Sustainability Associate - Groundswell at Octopus

London, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

08 Apr, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

08 Jan, 26

Experience

0 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Investment Basics, Curious, Collaborative, Strong EQ, Determined, Adaptable, Analytical Thinking

Industry

Financial Services

Description

Company Description At the start of 2025, we spun the Impact and Sustainability team out of the Octopus Group, to create a new business called Groundswell. Groundswell is unlocking value and efficiency through sustainability – we call it the third wave. The first wave: Sustainability was seen as separate from business. A few companies embedded it because they understood its value. The second wave: Regulators, consumers, and investors forced it onto the agenda. This created a whole new industry, but sustainability became siloed from the wider business. The third wave: Companies are now realising that sustainability is simply part of doing good business – moving it from a siloed function to a firm-wide capability. Octopus is known for disrupting broken industries and solving real-world problems, and Groundswell applies that same mindset to sustainability. Our mission is to help businesses make sustainability integrated, commercial, and genuinely valuable. Job Description The role We are looking for a Sustainability Associate to join our team, working closely with one of our Sustainability Managers to deliver a long-term sustainability strategy for a key client, with the potential to work with other clients in the future. You’ll be working directly with one of our Sustainability Managers to implement and deliver the client’s sustainability strategy. The role combines corporate sustainability with responsible investment, supporting with hands-on implementation and delivery. This role is well-suited to someone with 1–3 years’ work experience, preferably within the investment industry, who is interested in transitioning to a more sustainably focussed role. Responsibilities include: Drive responsible investment strategy: you’ll play a key role in implementing and running our client’s Responsible Investment (RI) strategy. This includes managing committee meetings, overseeing reporting schedules, assessing sustainability risk data across our investments, and delivering training for investment teams. Champion corporate sustainability: help embed sustainability across the client and its subsidiaries, incorporating B Corp principles and ensuring they sit at the heart of company objectives. Fuel Groundswell’s growth: we’re a fast-growing start-up, and you’ll be part of that journey. Support the team, bring fresh ideas, and be involved with new growth opportunities (or seek out your own!) to help us make an even bigger impact. Qualifications Preferred skills and behaviours We believe anyone who displays the right behaviours can learn the skills they need to thrive in a role. Below are some of the skills and behaviours we’d like to see in a candidate: Investment basics: You don’t need to be an expert, but understand the investment process and industry challenges to speak our clients’ language and spot impact opportunities. Curious and collaborative: Be open to unlearning, embracing new ideas, and working together to find the best solutions. Strong EQ: Build trust, manage complex dynamics, and keep stakeholders engaged and aligned. Determined and adaptable: Try new things, learn fast from mistakes, and stay focused on driving the next wave of sustainability. You do not need prior sustainability experience, we are looking for someone with strong investment fundamentals, analytical thinking, and a collaborative mindset who is keen to learn. Applications for this role are open until Wednesday 14th of January Additional Information What’s it like working at Groundswell? We’re a close-knit, high-performing team that thrives on collaboration. Being in the office five days a week means you’ll be fully immersed in our dynamic environment, learning fast and making an impact from day one. Our time is split between the Groundswell office (2 days) and our clients’ offices (3 days), and we make sure we have regular touchpoints and a culture of support and collaboration across the team. You’ll have the chance to absorb knowledge quickly, share your insights with the team, and put them into action. Our culture is shaped by our values, principles, and behaviours: be straightforward, customer-obsessed, and trustworthy. We challenge the system, cut through the clutter and celebrate progress. Perks & Benefits 25 days holiday Private healthcare (including dental) Wellbeing hub with access to coaching sessions Plenty of team socials – from after-work drinks to trips abroad Share in the success of the business by gaining equity ownership If you’re interested in working at Groundswell, please apply with a cover letter explaining your perspective on the future of sustainability in finance.

Responsibilities

The Sustainability Associate will implement and deliver a long-term sustainability strategy for a key client, focusing on responsible investment and corporate sustainability. They will also support the growth of Groundswell by bringing fresh ideas and seeking new opportunities.