Corporate Sustainability & Climate Change or Sustainable Finance Principal Consultant

ERM is the world’s largest advisory firm dedicated exclusively to sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across the full spectrum of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. With over 8,000 professionals across more than 150 offices in 40+ countries, ERM has been a leader in sustainability consulting for over 50 years. We partner with the world’s top brands to address their most pressing sustainability challenges and help them shape a better future. Our industry-leading work is reflected in numerous benchmarks, and the majority of our projects are sole-sourced, showcasing the strong, trusted relationships we build with our clients.

Position Overview:

ERM is looking for passionate and results-driven Principal Consultants in Corporate Sustainability, Climate Change, and Sustainable Finance to join our dynamic team in Belgium and the Netherlands (BENE). In this client-facing role, you will be responsible for leading high-impact projects, fostering business growth, and supporting the development of junior staff. You will specialize in one of the following key areas: corporate sustainability, climate change, or sustainable finance, helping clients create and execute robust sustainability strategies that drive long-term value.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development:

• Collaborate with senior partners and business developers to achieve personal and business unit sales targets, delivering strategic value to clients.

• Cultivate and nurture strong, long-term relationships with clients and stakeholders.

• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging opportunities to provide clients with cutting-edge solutions.

• Lead the development and pitching of proposals, aligning pricing, scope, and teams to ensure successful project wins.

• Cross-sell ERM’s comprehensive services by working closely with partners across various regions and service lines.

Project Management:

• Lead international project teams, in close coordination with the partner-in-charge, to deliver top-tier consulting services in your area of expertise.

• Manage the full lifecycle of projects, including scoping, budgeting, planning, team coordination, client engagement, and high-quality delivery.

• Ensure that all projects align with ERM’s purpose and sustainability leadership, adhering to internal processes and quality standards.

Team Leadership & Organization:

• Lead diverse, multi-disciplinary teams, leveraging expertise across different ERM offices and service areas.

• Build strong internal networks to stay updated on ERM’s capabilities and foster cross-functional collaboration.

• Mentor junior consultants, supporting their professional development and sharing knowledge to enhance team skills and capabilities.

Technical Expertise: As an expert in one of the following areas, you will provide strategic guidance to clients:

Corporate Sustainability:

• Lead double materiality assessments, gap analyses, sustainability strategies, and disclosure processes.

• Advise clients on the EU Green Deal and related policies (EU Taxonomy, SFDR, CSRD, etc.), ensuring regulatory compliance and sustainability alignment.

• Guide clients through achieving sustainability certifications and ratings.

Climate Change:

• Provide expertise on climate risk and decarbonization strategies.

• Ensure clients’ climate strategies are aligned with the latest regulatory requirements, such as CSRD and ESRS E1.

• Advise on the integration of climate-related financial disclosures, GHG inventories, reduction targets (Scopes 1, 2, and Scope 3), and emission reduction measures.

• Support the development of internal carbon pricing strategies for clients.

Sustainable Finance:

• Support financial institutions in sustainability efforts, including financed emissions calculations, target setting, and climate risk assessments.

• Guide financial institutions in preparing for regulatory requirements such as the EU Taxonomy, CSRD, SFDR, and ECB/EBA ESG guidelines.

• Develop and operationalize sustainability strategies and governance frameworks for financial services.

Additional Technical Expertise:

• Strong understanding of sustainability standards (e.g., PBAF, PCAF, Net Zero Banking Alliance, SBTi) and their implications in the financial sector.

• Expertise in banking, asset management, private equity, or insurance is a plus.

Key Skills & Competencies:

• Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Business Engineering, Sustainable Finance, or a related field.

• Experience ideally in a consulting environment focused on corporate sustainability, climate change, or sustainable finance.

• Languages: Netherlands-based: Native Dutch, fully proficient in English. Belgium-based: Native French or Dutch, fully proficient in English.

• Proven track record in cultivating and maintaining trusted relationships with clients and business partners.

• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas to both clients and teams.

• Highly proactive, self-motivated, and passionate about sustainability and environmental issues.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with an ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

• Collaborative mindset with excellent interpersonal skills to work in diverse, international teams.

• Experience in mentoring and developing junior staff; line management experience is a plus.

Why Join ERM: At ERM, we are passionate about sustainability and business. We shape a sustainable future with the world’s leading organizations. Our purpose guides everything we do. We believe that sustainability and business are inextricably linked, and we play a crucial role in helping companies achieve their objectives while considering the broader impact on society and the environment. Join us to make a real impact and contribute to the global dialogue on sustainability.