Sustainability Graduate 2026 - Responsible Business

Sustainability Graduate 2026 - Responsible Business

At Mace Construct, we are construction experts on the ground. We harness knowledge, experience and relationships to enhance every part of the construction journey. Understanding and delivering on the ambitions of our clients. Enacting real and lasting change for our industry.

On our two-year Graduate Programme, you’ll contribute to meaningful projects from the very start. Whether it’s shaping sustainable places, creating smarter infrastructure, or helping clients solve complex challenges, you’ll play a real part in projects that make a lasting difference – to people, to places, and to the planet.

The opportunity

At Mace Construct, you’ll be at the heart of bringing projects to life through hands-on delivery. Working on live construction sites, you’ll help turn complex and innovative designs into reality – ensuring they’re built safely, on time, and to the highest standards. Our site teams typically start early and finish in the late afternoon, so adaptability and energy are key. It’s a fast-paced environment where you’ll see the results of your work taking shape every day.

The Responsible Business sector helps clients deliver climate-resilient projects, reduce carbon and create lasting social value. By combining global sustainability expertise with local knowledge, we provide strategies, pathways and measurable outcomes across ESG, decarbonisation and social impact. With a collaborative, data-led and practical approach, we make every project more sustainable while leaving a positive legacy for communities.

Join us in Responsible Business and you’ll help drive positive change, support clients on their net zero journey and build a more sustainable future for everyone.

What you’ll do

In Sustainability, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of internal and/or client-facing consultancy services including the advisory and co-ordination of various climate change, sustainability and/or social value related activities on projects and/or programmes. Some of your main responsibilities will include:

• Supporting research and development of client climate change, sustainability and/or social value strategies on individual projects
• Developing knowledge in becoming a technical expert and promote innovation in a particular area of sustainability, such as waste, energy/carbon, water, responsible sourcing of materials, sustainable buildings, etc
• Development in becoming a proactive generalist, able to cover all major issues of sustainability with all relevant stakeholders
• Supporting the drive for Mace to be a leader in climate change and sustainability
• Demonstration of developing knowledge of sustainable building design, including embodied and operational carbon and energy reduction, in new build and refurbishment projects, including programme, cost and operational impacts of Net Zero Carbon strategies
• Supporting design teams to understand and respond to environmental constraints and opportunities to maximise positive environmental benefits
• Supporting developing knowledge/interest in one or more sustainability topics (waste, water, energy, carbon, responsible sourcing, building design, biodiversity, etc)
• Ability to translate technical topics to varied audiences and articulate the value of sustainability
• Being supportive of sustainability and demonstrating this by way of example, supporting and encouraging behavioural change throughout the business
• Developing innovation and best practice, including clearly communicating these to the wider business and our clients
• Supporting the translation of best environmental management systems practices from one area to another, including analysing reporting needs in order to simplify the process
• Establishing and maintains positive working relationships with client and stakeholders including design team members, contractors, sub-contractors, and regulators

You will also work towards gaining professional membership of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) or other relevant to your role, fully funded and supported by us.

What we can offer you

Our two-year Graduate Development Programme gives you structured on-the-job training and the chance to take on meaningful work from day one. You’ll learn alongside experienced professionals, be supported by skilled mentors and peers, and gain exposure to different areas of our business as you grow your career.

Alongside your development, you’ll receive a wide range of benefits, including:

• A permanent role from the moment you join
• Taxable travel allowance to cover expenses between your home and workplace (Mace Construct only)
• Fully funded professional membership of an association relevant to your role
• 22 days annual leave + bank holidays + 2 further ‘Mace Days’ off + 3 extra days over Christmas, with the option to purchase additional leave
• Volunteering day each year
• Pension scheme (with up to 7% matched funding from Mace Construct)
• Life assurance, private medical insurance cover, and annual health assessment
• Season ticket loan, cycle to work and green car scheme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• 24/7 access to health and wellbeing experts via our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Discounts and savings portal for hundreds of retailers, gyms, cafés, restaurants, and cinemas
• A range of other flexible benefits to suit you

About you

• A future or recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree (or higher). STEM-related subjects are preferred but not essential.
• 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English (or equivalent qualifications)

Given the nature of our work, flexibility is key. Our projects and clients are based in various locations, so you should be prepared to travel frequently to different project sites or Mace Construct offices. A positive and adaptable approach to travel is therefore essential, as it may be a regular part of your role. To support this, Mace Construct offers travel expense reimbursements for business travel, including mileage, public transport fares, and, where necessary, accommodation.

We’re looking for ambitious people who want to make a difference – proactive and curious individuals who are keen to learn, ask questions, and share ideas. You’ll stay agile in ever-changing conditions, collaborate with diverse teams, and deliver with integrity while living our values and demonstrating the behaviours and competencies that help us shape the industry:

Values

• safety first, client focus, create opportunity, integrity

Behaviours

• curious, collaborators, contributors, champions of inclusion

Competencies

• build effective teams, embrace change, solve problems, build trusted relationships

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We respect equality, value diversity and encourage individuality – accepting and appreciating all views and beliefs and providing an environment for ideas to come alive. Our strength lies in broad perspectives, diverse experience and global expertise. It’s why we continue to grow and the basis of our reputation as a leading construction expert.

Our Employee Resource Groups – focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity, disability, parents, and military – bring colleagues together to connect, share experiences, and drive change. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer, a champion of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme, and signatories of the Care Leaver Covenant and Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter. Our commitment has been recognised with the Clear Assured Gold Standard for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

The Disability Confident scheme encourages employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain, and develop disabled people. We support this initiative by offering adjustments and support during recruitment, such as extra time for tasks or video interviews, or providing information in alternative formats. To request adjustments, please contact us at emergingtalent.construct@macegroup.com. Our team monitors this inbox daily, Monday to Friday, and is here to support you. If you need help sending this email, you can click here to launch a pre-populated email for you to complete and send. If you would prefer to speak with a member of our team, please email and ask for a call back, providing your phone number.

Help us shape the world of tomorrow

If you’re ready to build a career while making a real difference for our clients, communities and society, we want to hear from you. Join us in turning ambitious ideas into reality and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible – apply today via the link on this page.

We review applications on a rolling basis and may close a role once enough candidates have applied. To give you the strongest chance, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, even if a deadline has been advertised.

How to apply

To apply for this role and to find out more, please click on the apply button. Please note that applications may close before the application deadline, so apply early to avoid disappointment.