Our clients are under increasing pressure to manage and improve their environmental, social and governance (ESG or sustainability) performance and achieve a wide range of ESG outcomes. Leading companies are unlocking value by integrating sustainability more effectively with business decision making. Our Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change team helps clients respond to these demands and turn sustainability from a necessary cost to a value creator. We help our clients to define holistic ESG strategies with a strong technical grounding. On Climate Change, we support our clients define and deliver climate change strategies, with a strong focus on the broad approach to Net Zero integrating disclosures, scenario analysis, greenhouse gas (GHG) modelling and assessments, and the identification of appropriate responses to mitigation and adaptation challenges.
The successful applicant will be based in our Africa Business Unit as part of ERMs Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change Europe & Middle East & Africa (EMEA) team. This is a team of management consultants focused on helping companies to create long-term value by managing the opportunities and mitigate the risks tied to ESG.
Responsibilities
As a Principal Consultant joining our team, your key focus will be on leveraging a strong technical background in helping our clients to define strategies to address climate change as part of their corporate sustainability journeys. Technically, the consultant should have extensive experience in some or all of the following areas, for example:
- A demonstrable track record of strong advisory competencies within corporate sustainability and climate related fields, including sustainability impact reporting, ESG materiality assessments and decarbonization strategy development.
- Scoping and execution of GHG assessments and carbon accounting (Scope 1, 2 & 3) in line with good international practice, e.g., ISO 14064 and the GHG Protocol Corporate Standards
- Experience in advising clients on (and completing) climate change disclosures such as the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) or Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
- Experience in assurance of climate change related sustainability data as part of companys annual reporting in line with GRI/ SABS
- Understanding of the South African regulatory regime for climate change, including carbon tax, pollution prevention plans, energy management plans, carbon offsets, carbon budgets and energy reporting. Experience in other African countries climate related legislative will be advantageous.
- Experience in Life-cycle assessment (LCA) and related cradle to grave assessment tools, energy (resource) efficiency assessments and management systems in line with ISO 50001, Science Based Targets development.
- The role is likely to be focused on mitigation though additional experience in terms of adaptation and physical risks resulting from climate change will be beneficial, as well as experience in relation to renewable energy/ hydrogen development processes from strategy, opportunity identification and assessment to development.
As a Principal Consultant within the team, you will be responsible for:
Project Delivery:
- Managing or coordinating medium to large size projects or whole elements of larger multidisciplinary or global projects
- Delivering multiple project tasks or components
- Establishing strong working relationships with clients through project delivery
- Understanding the interrelationships between ERM services and policies and how these are applied within the clients business model.
- Developing Corporate Sustainability and Climate Change services in Africa through leading on client engagements and subsequent client development activities
- Providing strategic advisory input to clients on decarbonization, climate change and ESG related topics including:
- Net zero strategy development, carbon abatement pathways
- Carbon offsets and carbon credit frameworks/methodologies (e.g., VCS, VERA, )
- Green taxonomy and sustainable finance
- Emerging climate and ESG disclosure trends (e.g., Scope 4 emissions, CSRD, ISSB S2)
- Developing proposals and leading bid/chase teams on the development of large proposals bids
- Remaining up to date with external market and client industry trends
- Sharing expertise and knowledge within the business unit and/or global practice area
- Supervising project team(s) and coaching and mentoring more junior staff to capacitate the team in sustainability and climate related topics.
- Making use of effective working relationships with business unit and participate in global technical communities to ensure strong network of resources.
- Understanding how work of the project team and or practice community contributes to ERMs success.
- Postgraduate degree (preferably a Masters-level degree) in a technical climate change field (e.g., environmental management, energy engineering, climate change), as well as experience and/or qualifications in a business management-related field (e.g., financial, legal, change management, strategy etc.)
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in ESG/ climate change consulting
- Strong technical climate change experience linking to ESG strategy development.
- Experience in climate change aspects of mergers and acquisitions, divestment, project finance, private equity, liability assessment and transaction advisory, is also desired.
- Commercial acumen, business development and project management skills
- Excellent leadership and communication (both verbal and written) skills the successful candidate will be expected to deliver written reports of a high quality from both a strategic and technical advisory perspective.
- Experience with using data and technology to solve clients climate change and ESG challenges.
- Willingness to travel
Please submit your resume, including contactable referees, salary information and a brief cover letter. Qualifying candidates will be contacted by email or telephonically and shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews.
EOE/AAE
ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.
