Sustainability Consultant

£30,000/yr – Contract – Remote – Apr 2, 2026 start

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Carbon Accounting & Sustainability Consultant with deep expertise in end-to-end greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and a demonstrated track record in the fashion and apparel sector. You will own the design, execution, and continuous improvement of our carbon accounting programme — from data collection and emissions quantification through to third-party assurance and public disclosure. This is a technically demanding role requiring rigour in measurement methodology, credibility in regulatory and voluntary reporting frameworks, and the practical ability to navigate the complex, multi-tier supply chains that characterise the fashion industry.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Carbon Accounting
  • Lead the full GHG inventory cycle — scoping, data collection, quantification, quality assurance, verification, and reporting — across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
  • Develop, document, and maintain the organisation's GHG accounting methodology in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and ISO 14064-1
  • Define and apply appropriate emission factors (IPCC, IEA, DEFRA, ecoinvent) with robust uncertainty analysis
  • Establish and manage data collection workflows across internal functions (operations, procurement, logistics, retail) and external supply chain tiers
  • Oversee annual GHG inventories and manage preparation for third-party verification (ISO 14064-3)
• Fashion Industry Reporting
  • Map and quantify emissions across the full fashion value chain: raw material extraction, yarn spinning, fabric production, dyeing and finishing, garment manufacture, logistics, retail operations, consumer use, and end-of-life
  • Apply sector-specific methodologies including the Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM), Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM), and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) measurement tools
  • Manage supplier engagement programmes to improve Scope 3, Category 1 (purchased goods and services) data quality — transitioning from spend-based to activity-based and supplier-specific data
  • Benchmark performance against fashion industry sustainability indices, peers, and science-based sector pathways
  • Support product-level lifecycle assessment (LCA) and environmental product declaration (EPD) initiatives
• Standards, Frameworks & Disclosure
  • Manage reporting against key voluntary and regulatory frameworks: ISO 14064-1 (organisational GHG quantification) and ISO 14064-3 (verification), GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (and Scope 3 Standard), Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) — FLAG and fashion sector guidance, TCFD, CSRD / ESRS E1, CDP Climate Change questionnaire (Supplier Engagement Rating), Global Fashion Agenda and Fashion Pact commitments
  • Coordinate third-party limited and reasonable assurance engagements; act as primary contact for external verifiers
  • Prepare high-quality disclosure content for annual sustainability reports, investor briefings, and regulatory filings
• Decarbonisation Strategy & Target Setting
  • Translate GHG inventory results into actionable reduction opportunities; model abatement scenarios and cost curves
  • Support setting of science-based targets (SBTi) and near-term/long-term climate commitments aligned with 1.5°C pathways
  • Track and report progress against reduction targets on a quarterly basis; identify variances and recommend corrective actions
  • Evaluate carbon removal and offsetting options (Gold Standard, VCS/Verra) where residual emissions require addressing, applying strict additionality criteria
• Stakeholder Engagement & Internal Advisory
  • Act as the internal centre of excellence for carbon accounting methodology — providing guidance, training, and tools to procurement, logistics, design, and retail teams
  • Brief senior leadership and board-level stakeholders on GHG performance, regulatory developments, and strategic implications
  • Engage external stakeholders including investors, NGOs, industry bodies (SAC, Fashion Pact), and regulators
  • Collaborate with product, material, and sourcing teams to embed carbon considerations into supplier selection, material choices, and product design

Requirements

• Education
  • Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Chemical Engineering, Earth Sciences, or a closely related field
  • Master’s degree preferred (Climate Change, Sustainable Business, Environmental Management, or equivalent)
• Professional Experience
  • 3-5+ years of hands-on experience in corporate GHG accounting and carbon management, with at least 2 years focused on the fashion, apparel, or textile sector
  • Demonstrated end-to-end ownership of GHG inventories: methodology design, data collection, calculation, quality assurance, assurance liaison, and public disclosure
  • Hands-on experience applying Higg Index tools (BRM, FEM) and supplier engagement for Scope 3 data collection
  • Experience managing or preparing for ISO 14064-3 third-party verification; familiarity with ISAE 3410 assurance standard
  • Track record of preparing disclosures for at least two of: CDP, TCFD, CSRD/ESRS, sustainability reports subject to assurance
• Standards & Frameworks
  • ISO 14064-1 and ISO 14064-3
  • GHG Protocol Corporate Standard and Scope 3 Standard
  • Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) — including FLAG guidance for fibre-related land-use emissions
  • Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Higg Index suite
  • TCFD recommendations
• Technical Skills
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for GHG modelling; experience with sustainability data management platforms (e.g., Watershed, Persefoni, Sweep, Carbonfact, or equivalent)
  • Strong grasp of lifecycle assessment (LCA) principles; experience with LCA tools (SimaPro, OpenLCA, or similar) is an advantage
  • Statistical and data analysis skills for uncertainty quantification and emissions factor selection
  • Ability to translate complex technical content into clear, board-ready narratives
• Nice to Have
  • ISO 14064 Lead Verifier or Validator certification
  • Certified Sustainability Professional (ISSP-CSP, IEMA, or equivalent)
  • Experience with EU taxonomy alignment assessments for fashion/textile assets
  • Experience with natural fibre supply chains (cotton, wool, silk) and associated land-use / AFOLU emissions
• Competencies
  • GHG methodology design
  • Scope 3 Category mastery
  • ISO 14064 compliance
  • LCA & emissions modelling
  • Data management & validation
  • Regulatory disclosure fluency
  • Analytical precision
  • Cross-functional influence
  • Supplier engagement & trust-building
  • Communication (technical to board level)
  • Commercial awareness
  • Intellectual curiosity & adaptability

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful work with measurable climate impact; your inventory work directly informs reduction decisions affecting millions of tonnes CO₂e
• Flexible working arrangements and remote-first culture
• Collaboration with leading third-party verifiers, industry bodies, and peer sustainability teams
• Clear progression pathway to Principal Consultant / Head of Climate