Sustainability and Governance Director

Acre is delighted to be partnering with Harwich Haven Authority, who play a vital role in keeping the country connected, protecting our coastline, and supporting the communities around us. More than 40% of the country's container trade passes through Harwich Haven, carried on some of the world's largest container ships - but they are just one element of what goes on in the Haven. As they look to the future, they're committed to operating in a way that is safe, sustainable, innovative, and transparent. To help deliver on that ambition, Acre is searching for a Sustainability & Governance Director who is ready to make a meaningful and lasting impact.

Reporting directly to the CEO and joining the Executive Team, you will help shape the organisation's long-term strategy and ensure that environmental responsibility, forward-thinking governance, and people-centred leadership are embedded into everything they do. This is a role for someone who can balance today's operational realities with an eye firmly on the horizon-someone who understands where the sector is heading and is excited to explore new ideas, technologies, and ways of working.

A major part of your role will involve leading and developing a team of highly capable technical specialists across sustainability, governance, health and safety, engineering, and risk. You do not need to be an expert in every field; your strength will be in giving direction, building confidence, connecting people, and creating an environment where expertise can thrive. You'll be the kind of leader who listens, challenges, encourages, and brings out the best in those around you.

Innovation is key. They are looking for someone who enjoys scanning the horizon for new opportunities-whether regulatory, environmental, or technological who sees emerging ideas not as risks, but as opportunities to strengthen how they work. You'll champion the use of digital tools, smarter data, modern engineering practices, and fresh thinking across the Authority, ensuring that they continue to evolve in a rapidly changing world.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership across sustainability, governance, health & safety, and harbour engineering, ensuring these disciplines shape organisational decisions and long-term planning.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team, nurturing high performance, capability, and collaboration.
• Drive the Authority's environmental and sustainability strategy, including net zero, biodiversity, climate adaptation, and ESG reporting.
• Oversee governance, compliance, and regulatory engagement, ensuring transparency and robust public accountability.
• Support a proactive, learning-focused safety culture and effective risk management.
• Bring forward innovation, technology, and new ideas through horizon scanning, external partnerships, and funding opportunities.
• Represent the Authority confidently with regulators, environmental bodies, industry partners, and community stakeholders.

Throughout all this, you'll work closely with the CEO and fellow Directors to ensure the organisation remains resilient, responsible, and future-ready. You will help shape how they respond to environmental challenges, how they look after our people, how they manage our infrastructure, and how they deliver long-term value for the region and beyond.

What you'll bring

• Senior leadership experience in sustainability, governance, engineering, H&S, or similarly regulated operational environments.
• The confidence and credibility to lead multidisciplinary teams and support specialists to excel.
• Strong strategic thinking and the ability to simplify complexity into a clear direction.
• Experience engaging with Boards, regulators, and public-interest bodies.
• Curious about innovation, new technologies, and emerging best practices.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and stakeholder management skills.
• A calm, ethical, and transparent approach to leadership, especially in complex situations.

This is an opportunity to guide an organisation with deep roots and a clear ambition for the future. Your leadership will influence their environmental and social footprint, the safety and well-being of their people, the resilience of their infrastructure, and the trust placed upon them by their community. Few roles offer such a powerful blend of purpose, influence, and scope.

If you want to help shape a sustainable, forward-looking future for one of the UK's most important harbours, we would be delighted to hear from you.