London, UK
Sustainable design leader
at Hassell
Hassell is seeking a sustainable design leader to join its team in London.
Job description
Creative global design studio | Open culture | Award-winning workplaces
About us
With nine design studios spread around the world, chances are you’ve seen our work before.
We work across architecture, landscape architecture, interior design and urban design – a rich multi-disciplinary mix of skills and perspectives that unlocks the economic, social and cultural value of projects.
We combine our creative design expertise with capabilities in strategy, research, technology and experience design and we regularly collaborate with experts and partners from further afield.
Through our work, we’re trying to build a more inclusive, sustainable future for communities – and create a more socially and ecologically resilient world.
We believe design has the power to move us from ‘the new normal’ to ​‘the new beautiful’ – reconnecting people and reimagining how places can be designed to sustain us and our environment.
Designing for people and the planet
The need to contribute to a better, more inclusive and resilient future is more urgent than ever. And as designers, we have a responsibility to demonstrate leadership in sustainable and regenerative design for the benefit of people and the planet.
Our practice is committed to taking action to make a positive and measurable impact, with the strong support of staff across our global network of studios.
Sustainability is already deeply embedded in what we do but we want to take the next step in reaching our aspirational targets across 12 defined areas of focus in our whole-of-practice sustainability framework.
Our sustainability framework articulates our vision for our role in making a positive impact at Hassell and includes ambitious commitments to regenerative approaches in our operations and projects and how we meaningfully contribute to building social value through our work.
Our framework includes site (building and environmental physics); ecology (and biodiversity); transport; energy; water; materials; social value (and social impact); health and wellbeing; diversity and inclusion (and links to our cultural engagement and RAP development); carbon; resilience; climate change.
We are at a critical inflexion point in our growth towards a more resilient, inclusive and regenerative future. To support the implementation of our sustainability framework, we are building a global team that will be embedded across each area of our practice to empower and integrate sustainability and regenerative approaches in our projects, processes and people. A senior cohort of business, innovation, research and design specialists will support our people in designing and delivering resilient, inclusive and regenerative places through every stage of the design process and in our research and operations, making sure we’re truly creating places people love.
About the role
The London sustainable design leader is a new role within the practice which will be key in driving the implementation of the Hassell sustainability framework.
You will work with the head of sustainability to embed Hassell’s sustainability and regenerative approaches and insights into every project across the practice. This role is not intended to replace sustainability consultants on our projects, but rather help to deepen the relationship between Hassell and specialist project team members to improve the effectiveness and impact of sustainable and regenerative design solutions.
You’ll leverage your broad built environment design and delivery experience with your deep technical experience in sustainable and regenerative design to help grow and elevate this expertise in our designers, in their role as designers on active projects.
You’ll support all of our London project teams with your broad sustainability and regenerative design experience and support specific projects globally based on your specific areas of deep technical expertise. You will develop good working relationships with peers across Hassell’s global studios and be embedded in project teams for the majority of your time to support the resolution of specific sustainability and regenerative design opportunities or challenges.
As a leader within the practice, you will collaborate and engage with employees across all levels and locations to embed sustainable and regenerative design processes, as well as engage external audiences and represent the practice in external forums.
About you
Your passion for sustainability and making a positive impact in the world has driven you to this role.
You should have a broad experience across the built environment in sustainable and regenerative design. You will have deep technical expertise in at least two of the areas of Hassell’s sustainability framework. You’re engaged with the industry and at the forefront of sustainable and regenerative design and you have a proven track record in successfully advocating for change – in both projects and design processes – to support more sustainable, resilient, inclusive and efficient outcomes and ways of working.
You should also have:
- relevant qualification in design, engineering, science, environmental management, sustainability or other associated disciplines
- sound understanding of sustainability and regenerative design principles and application across multiple sectors within the built environment
- the ability to develop and clearly articulate value-based solutions linked to stakeholder drivers
- excellent skills in systems thinking, outside of the typical design process, projects boundaries and stakeholder networks that are typically considered in concept development
- demonstrated experience in translating leading sustainable and regenerative design concepts into built and/or delivered outcomes
- demonstrated technical expertise in at least two of the areas of Hassell’s sustainability framework
- ability to scope design process improvement activities that allow for direct real-world scalable application
- ability to draw from research, insights and innovation and apply lessons and outcomes to real world projects
- excellent skills in stakeholder mapping and a track record in leveraging this to articulate value and advocate for change
- strong stakeholder management (both external and internal) and ability to communicate, collaborate, influence and impact change
Why Hassell?
We value diversity, employing people across a number of regions, representing many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
Our team has access to a range of benefits to support development and wellbeing:
- creative studio working environment
- inter-studio transfer opportunities
- development and training including access to an online training program
- wellbeing benefits
- flexible start and finish times, part-time and job share arrangements
- professional memberships
- study assistance
We’re a fast-paced and proactive practice so we don’t wait until applications close to review them. Submit your application as soon as possible for the best chance to land your ultimate job.
Hassell is an equal opportunity employer.
We will not accept speculative candidates via agencies or third parties.