Principal consultant - climate change London, England
Job description
This is an exciting opportunity for a professional and consultative technical leader within an innovative and fast paced consulting business to make a significant impact on climate change and global environmental agendas.
Our mission is to support and guide our clients to achieve low-carbon climate-resilient development. We do this through catalysing systemic transformation, by helping them establish strong foundations for impact. We add value by speaking the language of many (through our technical, financial, cultural and local understanding), working with agility to align with our clients, and at the interplay of finance and the wider context.
As a Principal you will bring extensive experience delivering low-carbon climate-resilient development. You will lead and manage a team of direct reports setting and managing expectations, leading quality management, managing and coordinating the work of team members on consulting assignments, and planning and managing resources to deliver assignments within time, scope and profitability. You will be driven to “wow” our clients, through understanding and managing client expectations, reflecting those in team deliverables and identifying opportunities to go above and beyond. You will ensure your direct reports fulfill their internal obligations with respect to strategy, policies and processes by setting an example and leading them in line with our core values.
This position is based in our offices in London, but a potential other location can be considered for the right candidate.
Strategy development
Through the guidance of the Head of Consulting, provide input into the direction and strategy of the company
Consulting assignment opportunity development
Possess a strong commercial acumen and be able to demonstrate a track record of creating, selling and delivering large scale engagements
Cross-sell existing and develop new opportunities by promoting E Co’s value propositions, capabilities and maintaining on-going client relationships
Create opportunities by bringing in new, profitable clients
Work in partnership with the business development team to identify, plan, formulate, champion and quality control opportunities
Lead bids and manage the negotiation process through to signing of the engagement letter
Consulting assignment delivery
Oversee the setting, management and delivery of client expectations across all assignments in the portfolio
Be able to effectively shape, plan and staff engagements
Lead large engagements and supervise (quality manage) a portfolio of smaller engagements led by senior consultants
Take responsibility for assignment financials, including planning, forecasting and invoicing to the client
Manage risks to protect the interests of both the client and E Co.
Support the design and build of teams to get the right mix of people and capabilities to best serve the client and strengthen the relationship
Coordinate inputs from internal consulting team members and external contractors (international and local consultants) to deliver our services on time, within budget and consistent with our quality standards
With guidance from technical, service area and client leads, (of which you may be one), manage the delivery of assignments and tasks, using E Co’s methodology
Take a broader perspective of potential issues encountered when managing diverse teams and the strategies to overcome them; have a clear understanding of E Co’s commitment to its values
Ensure assignment teams fully use and comply with all E Co. assignment management systems and processes
Quality management of assignments
Following an understanding around client acceptance criteria, oversee the setting, management and delivery of client expectations across all assignments in the portfolio amongst assignment team members
Define the response to client expectations and acceptance criteria and communicate this to the team
Monitor progress through regular check-ins and provide further support and guidance as needed
Prior to submission, verify that the team members have produced a draft in line with client expectations and acceptance criteria
Client relationship management
Build and maintain relationships through regular contact with the client’s assignment managers, procurement officers and other relevant operational staff
Represent E Co. at client-facing events and meetings
Follow-up with client counterparts to obtain views and perspectives on client satisfaction level
People management and development
Take a selfless interest in the development, success and happiness of assignment team members working for you
Support the personal and professional development of others by acting as a mentor to a small group of consulting team members
Ensure direct reports fully use and comply with E Co’s systems and processes.
Marketing
Work in partnership with the marketing team to leverage opportunities, assignment developments and results in line with technical, service area and client strategies
Career pathways
As a principal consultant, your career at E Co. can develop in many ways including as a technical, service, or client lead:
a technical lead specialising in a specific technical area, developing deep knowledge and expertise that recognises your subject matter expertise.
a service area lead in one of our service areas, allowing for the development of a broad set of skills along a service area
a client account lead for a key (or set of) account(s), building and maintaining relations with that particular client (or set thereof), or
a project/assignment management lead to lead and manage complex assignments, and supervise others to do the same
Essential requirements
Postgraduate degree – MBA, MA, MSc, PhD in a relevant technical subject
An outstanding academic and career record
Sound knowledge and experience in climate change mitigation/ adaptation/ resilience; e.g. Renewable Energy, Energy Access, Energy Efficiency, Transport, EV transport, Smart cities, Urban development, Forestry, AFOLU, REDD, Agriculture, Water, Waste, Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Coastal adaptation, Health, and/or Loss and Damage/DRR
Experience providing consulting and advisory services upstream of financing decisions - e.g. market analysis, strategy development, policy development, proposal development
Proven track record of technical consultancy delivery in one or more relevant fields
Experience working with one or more of our public sector clients - GCF, GCA, Adaptation Fund, NAMA Facility, EBRD, WB, AfDB, GIZ, AFD, FCDO, IADB, AFC as well as the private sector.
Proven track record leading teams to deliver projects and other assignments on time, on budget and to high quality standards
Strong track record in project management in a multi-stakeholder developing country context
Experience in contract management including managing change control
Excellent ability to design, organise, execute and deliver consulting solutions to international clients
Able to build and maintain relations with existing and potential clients, follow leads, build meaningful partnerships and engage experts
Possesses good negotiating skills as demonstrated through client, partnership and expert negotiations
Experience writing or contributing to the writing of assignment reports, technical proposals, marketing materials and other written outputs in your areas of expertise
Experience acting as Quality Manager (QA + QC) on assignments, proposals and for other outputs
Experience guiding small teams of consultants 1-2-1, helping them to develop knowledge, skills sets and tools that will enable them to realise their own personal and professional objectives
People management skills - able to manage people and their performance, hold them accountable and guide or support their career development
A minimum of 15 years of relevant experience
Highly desirable
Experience with an as-yet-unexplored relevant client, technical or service area would be an advantage
Significant relevant experience in Africa, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and/or Asia
Fluency in English and another language (including French, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and Arabic)
A wide network of contacts in the sustainable and international development sector
In return, we'll offer flexible working hours and a competitive package within a purpose-driven, B Corp-certified organisation. If based in London, you'll be given membership to our dynamic offices at London Bridge, located between The Shard and Borough Market.
Our Core Values
Our Core values govern the company's underlying decisions and reflect the culture of the way we do business. Putting the core values to work in each and everything we do within the company is the task of each one of us in our day-to-day business dealings with each other, with contractors and with customers. Our core values are:
Deliver excellence. We aim to WOW our customers, co-workers, contractors and partners and learn.
Empathetic. We listen, reflect, empathise, and are open and honest.
Connected. Using a unique mix of disciplines and sector expertise, we connect financing that seeks to redress the imbalances caused by climate change, to the people and organisations who can mobilise those funds.
Diverse. In skills, in scope, and across environmental, financial, legal, gender, and social criteria
Driven. We are persistent, determined and passionate about what we do.
Impactful. Our short-term decisions are guided by their long-term impacts. We learn from past experience to maximise our impact.
