Principal Consultant – ESG & EDD
| Posting date: | 23 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £60,000 to £65,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 February 2026 |
| Location: | Thames Ditton, Home Counties, EC1N 2NH |
| Company: | Climate17 Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 59007663 |
Summary
Principal Consultant – ESG & EDD
Climate17 are working with a growing consultancy and are seeking an experienced Principal Consultant to lead and deliver high-quality strategic and technical ESG advisory services. This is a senior role with responsibility for project delivery, client leadership, business development, and mentoring consultants, while helping shape the direction and growth of the ESG practice.
Key responsibilities
Project leadership & delivery
- Lead and manage complex, large-scale ESG projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and to a high standard.
- Oversee project planning and scoping, including defining objectives, resources, timelines and budgets.
- Manage multi-disciplinary project teams and coordinate resources effectively.
- Contribute to the delivery of international projects across a range of sectors, including work supporting project finance and lending requirements.
- Maintain strong commercial discipline to ensure projects deliver against agreed business objectives.
- Act as a key point of contact for clients, managing senior stakeholder relationships and expectations.
Technical advisory & ESG expertise
- Provide high-quality, pragmatic ESG advice and technical solutions.
- Support clients in developing ESG reports, management systems, disclosures, strategies and other ESG deliverables.
- Align ESG considerations with client business objectives and industry best practice.
- Stay informed on emerging ESG trends, frameworks and regulatory developments.
Data analysis & research
- Set clear research objectives and requirements for project teams.
- Review and interpret complex data, metrics and trends to provide actionable insights and recommendations.
Reporting & presentations
- Lead and contribute to the preparation of high-quality technical reports and client deliverables.
- Review work to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency and adherence to quality standards.
- Prepare and deliver client presentations that clearly communicate findings, insights and recommendations.
Business development
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities and support growth initiatives.
- Contribute to proposal development, tenders and pitch presentations.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships.
- Support the development of service line plans and wider growth strategies.
Stakeholder engagement
- Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Support effective management of senior internal and external stakeholders.
Team leadership & mentoring
- Provide guidance, mentorship and technical leadership to junior consultants.
- Support team development and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture.
- Line management responsibilities where applicable.
Strategy & innovation
- Provide strategic guidance to clients on ESG strategy development and implementation.
- Support internal strategy by connecting project delivery to broader organisational goals.
- Drive innovation through the development of new tools, methodologies and approaches.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Geography, Economics or a related discipline.
- 7+ years’ experience in ESG, sustainability or related fields, including consulting and/or in-house experience.
- Strong knowledge of ESG frameworks, reporting standards and methodologies.
- Proven experience leading and delivering complex programmes and projects.
- Demonstrated ability to engage, influence and advise senior stakeholders.
- Strong commercial awareness and business development experience.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.
- Proven leadership experience, including managing teams and mentoring junior staff.
- Ability to work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams and with clients.
Climate17 are working with a growing consultancy and are seeking an experienced Principal Consultant to lead and deliver high-quality strategic and technical ESG advisory services. This is a senior role with responsibility for project delivery, client leadership, business development, and mentoring consultants, while helping shape the direction and growth of the ESG practice.
Key responsibilities
Project leadership & delivery
- Lead and manage complex, large-scale ESG projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and to a high standard.
- Oversee project planning and scoping, including defining objectives, resources, timelines and budgets.
- Manage multi-disciplinary project teams and coordinate resources effectively.
- Contribute to the delivery of international projects across a range of sectors, including work supporting project finance and lending requirements.
- Maintain strong commercial discipline to ensure projects deliver against agreed business objectives.
- Act as a key point of contact for clients, managing senior stakeholder relationships and expectations.
Technical advisory & ESG expertise
- Provide high-quality, pragmatic ESG advice and technical solutions.
- Support clients in developing ESG reports, management systems, disclosures, strategies and other ESG deliverables.
- Align ESG considerations with client business objectives and industry best practice.
- Stay informed on emerging ESG trends, frameworks and regulatory developments.
Data analysis & research
- Set clear research objectives and requirements for project teams.
- Review and interpret complex data, metrics and trends to provide actionable insights and recommendations.
Reporting & presentations
- Lead and contribute to the preparation of high-quality technical reports and client deliverables.
- Review work to ensure accuracy, clarity, consistency and adherence to quality standards.
- Prepare and deliver client presentations that clearly communicate findings, insights and recommendations.
Business development
- Identify and pursue new business opportunities and support growth initiatives.
- Contribute to proposal development, tenders and pitch presentations.
- Build and maintain strong client relationships.
- Support the development of service line plans and wider growth strategies.
Stakeholder engagement
- Develop and implement stakeholder engagement strategies.
- Support effective management of senior internal and external stakeholders.
Team leadership & mentoring
- Provide guidance, mentorship and technical leadership to junior consultants.
- Support team development and foster a collaborative, high-performing culture.
- Line management responsibilities where applicable.
Strategy & innovation
- Provide strategic guidance to clients on ESG strategy development and implementation.
- Support internal strategy by connecting project delivery to broader organisational goals.
- Drive innovation through the development of new tools, methodologies and approaches.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Geography, Economics or a related discipline.
- 7+ years’ experience in ESG, sustainability or related fields, including consulting and/or in-house experience.
- Strong knowledge of ESG frameworks, reporting standards and methodologies.
- Proven experience leading and delivering complex programmes and projects.
- Demonstrated ability to engage, influence and advise senior stakeholders.
- Strong commercial awareness and business development experience.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and strategic thinking skills.
- Proven leadership experience, including managing teams and mentoring junior staff.
- Ability to work collaboratively within multi-disciplinary teams and with clients.