ESG and Sustainability Manager

The Responsible Business team leads and supports the firm’s environmental management and sustainability strategy (including climate, carbon and resource use), as well as human rights and wider ESG work. The team works closely with other parts of the business to coordinate activity, align environmental and social objectives, and drive measurable, ESG‑led progress.

Purpose of the Role

The ESG and Sustainability Manager will play a key role in developing and delivering Simmons & Simmons’ environmental and climate strategy across its global offices, overseeing carbon and climate‑related reporting, environmental management systems, carbon reduction programmes, supplier engagement, and green building and office projects. The role will ensure compliance with evolving ESG, regulatory and market standards and is central to delivering the firm’s Responsible Business Strategy and climate commitments, while meeting client, regulatory and wider stakeholder expectations.

Key responsibilities

·       Strategy & Reporting: Lead the firm’s environmental and climate strategy, aligned with Responsible Business priorities. Coordinate global carbon reporting, the Climate Transition Plan and related risk/opportunity analysis. Manage key external disclosures including the Carbon Reduction Plan, SBTi requirements, climate‑related financial disclosures (CFD) and CDP, and oversee ISO 14001, ESOS and SECR processes and audits.

·       Governance & Committees: Support with the Responsible Business Board, Climate Committee and The Green Room providing insight on environmental performance, risks an d emerging regulatory developments.

·       Environmental & Carbon Reduction Initiatives: Develop and implement initiatives to reduce operational emissions and broader environmental impacts, including travel-related emissions. Coordinate environmental and sustainability training across the firm where necessary.

·       Sustainable Procurement & Supplier Engagement: Integrate sustainability into procurement and supplier management, working closely with EnterpriseRisk Management (ERM) and related teams. Lead supplier engagement under the SBT Action Plan to reduce Scope 3 emissions, set and communicate environmental expectations and track supplier performance.

·       Offices, Real Estate& Green Buildings: Provide sustainability input into office projects (including25 Finsbury Square) ensuring environmental requirements are built into design and operation. Support the facilities team with green building certifications(e.g. BREEAM, LEED) and improve building energy performance across the global estate.

·       Charters, Memberships & External Commitments: Manage participation in environmental and climate initiatives, such as the Legal 1.5°CCharter and the Legal Sustainability Alliance. Ensure commitments are embedded as part of the responsible business strategy.

·       Horizon Scanning &Regulatory Compliance: Track evolving ESG and environmental regulation and standards and prepare for key obligations (e.g. UK SRS, CSRD and CSDDD). Provide guidance on implications for the firm, and coordinate internal activity to ensure compliance.

·       Policies: Review and update environmental and other relevant policies, and ensure they are clearly communicated.

·       Stakeholder and client support: Oversee environmental and ESG input into RFPs, pitches and panel reviews and coordinate responses to client environmental audits and questionnaires. Where relevant, work with client relationship teams to articulate the firm’s environmental credentials and support client discussions on ESG topics.

Experience and personal specification

·      Excellent communication, coordination and project management skills.

·      Strong knowledge and understanding of ESG and environmental sustainability, including carbon accounting, climate risk, Science Based Targets (SBTi), and environmental management systems (e.g. ISO 14001).

·      Experience of supporting environmental, ESG and regulatory reporting processes (e.g. SECR, ESOS, CDP, climate‑related financial disclosures), including data collection, assurance and narrative development.

·      Experience setting, monitoring or reporting against KPIs, impact measures or performance indicators.

·      Strong writing, editing and content development skills, including drafting clear governance papers, environmental policies, internal reports and client‑facing ESG materials.

·      Experience with policy development, review and implementation.

·      Confidence working with senior stakeholders, internal committees and cross-functional teams.

·      Ability to work independently and make sound decisions in line with the firm’s goals and values.