Sustainability at COX

COX is a design-focused contemporary architectural practice with studios located in every major Australian city and a history spanning 60 years.

At COX, sustainability is integrated into everything we do, with our projects aiming to improve both the built and natural environment. From the beginning, Philip Cox championed environmentally sensitive design inspired by the natural landscape. This is something we continue today – emphasising respect for the land on which we build.

As signatory to Architects Declare, we recognize that sustainability is now more important than ever before to limit global heating to 1.5° above preindustrial levels. This is why COX has set ambitious sustainability targets for ourselves and our projects.

COX is a carbon neutral business and Climate Active certified. We will continue to measure, reduce, and offset our operating emissions with the intention of reaching climate positive targets across all our studios in Australia.

By 2030, COX aims for all our new projects to be carbon neutral in their operations and achieve a 50% reduction in embodied carbon emissions compared to traditional construction processes. In addition to carbon focused commitments, COX is pursuing broader environmental goals such as achieving zero water and zero waste amid a circular economy, increasing climate resilience and enhancing native biodiversity.

Position Summary

If you are passionate about climate change action and reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment, self-driven and able to work autonomously, have a background in architecture with in-depth knowledge of embodied carbon and lifecycle analysis, then we would love to hear from you.

This new role of Sustainability Lead reflects our commitment to meet our sustainability targets and play a leading role in accelerating the decarbonisation of the construction industry.

The Sustainability Lead is a national role, which provides hands-on advice to a wide variety of projects across all our studios so COX can provide innovative design outcomes that minimise embodied and operational carbon emissions.

As the Sustainability Lead – Carbon Reduction you will work closely with the Sustainability Lead – Regenerative Design to support the National Head of Sustainability in the delivery of COX’s Sustainability Strategy and Targets. Key to this role is an in-depth understanding of how architectural design influences the environmental footprint of projects and the application of lifecycle analysis to evaluate, communicate and improve embodied carbon emissions.

As this is a national role, you may be based in any of our studios, however, Sydney, Brisbane or Canberra are the preferred locations. Flexible work arrangements including working from home are available for the right candidate.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the National Head of Sustainability in the delivery of the COX Sustainability Strategy and Targets.
• Give expert advice on and advocate for zero carbon strategies.
• Prepare and guide embodied carbon and lifecycle analysis to calculate and improve the environmental footprint of a broad range of projects.
• Provide knowledge and understanding of circular economy principles and zero waste strategies.
• Develop processes and tools aiming to measure, communicate and reduce the carbon footprint of projects.
• Support design teams to make responsible material and product choices.
• Monitor and communicate the implications of the continually changing legislation and certification requirements and provide team training as required.
• Advocate for COX’s ESD credentials to new and existing Clients and at external events.

Required competencies, qualifications and experience

• Master’s Degree in Architecture and/or Computational Design.
• Passion for sustainability and real climate change action in the built environment.
• Experience in environmental sustainability and architectural design of more than 5 years.
• Experience in the lifecycle analysis of buildings.
• Strong knowledge of circular economy principles and sustainable materials.
• Strong design sensibility and experience in delivering integrated sustainability initiatives.
• Self-driven, adaptable and forward thinking.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build effective relationships.
• Strong verbal and written communications skills including the ability to explain complex technical issues to a diverse range of people.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Revit and LCA software.

Desirable competencies, qualifications and experience:

• Accreditation as Lifecycle Assessment Practitioner.
• Extensive knowledge of sustainable and emerging low-carbon materials in the Australian built environment and internationally.
• Experience with sustainable rating systems such as Living Building, LEED and GreenStar.
• Proficiency in Rhino, Grasshopper and Adobe software.
• Ability to provide indicative cost benefit advice to project teams and clients.

Work Health & Safety

• Takes reasonable care for their own health and safety and takes reasonable care that their acts or omissions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.
• Complies with COX’s workplace safety procedures.
• Applies a broad knowledge of COX’s Safety Management System, WHS legislation and the principles of risk management.

COX is an Equal Opportunity Employer and aims to create a work environment which promotes effective working relationships. Our aim is to foster an environment where employees and others in the workplace are treated fairly and with respect and are free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, victimisation and bullying.

Applications to be sent to Sydney.HR@cox.com.au