Assistant Sustainability Adviser

Help small businesses cut carbon, cut costs, and build a more sustainable Northern Ireland.

Are you looking to launch your career in sustainability and make a genuine difference?

Sustainable NI is looking for an Assistant Sustainability Adviser to join our team and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Northern Ireland and the border region as they decarbonise, become more productive, and save money.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an early-career professional to gain hands-on experience across advisory work, project delivery, and stakeholder engagement, with structured mentoring and real scope for progression.

About the role

You'll provide direct support in the operational running of the E-DATA project (Enterprise Digitalisation and Transformation Alliance) — a major cross-border initiative funded by PEACEPLUS, helping SMEs modernise, innovate, and decarbonise.

In this role, you'll:

• Advise and support SMEs on their decarbonisation journey
• Contribute to sustainability reports and guidance documents
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and support workshops, events, and training
• Provide administrative and project support
• Draft tender submissions and funding proposals
• Monitor policy developments and draft consultation responses on climate and sustainability issues

This is a hybrid role: two days per week in our Belfast office, combined with home working and regular travel across Northern Ireland and the border region.

Company Description

Sustainable Northern Ireland (Sustainable NI) is a not-for-profit organisation that supports organisations to become more sustainable. It directly supports a wide range of public sector organisations, including local councils, providing a strong platform for local and regional impact. In addition to working directly with public sector organisations, Sustainable NI provides advisory services that help businesses decarbonise, cut costs, and become more sustainable. The organisation focuses on evidence-based approaches, partnership working, and capacity-building to help organisations embed sustainability in their strategies and operations.

Qualifications

• Relevant degree in sustainability, environmental science, public policy, planning, engineering or a related discipline.
• Understanding of sustainable development principles and related policy or regulatory frameworks relevant to climate change and sustainability.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to draft reports, briefings, and stakeholder communications for diverse audiences.
• Ability to critically evaluate information from a range of sources and apply logical reasoning to develop practical solutions.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a small team, manage time effectively, work flexibly and balance multiple tasks and projects.
• Experience managing, promoting, or running events is an advantage.
• Interest in sustainability and willingness to develop expertise in local climate and sustainability issues in Northern Ireland.

Hours and benefits

We operate a 35-hour week (standard hours 9.00am–5.30pm, with some flexibility).

In return, you'll receive:

• Salary in the region of £26,000 - £30,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
• A 7.5% ethical employer pension contribution
• 25 days' annual leave, rising by one day per year of service up to a maximum of 30, plus public holidays
• Two paid volunteering days per year
• Structured mentoring from our Senior Sustainability Adviser, with clear scope for career progression

Closing date

Completed application forms must be returned to Sustainable NI by 12 noon, Friday 31 July 2026.

How to apply

Applicants will be expected to complete an application form demonstrating how they meet the essential criteria for appointment.

Please download the Job Description and Application Form from the Sustainable NI website:

https://www.sustainableni.org/careers/assistant-sustainability-adviser

Please return your completed application form to recruitment@sustainableni.org by 12 noon, Friday 31 July 2026. CVs will not be accepted.

Interviews are anticipated to take place w/c 31st August 2026 (subject to change).

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Equality of Opportunity

Sustainable NI is committed to appointing based on merit through a fair and transparent process, and to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications regardless of gender, age, marital status, disability, religion, ethnic origin, political opinion, sexual orientation or whether or not you have dependants. Since men, young people, people from minority ethnic groups and people with disabilities are currently under-represented in our workforce, applications from these groups would be particularly welcome.