Head of Sustainability

Since 1994, Eurostar has been revolutionising travel across the continent, connecting major European cities with a more sustainable alternative to air travel. With a strong ethos around sustainability and clear carbon ambitions already in place, Eurostar is now looking for a Head of Sustainability to lead the next phase of its sustainability agenda. Based in Amsterdam, Paris, London or Brussels, this role will be responsible for delivering against existing targets while evolving the Group's longer-term sustainability strategy.

A key priority will be accelerating the transition to renewable energy, including Eurostar's commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2030 and its SBTi-approved targets, while working with infrastructure suppliers across the network to help turn this ambition into reality.

About Eurostar

After the completion of the Channel Tunnel in 1994, Eurostar was launched to seize upon the opportunity to operate a high-speed train service linking the United Kingdom with mainland Europe and offer a sustainable, fast, and comfortable alternative to air or sea travel.

In May 2022, after almost 30 years of successful operations, Eurostar International merged with Thalys, the Franco-Belgian high-speed operator, to create Eurostar Group, headquartered in Brussels. This integration brought together two networks:

• Eurostar (UK-France-Belgium-Netherlands).
• Thalys (France-Belgium-Netherlands-Germany.

The new Eurostar Group serves 30+ destinations across five countries, with a unified brand, rolled out in 2023. The new logo, a star inspired by the North Star, symbolizes guidance, connection, and homage to the original Eurostar identity. The campaign slogan, "Together we go further," reflected the expanded network and customer promise. Today, Eurostar is far more than a train operator, it's a vision for the future of travel. With plans to reach 30 million customers in the next decade and expand routes deeper into Europe, the company is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable, cross-border mobility.

Eurostar is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable travel. With its strong environmental credentials - producing around 90% less CO₂ per passenger than air travel, it can win share from short-haul airlines, particularly as governments introduce carbon taxes and restrict flights on rail-accessible routes, and there's also a significant opportunity to persuade consumers away from car and bus travel and other rail operators in Europe.

Working at Eurostar

Eurostar is strongly committed to its three core values:

• Bold
• Honest
• Caring

Eurostar offers its employees an environment with significant attention and space for personal development and growth, and excellent secondary benefits.

Eurostar's Sustainability Commitments and Team

Sustainability is embedded in Eurostar's DNA - not only through their train services, which emit a fraction of CO2 compared to traditional alternatives, but also within their own processes and practices. It is a genuinely important factor in why many people choose to work at Eurostar. With strong commitment from the board and an organisation where everyone is motivated to build towards a better and greener world, Eurostar aims to be a frontrunner in corporate sustainability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of the sustainability strategy, accelerating progress against the 2030 carbon and renewable energy targets and establishing the company's waste and circularity ambition.
• Lead engagement and negotiations with external stakeholders (including national rail operators) around challenging and ambitious sustainability targets.
• Set the agenda for sustainability, identifying new opportunities, creating momentum and ensuring the business remains ahead of its peers in sustainable high-speed rail.
• Lead and develop the sustainability team, while working closely with senior stakeholders across the business to embed sustainability into decision-making.
• Communicate progress and priorities clearly to the Board, senior leadership, employees and external stakeholders, strengthening sustainability as part of the company's brand and culture.

Key Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and delivering a sustainability strategy, ideally within a complex, consumer-facing or operational business.
• Strong understanding of carbon reduction, renewable energy and science-based targets, with experience across waste, circularity or sustainable procurement also highly valuable.
• A hands-on approach, with the ability to translate a strategy into tangible delivery and measurable outcomes.
• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to set the agenda, challenge the status quo and create momentum.
• A bold, honest and caring leadership style, combined with the commercial judgement and commitment to build a long-term sustainability function.

Process

Acre is supporting Eurostar in the search and selection for this important role. If you are interested, please reach out to Peter Vos (peter.vos@acre.com) or Ben Flint (ben.flint@acre.com) from Acre or apply directly online.

Acre and Eurostar are committed to driving an equitable and fair process. We give full and fair consideration to all applicants and are committed to the continued development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, or pregnancy and maternity.