting priorities and ensuring implementation of interventions aligned with client goals.
• Champion a culture of improvement, encouraging and motivating property management teams to go above and beyond the minimum sustainability standards.
• Lead implementation of external standards and coordinate award submissions to showcase ESG leadership and innovation.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders (occupiers, site managers, surveyors and service providers) to embed ESG into operational practices and processes. Facilitate ESG collaboration with occupiers, including green lease clauses, shared sustainability goals, and joint initiatives.
• Develop tenant engagement programmes focused on energy efficiency, wellbeing, and community impact.
• Develop case studies and communications to promote ESG achievements and share best practice.
• Research and implement new innovations in sustainability which may include template development, process improvements, data quality and accuracy improvements, technology opportunities and case study promotion.
• Be the primary contact for providing general sustainability knowledge and guidance covering areas including environmental legislation and compliance audits, sustainability reporting and disclosure, tenant engagement, health and wellbeing, waste management, travel planning, social value and biodiversity (referring where necessary to the wider Savills Earth team).
• Where appropriate and required, oversee onsite delivery of ESG certifications alongside external consultants, including but not exclusively, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, NABERS, WELL, accessibility and biodiversity.
• Support the integration of climate adaptation measures into asset management plans.
• Monitor emergency ESG-related legislation and policy changes and assess implications for property operations.
• Collaborate with service partners to implement biodiversity action plans, including habitat enhancement, nature-based solutions and embed nature-positive practices. Promote circular economy principles in procurement, waste management, and refurbishment projects.
• Identify opportunities for reuse, recycling, and reduction of embodied carbon.
• Support DEI initiatives within property operations, including inclusive design, accessibility audits, and community engagement.