Description

Environmental Risk and Assurance Advisor
£35,000 - £37,000 plus great benefits (Work Level 6A)
Manchester city centre, hybrid working

We’re looking for an Environmental Compliance Manager to join our Property team and help us make sure Co-op meets all its legal duties under environmental regulations. This is a brand-new role with plenty of scope to shape how we manage environmental risk and compliance across our entire property portfolio - from trading stores to non-trading sites.

You’ll design and deliver compliance frameworks, monitor performance, and provide assurance to senior leaders that our environmental risk management is robust and effective. It’s an exciting opportunity to make a big impact, improve processes, and help us do the right thing for our colleagues, communities, and the planet.

Why this role matters

Environmental compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about protecting people, places, and our reputation. In this role, you’ll guide the business through new legislation, champion best practice, and make sure we’re managing risks like waste, pollution, and contamination effectively. You’ll work closely with property teams, sustainability colleagues, and external specialists to keep our sites safe, legal, and future-ready.

What you’ll do

• Assist with the development of an environmental compliance framework and help to embed it.
• Monitor environmental risk across the property portfolio, carrying out audits and inspections to make sure legal and Co-op standards are met
• Act as a trusted advisor, balancing compliance risk with commercial priorities and escalating issues when needed
• Investigate breaches of environmental compliance (e.g., fuel leaks, waste streams, contamination, noise pollution), identify root causes, and implement solutions to prevent recurrence
• Work with enforcing authorities to resolve issues and avoid prosecution
• Guide the business through new environmental legislation, introducing procedures and risk assessments that drive continual improvement
• Produce clear, consistent reports for senior leaders, including trend and root cause analysis
• Horizon scan for emerging environmental risks and ensure they’re managed proportionally
• Support sustainability initiatives by embedding compliance throughout the property lifecycle
• Feed into risk registers and champion a compliance-focused culture across the business
• Collaborate with RHSE (risk, health, safety and environment) Risk, and Safety teams to manage risk effectively and share best practice
• Work with the Head of RHSE to develop and review an annual environmental compliance roadmap

What we’re looking for

• Experience in an environmental compliance role or a qualification in environmental science
• Knowledge of environmental management systems and experience delivering compliance projects
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Strong communication skills and confidence working with colleagues at all levels
• A proactive, self-motivated approach and ability to influence change

Why Co-op?

At Co-op, we’re owned by our members. And because we’re owned by you, we can do right by you. So when you join us, you’re not just taking a job, you’re joining a movement. We’re an organisation that puts people and communities first, and we’re powered by purpose. We want this to be a place where you can thrive, so you’ll also receive:

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• Coaching and training to support your career development
• Wagestream app – giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn

Building a diverse environment

We’re actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.

We'll ask whether you’d like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.

If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we’ll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.

You can find out more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

You can find out more about the Disability Confident scheme at Disability Confident Scheme - Co-op Colleagues and more about our commitments to diversity and inclusion at Diversity and Inclusion

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you're a current Co-op colleague, this does not need to be completed.

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Environmental Risk and Assurance Advisor