Service Manager Green Cities & Circular Economy - City of Wolverhampton Council
(2022-11)
Led strategic sustainability and decarbonisation efforts for Wolverhampton Council, including city wide Net Zero planning, programme management, and cross-sector stakeholder engagement. Oversaw team development, budget alignment, and policy influence across energy, planning, and regeneration. Represented the council regionally, championing low-carbon innovation and partnerships.
- Led the recruitment, development and management of the Green Cities and Circular Economy team, building the capacity and expertise needed to deliver a growing portfolio of decarbonisation and sustainability projects across the Council.
- Built strong working relationships with directors, cabinet members, elected members and ward councillors. Regularly provided briefings to senior decision-makers
- Managed programme budgets, ensuring resources were allocated effectively and aligned with strategic priorities while supporting the delivery of the Council's decarbonisation objectives.
- Oversaw procurement and contract management across a range of programmes and services, with responsibility for service planning, business continuity and operational resilience.
- Frequently represented the Head of Green Cities and Circular Economy at senior leadership meetings and Project Assurance Groups, helping to ensure strong governance and compliance with the Council's project assurance framework.
- Led the development and consultation of the City's 2041 Net Zero Strategy, coordinating engagement with almost 100 senior internal and external stakeholders to build consensus around a shared vision for decarbonisation.
- Acted as the Council's lead for Local Area Energy Planning and strategic energy policy, providing guidance on regeneration and planning initiatives and supporting the development of major low-carbon infrastructure projects, including solar canopies and heat networks.
- Led the development and implementation of the Council's Climate Action Assessment Tool, helping to embed climate considerations into governance, investment, and procurement decisions.
- Represented the Council at regional conferences, public speaking events and industry forums, including contributing to the West Midlands Regional Solar Taskforce and supporting the development of regional renewable energy policy.
- Provided technical expertise and strategic oversight for major regeneration programmes, ensuring decarbonisation objectives were embedded throughout the design and development process, including projects such as Smith Gate, St George's, and Hickman Avenue Depot.
- Worked across Council departments to develop GIS-based spatial mapping tools that identified and prioritised solar PV opportunities across the city, helping to inform investment in rooftop and canopy solar projects.
- Undertook whole-life cost analysis for the St George's development, strengthening the business case for additional renewable energy generation across the 353-home scheme and helping to shape future investment approaches.
- Led the Net Zero Neighbourhoods Pilot from concept through to delivery, overseeing feasibility studies, partnership development, community engagement, governance, procurement, data protection, retrofit assessments, energy modelling and the delivery of a Net Zero Demonstrator Home.
Climate Change Project Manager - City of Wolverhampton Council
(2020-10 - 2022-11)
Drove corporate decarbonisation planning and governance reform at the council, securing internal funding and political backing for development and delivery of the decarbonisation programme across fleet electrification, asset decarbonisation, and staff travel. Streamlined carbon reporting and internal decision-making through Power BI dashboards and cross-council collaboration. Oversaw development of domestic retrofit schemes and innovative data-driven pilots targeting fuel poverty.
- Led the development of the Council's corporate decarbonisation plan, securing political approval and a £300,000 revenue budget to support business development and build organisational capacity across key service areas.
- Managed the delivery of multiple workstreams within the corporate Net Zero Strategy, ensuring projects remained aligned with strategic objectives and delivered measurable outcomes.
- Introduced carbon reporting and greenhouse gas analysis into the Council's governance framework, providing regular reports and briefings to directors and elected members. Developed an internal monitoring system and Power BI dashboard to improve data management, reporting, and transparency.
- Built effective relationships with directors, cabinet members and senior officers to support the development and delivery of quarterly updates to the Climate Change Advisory Group. Chaired the Climate Emergency Working Group, bringing together services to coordinate action and share progress.
- Produced evidence-based business cases and programme reviews that secured investment in additional capacity, resulting in the creation of the Green Cities and Circular Economy team.
- Led the rollout of Carbon Literacy training across the organisation, supporting the certification of more than 50 staff members.
- Led procurement and contract management activities across a range of sustainability programmes, including market engagement, tender exercises, and supplier management to secure value for money and support strategic objectives.
- Secured budget approvals and led recruitment activity within the Corporate Assets team to support the asset decarbonisation programme, including procurement and contract management for energy audit services.
- Commissioned the Council's Green Fleet Review and led the development of its fleet decarbonisation strategy, securing cabinet approval for a £3 million capital programme and supporting investment in electric vehicle infrastructure and fleet replacement.
- Worked with external partners, neighbouring authorities, and internal stakeholders to develop and implement fleet decarbonisation measures. Introduced whole-life cost analysis for electric light commercial vehicles to strengthen investment decisions and fleet planning.
- Led the development, consultation, and approval of the Council's corporate telematics policy, establishing the framework for fleet-wide implementation. Managed project initiation, options appraisal, and business case development, identifying opportunities to achieve 15% savings in fleet operating costs.
- Led a cross-service project team to develop a sustainable staff travel strategy, undertaking options appraisal and securing approval from directors and cabinet members for implementation.
- Led cross-council teams in the development and delivery of the LAD3, HUG1 and HUG2 domestic retrofit programmes, securing cabinet approval for contracts and budgets while building internal delivery capability and resilience.
- Managed the recovery of the LAD2 retrofit programme, reducing financial risk, minimising aborted costs and protecting the Council's reputation through contract review and programme intervention.
- Developed and delivered an innovative pilot using machine-learning-based retrofit modelling to provide more than 150 fuel-poor households with tailored energy advice, support with energy costs and access to grant funding opportunities.
- Supported the development of the Council's Heat Network Development Plan, helping to identify opportunities for low-carbon heat infrastructure and future investment.
Transport innovation Officer - City of Wolverhampton Council
(2018-10 - 2020-10)
Coordinated subregional approach across four black country local authorities on the planning and delivery of transport innovation initiatives including Electric Vehicle charging points, connected autonomous vehicles, and micromobility. Providing representation at regional level and supporting capacity building for strategy delivery.
- Secured £300,000 through a successful Local Growth Fund bid to support the development of transport innovation initiatives
