Principal Consultant - Resources (Carbon & Circularity)

Make your mark at BRE!

BRE is a world-leading global organisation for innovation, science and data in the built environment. For over 100 years, we have supported governments, businesses and industry with pioneering research, testing and expertise. We are focused on growth, scale and expanding our global impact with products, services, standards and qualifications that address the challenges of a changing world. Driven by our purpose of helping everyone, in every building, everywhere, we are creating a safer, more sustainable built environment for people and planet.

Your role at BRE

As the technical lead for Carbon & Circularity within the BREEAM Science Team, you'll be responsible for developing and maintaining the methodologies, criteria and guidance that underpin BREEAM's approach to embodied carbon, whole-life carbon and circularity.

Working closely with colleagues across Science, Product and Digital teams, you'll help ensure BREEAM remains scientifically robust, practical to implement and aligned with evolving industry standards and best practice.

This is a varied role that combines technical development, stakeholder engagement, research, industry collaboration and thought leadership. You'll be the go-to expert for complex carbon and circularity topics, while helping shape the future direction of BREEAM's sustainability standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and continuous improvement of BREEAM's carbon and circularity methodologies across multiple schemes.

• Develop and update criteria, benchmarks, guidance and technical content relating to embodied carbon, whole-life carbon and circular economy principles.

• Act as the technical authority for complex queries from assessors, clients and national scheme operators.

• Support the implementation of methodology changes within digital platforms and tools.

• Produce technical guidance, knowledge base content and supporting documentation.

• Monitor emerging industry trends, legislation, standards and best practice.

• Lead and contribute to research projects that strengthen the evidence base behind BREEAM methodologies.

• Represent BREEAM at industry events, working groups and standards forums.

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure methodologies remain practical, robust and commercially relevant.

• Provide technical support, mentoring and quality assurance across the wider team.

What we are looking for

• Experience working within sustainability, the built environment, engineering, construction, environmental assessment or related consultancy sectors.

• Strong understanding of embodied carbon, whole-life carbon assessment (WLCA), life cycle assessment (LCA) or circular economy principles.

• Experience interpreting, applying or developing technical methodologies, standards or guidance.

• Ability to communicate complex technical information to a range of stakeholders.

• Experience managing projects, research activities or technical workstreams.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and technical writing skills.

• Knowledge of sustainability standards and frameworks such as BREEAM, RICS Whole Life Carbon Assessment, ISO standards, UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard or similar.

• Experience participating in industry working groups, standards development or thought leadership activities.

• Experience providing technical guidance, quality assurance or mentoring others.

• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Sustainability, Environmental Science, Engineering, Construction, Architecture or a related discipline.

• Relevant professional memberships or sustainability-related certifications would be advantageous.

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched contribution

• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary

• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more

• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform

• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Work Location Options

Mostly Remote – This role is primarily home-based, with occasional travel to our head office in Watford for planned meetings (2 - 3 times per month).

Our Recruitment Process

As part of our recruitment process we will be conducting 10-30 minute phone screening calls via an AI recruiter called Ryan with all shortlisted candidates. The information gathered from this screening will be used to help assess your suitability for the position.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.