Joint Sustainability Engagement Officer
Waverley Borough Council
Joint Sustainability Engagement Officer
Make a difference where it matters most
At Waverley Borough Council, we believe in strong communities, excellent service, and creating a supportive workplace where people can thrive. Whether you’re building your career or bringing valuable experience, this is your opportunity to contribute to something meaningful.
About the Role
Help turn climate ambition into local action
Climate change can feel like a big, global challenge. This role is about making it local, practical and real.
We're looking for a Sustainability Engagement Officer who can inspire people to get involved, bring communities together and help turn our Climate and Nature Action Plans into action across Guildford and Waverley.
You'll be out meeting people, shaping projects, running events and helping communities take practical action on climate and nature.
One day you might be helping deliver a major community event. The next you could be developing a behaviour change campaign, speaking with local partners about new ideas, or supporting residents to access funding and practical advice.
If you're passionate about sustainability and enjoy connecting with people, this is a chance to make a visible difference.
What you'll be doing -
* Leading climate and sustainability engagement activities across Guildford and Waverley
* Working with residents, schools, businesses and community groups to encourage practical local action
* Planning and delivering events, campaigns and initiatives, including Green Day and Great Big Green Week
* Building partnerships with organisations that can help accelerate climate action
* Creating engaging, accessible content that makes sustainability easy to understand
* Supporting delivery of our Climate and Nature Action Plans
* Identifying opportunities for funding and helping maximise the impact of sustainability projects
* Acting as an advocate for sustainability across our councils and communities
About You
You'll be someone who enjoys working with people and bringing ideas to life.
You might already be working in sustainability, community engagement, environmental education, communications or behaviour change. Most importantly, you'll be able to build relationships, communicate confidently and motivate others to get involved.
We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:
* Experience of planning and delivering successful engagement activities, events or campaigns
* A good understanding of climate change, sustainability and environmental issues
* Excellent communication and presentation skills
* The ability to explain complex topics in a clear and approachable way
* Strong partnership-building and stakeholder engagement skills
* A proactive approach and the confidence to work independently
What We Offer
In return for your valued contribution, we offer a competitive benefits package which includes:
* Hybrid and agile working policies
* Training and development opportunities including apprenticeships
* Generous annual leave and flexi time
* An employee assistance programme
* Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
You can find out more about working at Waverley and our benefits by visiting: Jobs | Waverley Borough Council
Ready to join us?
Apply now and help shape the future of Waverley. For an informal conversation, please contact Delma Bryant and delma.bryant@waverley.gov.uk /Phone 01483 523148
The closing date for application is 9am on the 5th August and we anticipate interviews being held week commencing 17th August.
Please note we do not accept applications after the stated closing time.
Right to work in the UK will be checked as part of the interview process.
Equality and Inclusion Statement
The district is home to many different people, and we want our workforce to reflect our diverse local communities. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – we are a Disability Confident employer and appoint on merit. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here - Working at Waverley Borough Council | Waverley Borough Council
We are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving or ex-members of the armed forces and their partners. We offer an interview scheme for serving and ex-military forces members when they meet the essential criteria for the role. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here - Working at Waverley Borough Council | Waverley Borough Council
Information -
We understand that some applicants may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with preparing their applications.
All submitted information, whether supported by AI or not, must accurately reflect the applicant’s own skills, experience, and qualifications.
Recruitment decisions will be based on how well applicants demonstrate these attributes during the interview and selection process.
From April 2027, Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council will become part of the new West Surrey unitary council, following the government’s confirmed plans for local government reorganisation across Surrey. This change will see the current twelve councils replaced by two new authorities, East Surrey and West Surrey, with West Surrey taking responsibility for the areas currently served by Guildford, Waverley, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking.
As we move towards this transition, our focus remains firmly on delivering high‑quality, value‑for‑money services and staying true to our shared organisational values of Collaboration, Wellbeing, Trusted, Value for Money and Professionalism.
We recognise that any period of organisational change can bring questions, particularly regarding future structures and working arrangements. Throughout this process, we are committed to supporting our colleagues with transparency and care prioritising wellbeing, maintaining a trusted and open dialogue, and ensuring continued access to learning and professional development opportunities.
While the exact shape of the new West Surrey Council beyond 2027 is still being developed, joining us now means becoming part of an organisation where collaboration thrives and where your contribution will directly influence one of the most significant local government transformations in decades. You’ll gain valuable experience, play an active role in shaping the future of public services across West Surrey, and work within a team committed to professionalism and delivering outstanding outcomes for our communities.
Together, we will ensure a smooth transition and continue to deliver exceptional services for residents both now and into the future.
We understand that some applicants may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with preparing their applications.
All submitted information, whether supported by AI or not, must accurately reflect the applicant’s own skills, experience, and qualifications.
Recruitment decisions will be based on how well applicants demonstrate these attributes during the interview and selection process.
From April 2027, Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council will become part of the new West Surrey unitary council, following the government’s confirmed plans for local government reorganisation across Surrey. This change will see the current twelve councils replaced by two new authorities, East Surrey and West Surrey, with West Surrey taking responsibility for the areas currently served by Guildford, Waverley, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking.
As we move towards this transition, our focus remains firmly on delivering high‑quality, value‑for‑money services and staying true to our shared organisational values of Collaboration, Wellbeing, Trusted, Value for Money and Professionalism.
We recognise that any period of organisational change can bring questions, particularly regarding future structures and working arrangements. Throughout this process, we are committed to supporting our colleagues with transparency and care prioritising wellbeing, maintaining a trusted and open dialogue, and ensuring continued access to learning and professional development opportunities.
While the exact shape of the new West Surrey Council beyond 2027 is still being developed, joining us now means becoming part of an organisation where collaboration thrives and where your contribution will directly influence one of the most significant local government transformations in decades. You’ll gain valuable experience, play an active role in shaping the future of public services across West Surrey, and work within a team committed to professionalism and delivering outstanding outcomes for our communities.
Together, we will ensure a smooth transition and continue to deliver exceptional services for residents both now and into the future.
To apply for this vacancy, click the “Apply Online” link.
If you are not already on Waverley Borough Council's website for this vacancy, you will be redirected to our website's jobs page. Either click "Apply Online" at the bottom of this page, or at the top left hand side under Waverley Borough Council click either the "Log in" button (if you are already registered) or the "Register" button.
You will be redirected to the JobsGoPublic system, which manages our online recruitment process. Once you have registered with JobsGoPublic (which is free to use) you can log in to your application at any time and keep track of where you are in the recruitment process.
If you are unable to use this service or would like assistance, please contact us via hr@waverley.gov.uk or call the Human Resources team on 01483 523388.