Principal ESG Consultant

Thomas Search are delighted to be partnering with a high-growth, specialist ESG consultancy to appoint a Principal ESG Consultant into a senior, influential role within their advisory practice.
This is a rare opportunity for an experienced ESG professional to step into a leadership position where you will shape strategy, lead complex international projects, influence senior stakeholders, and play a key role in driving the growth of a market-leading ESG offering.

The Opportunity

As a Principal Consultant, you will sit at the heart of the business, leading the delivery of high-value ESG advisory projects, supporting international lender and developer led mandates, and helping to define the future direction of the consultancy's ESG practice.
You'll combine deep technical expertise with commercial awareness, project leadership, and strong client-facing capability.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Leadership & Delivery

• Take ownership of complex, large-scale ESG projects from inception to completion.
• Lead international ESG projects across multiple sectors, working directly with lenders, developers and corporate clients.
• Manage project teams, timelines, budgets and deliverables to exceed client expectations.
• Apply strong commercial discipline to ensure projects perform against business plans.
• Collaborate across disciplines to deliver integrated, high-quality ESG solutions.

ESG Strategy & Technical Advisory

• Lead the development of ESG strategies, reports, disclosures, management systems and technical deliverables.
• Provide pragmatic, market-leading advice on ESG risks, opportunities and performance.
• Align ESG considerations with client business objectives and regulatory expectations.
• Analyse complex ESG data and translate it into clear, actionable insights.

Required Skills:

• Degree-qualified in Environmental Science, Sustainability, Geography, Economics or a related discipline.
• 7+ years' experience within ESG, sustainability or environmental consulting (or relevant in-house role).
• Deep understanding of ESG frameworks, reporting standards and methodologies.
• Proven track record delivering complex ESG strategies, programmes and reports (eg.IFC, Equator Principals, World Bank).
• Strong commercial acumen with experience winning and growing client work.
• Confident engaging and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and mentoring experience.
• Comfortable working across multi-disciplinary teams and complex client environments.

Interested in a confidential conversation? Apply or contact David Ward at (URL removed) to discuss the role in confidence.