Job Description

Who are we?

South Western Railway (SWR) operates over 1,500 services each weekday across the network and employs more than 5,000 people. We provide easy and convenient mobility, connecting people and communities in South West London, southern counties of England, and the Isle of Wight.

Join our team and help us continue to bring people together to get the most out of life.

About the job

The Senior Sustainability Manager plays a critical role in advancing SWR's commitment to "bringing people together to get the most out of life" by embedding sustainability across all areas of the business. This role leads the integration of environmental and social responsibility into operational delivery, ensuring regulatory compliance, driving continuous improvement, and aligning with national and industry-wide expectations.



Key responsibilities include maintaining and enhancing SWR's Environmental Management System (EMS), including ISO 14001 certification, and delivering against key performance indicators and Department for Transport (DfT) obligations. The role also supports the development and execution of SWR's sustainability strategy, helping the business anticipate regulatory changes, mitigate environmental risks, and foster a culture of sustainability across teams and stakeholders.



In addition, the Senior Sustainability Manager leads on sustainable procurement and supply chain engagement, as well as embedding sustainability into the project lifecycle ensuring environmental and social criteria are embedded into commercial decision-making. The role also oversees SWR's approach to air quality and noise management, working closely with operational teams and external partners to monitor impacts, meet compliance requirements, and deliver improvements that benefit customers and communities.

Your main responsibilities will be:

Lead the delivery of business-wide sustainability commitments and Department for Transport (DfT) obligations related to air quality and noise, ensuring robust reporting and continuous performance monitoring. Support the integration of sustainability workstreams across SWR and NR, aligning with best practice from DfT, other Train Operating Companies, and Network Rail. Manage and resolve environmental complaints and incidents, working collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders to mitigate risk and strengthen accountability. Partner with SWR's Property and Infrastructure and Projects and Change teams to embed sustainability principles into infrastructure design, delivery, and performance monitoring, ensuring alignment with BREEAM standards. Oversee the Environmental Management System (EMS), including maintenance of ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certification, and lead the development of audit programmes, documentation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Ensure the sustainability strategy and team remain responsive to emerging risks, regulatory developments, and stakeholder expectations. Champion sustainability across the organisation by engaging colleagues, fostering ownership, and embedding environmental and social responsibility into operational practices. Drive performance against sustainability KPIs, supporting the team in identifying opportunities for improvement and delivering measurable outcomes. Maintain environmental compliance across all operations, proactively tracking legislative changes and positioning the business to exceed minimum standards. Provide subject matter expertise on infrastructure projects and sustainability assessments, supporting long-term resilience and environmental performance. Design and deliver training, briefings, and awareness campaigns to build sustainability capability across the business, including oversight of the Sustainability Champion Programme. Lead the development and implementation of SWR's air quality strategy, ensuring it reflects local context, regulatory requirements, and customer impact. Lead the development and implementation of SWR's noise management strategy, ensuring it reflects local context, regulatory requirements, and customer impact. Deputise for the Sustainability Lead as required, representing the function with professionalism and strategic insight across internal and external forums. Manage the Responsible Sourcing Programme, driving sustainable procurement practices in collaboration with SWR's procurement teams. Promote and enhance sustainability across the supply chain, working with partners to improve environmental and ethical performance.

You'll need:

Strong understanding of environmental legislation and regulatory frameworks relevant to the UK rail industry In-depth knowledge of ISO 14001 and Environmental Management Systems (EMS). Proven experience managing ISO 14001 certified EMS. Good knowledge of ISO 50001 Energy Management System Familiarity with air quality and noise management strategies Awareness of sustainability integration in infrastructure projects (e.g. BREEAM) Understanding of environmental incident management and complaint resolution processes Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including report writing and stakeholder briefings Strong project management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities Confident in data interpretation and performance tracking against KPIs Skilled in stakeholder engagement across internal teams, external partners, and regulatory bodies Ability to lead audits, develop documentation, and drive continuous improvement Capable of designing and delivering training and awareness programmes Proactive problem-solving and risk mitigation mindset Experience resolving environmental complaints and incidents Demonstrable track record of delivering sustainability strategies and reporting to senior stakeholders Experience embedding sustainability into capital projects and procurement processes Skilled in developing internal communications (e.g. newsletters, case studies) to promote sustainability Experience contributing to industry working groups or external forums

It would be great if you had:

Experience working in or with regulated industries, ideally transport or infrastructure Degree or higher in Environmental Management/Studies or other relevant topics Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. ISEP) Familiarity with sustainability reporting frameworks (e.g. TCFD, CSRD, GRI) Awareness of responsible sourcing and sustainable procurement standards Experience working with Network Rail,other Train Operating Companies or within the rail industry

Working pattern

You will work an average of 37 hours across 5 days per week, typically, Monday - Friday; 09:00 - 17:00

The Reward

In return we offer a competitive salary and a variety of valuable benefits, including:


Free duty and leisure travel on SWR services for employees Free leisure travel for spouse/partner and dependants (criteria dependent) 75% discount on many other train operating companies Full training and support with development Excellent pension scheme

We all belong at SWR.

Our vision is to provide an inclusive environment for all colleagues, ensuring all candidates have an equal opportunity to access meaningful employment.



We value our differences such as age, gender, LGBTQIA+, ethnicity, religion, and disability. We maintain a zero tolerance towards any form of prejudice towards our colleagues, customers, and future talent.



We celebrate and encourage diversity of thought, progressive ways of working and seeing all our colleagues grow and thrive.



If you require additional support to complete your application due to a disability or neurodivergent condition, for example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, or autism, please follow the links below. We encourage you to share any additional needs you may require so we can provide a fair and equal process for all who apply.



https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/



https://www.healthassured.org/blog/neurodiversity/