Sustainable Design Leader

As Sustainable Design Leader you will play a senior role in advancing Hassells sustainability and regenerative design agenda across both project delivery and global practice development.

This role is deliberately structured as:

• 70% project-facing leadership embedded in live projects client engagement and design teams
• 30% global strategy and practice contribution helping shape frameworks capability positioning and influence across the practice

• You will work closely with the Head of Sustainability Heads of Design studio leadership and the global Sustainability Team to both deliver exemplary outcomes on projects and evolve the way Hassell operates globally. While all Sustainable Design Leaders are expected to operate as strong generalists across sustainability regenerative design and project leadership this roles will particularly value expertise and leadership in:
• Social Value (equity inclusion community benefit stakeholder outcomes social impact frameworks SROI methodologies social procurement); and/or
• Resilience & Adaptation (climate risk future climate conditions systems resilience long-term performance adaptation strategies)

What Youll Do:

Project Leadership (approx. 70%)

• Lead and embed sustainability and regenerative design thinking within project teams from early strategy through delivery.
• Partner with project leaders and design teams to shape project direction not just performance outcomes.
• Bring specialist leadership in social value or resilience & adaptation to complex projects and client briefs.
• Translate technical sustainability knowledge into clear compelling design and value-based propositions.
• Influence clients consultants and stakeholders toward higher ambition and more holistic outcomes.
• Support major pursuits and proposals by articulating Hassells sustainability and value-creation approach.

Global Practice & Strategy Contribution (approx. 30%)

• Work with the global Sustainability Team to evolve Hassells Sustainability Framework regenerative design methodologies and value-creation approaches.
• Contribute to global capability building including learning programs tools guidance resources and communities of practice.
• Help shape Hassells external positioning on sustainability regenerative design social value and/or resilience.
• Share insights and lessons from projects to continuously improve frameworks and practice-wide approaches.
• Represent Hassell in industry forums thought leadership partnerships and advocacy where appropriate.
• Engage with Heads of Design the Operations Executive and Board to support the long-term strategic ambition capability and capacity of the practice.

Qualifications :

About You

You are a senior practitioner who is equally comfortable in the detail of projects and in the strategic conversations shaping the future of practice. You bring deep expertise but also the openness humility and adaptability required to embed that expertise within Hassells design culture.

You understand that impact comes not through authority alone but through trust influence collaboration and credibility. You are motivated to make others want to integrate sustainability and regenerative thinking into their work not because they have to but because they see its value.

You bring:

• Significant experience across the built environment with a strong portfolio of impact.
• Proven leadership in delivering best-practice sustainability and regenerative outcomes on real projects.
• Demonstrated strength in social value and/or resilience & adaptation alongside broad sustainability and regenerative design capability.
• A relevant qualification in Design Engineering Science Environmental Management Sustainability or related discipline.
• Strong systems thinking able to consider projects in their wider ecological social economic and stakeholder context.
• The ability to translate complex sustainability challenges into practical compelling and measurable project strategies.
• A strong industry network of partners and Clients.
• Confidence influencing senior clients project leaders and internal stakeholders.
• Excellent facilitation skills able to lead workshops shape dialogue and build alignment.
• The ability to synthesise complex information into clear narratives and strong cases for change.
• A track record of linking sustainability outcomes to stakeholder value business drivers and long-term benefit.
• Curiosity and generosity in sharing knowledge contributing to culture and lifting capability across teams.
• Openness to different ways of working with the ability to integrate your expertise seamlessly into design processes.
• Strong self-awareness integrity and a commitment to operating with trust transparency and respect.

Additional Information :

Why Choose Hassell 

Our team enjoys a wide range of benefits to support their development and well-being:

• 16 weeks paid parental leave for both primary and secondary carers. 
• A progressive flexible work policy that allows hybrid work location flexibility and work pattern flexibility
• Inter-studio transfer opportunities 
• Wellbeing benefits 
• Development and training opportunities including access to online training programs and our People Coach program. 
• Study assistance.

Hassell is an inclusive equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity. We demonstrate our commitment to reconciliation and cultural safety by fostering inclusive environments that value the cultural identities perspectives and practices of all individuals. We prioritise ensuring that everyone feels safe included and respected.

Our local studios serve as primary hubs for in-person connection and collaboration and we offer flexible and hybrid work arrangements. Hassell encourages sustainable work hours and actively supports the holistic health and well-being of our people.

Apply Now Were a fast-paced and proactive practice so we dont wait until applications close to review them. Submit your CV and professional portfolio. Please note that we do not accept speculative candidates via agencies or third parties.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time