Sustainability Specialist

Description Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be an authoritative voice on sustainable design within the practice, shaping projects from pre-concept through to post-occupancy evaluation.

They will embed sustainability principles across all project disciplines, drive certification submissions to successful outcomes.

Sustainability Strategy & Advisory

• Define and lead project-specific sustainability strategies tailored to client ambitions, budget constraints, and program requirements at each design stage.
• Conduct sustainability workshops, charrettes, and design reviews with multidisciplinary project teams and clients.
• Advise on passive design measures including building orientation, massing, façade performance, shading, natural ventilation, and daylighting to minimize mechanical loads.
• Develop net-zero carbon roadmaps for projects targeting operational and/or embodied carbon reduction goals.
• Conduct embodied carbon assessments (up front carbon, whole-life carbon) using One Click LCA, EC3, or equivalent tools.
• Advise on sustainable materials selection, circular economy principles, and responsible sourcing standards (FSC, REACH, EPDs). Green Building Certifications
• Lead and manage certification programs across multiple frameworks: LEED v4/v4.1 (BD+C, ID+C, O+M), Estidama Pearl Rating System (PRS), BREEAM New Construction / In-Use, WELL Building Standard (v2), Fitwel, and GSAS.
• Prepare credit documentation, energy calculations, simulation reports, and supporting narratives for submission to certification bodies (USGBC, BRE, IWBI, GORD, UPC).
• Track credit status across all active projects, proactively identifying risks and solutions to maintain targeted rating levels.
• Liaise with local authority sustainability requirements: DM Green Building Regulations (Dubai), Abu Dhabi ESTIDAMA (UPC), UPDA (Qatar), and MOMRA (KSA).
• Manage relationships with certification body reviewers and ensure timely responses to RFIs and reviewer comments. Energy Modelling & Technical Analysis
• Perform whole-building energy modelling using IES VE, DesignBuilder, or eQUEST for LEED/Estidama compliance, ASHRAE 90.1 baseline comparisons, and design optimization.
• Conduct parametric studies to evaluate design alternatives: glazing ratios, HVAC system types, building envelope performance, and renewable energy generation.