Principal Consultant, Corporate Climate Targets

The goal of the Principal Consultant is to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality consultancy advice to international, regional and local clients on sustainability topics for the corporate sector. You will be fully accountable for the development and overall management of proposals on corporate climate targets, as well as for the implementation of projects, for which you will supervise various project teams. You will provide technical guidance to the project teams and act as the main point of contact for the client. You will also leverage your vast technical expertise to drive business development activities and generate new leads. In addition, you will contribute to the development of new products and solutions at South Pole to address sustainability challenges.

**Main responsibilities**
- Lead the planning, management and execution of highly complex/very large consulting mandates on corporate climate targets to ensure the most efficient and highest-quality implementation.
- As a senior expert, provide supervision, guidance on and technical leadership in international consulting mandates and proposals, as well as lead their technical review.
- Develop new consulting business opportunities and collaborate closely with the Key Account Management team.
- Interact and build relationships with our local and international clients, and contribute to the winning and timely delivery of consulting mandates.
- Develop and improve specialised skills and knowledge linked to the topics and services offered by South Pole.
- Lead the development of South Pole’s thought leadership, services, products, marketing materials and offerings.
- Lead and directly manage small teams of consultants in a multi-stakeholder and multi-geographies context.
- Participate in business strategy and leadership-relevant internal discussions to position our consulting activities within South Pole's overall business and offering.
- The topics of engagement will focus on disclosure, Science Based Targets (SBTs), net-zero strategies, sustainability roadmaps and occasionally engage in GHG accounting.

**Essential profile requirements**
- University degree, ideally at a Master’s level or higher, in Environmental Sciences or Engineering, Economics or other sustainability-related disciplines.
- Relevant knowledge of environmental sustainability challenges in multinational companies including target setting and sustainability roadmaps.
- Relevant work experience (the expectation is a minimum of 10 years), at least partly in sustainability consulting or a related field, including: GHG accounting in line with best practice methodologies, target setting (SBTs), disclosure (e.g. CDP, TCFD) and net-zero strategies.
- Excellent technical project supervision skills and ability to guide project teams.
- Excellent stakeholder and client management skills, including ability to lead contract negotiations.
- Industry-relevant connections, with a network of potential clients, collaborators and other relevant stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of environmental sustainability challenges and specific consultancy experience in the relevant areas of the practice.
- Commercial skills and good business sense so as to be able to identify and seize opportunities in a challenging and competitive market environment.
- Leadership and strategic management experience.
- Excellent oral and written skills in English and [other local language if required].
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with specific communication experience to senior decision makers (such as C-Suite) and across a range of stakeholders.

**Desired profile requirements**
- Practical experience in sustainability/climate change strategy development, GHG management, stakeholder engagement and change management.
- A Master’s degree will be an advantage.
- Practical experience in change management and sustainability strategy development.
- Diligent, reliable and proactive.
- Fully comfortable operating in a fast-paced international environment.
- Excellent prioritisation and time management skills.