South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all six continents, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.
Our Consultancy & Advisory Services team provides our clients with outstanding technical expertise that enables the successful implementation of complex sustainability projects. Our expertise spans across multiple topics including land and water management, climate strategies, renewable energies, environmental impact assessments, green products, climate policy, carbon pricing, climate finance, and sustainable finance, to name just a few. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic sustainability professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you!
Job summary:
The goal of the Senior Managing Consultant is to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality consultancy advice to international clients on sustainability topics. You will be fully accountable for the development and overall management of proposals and for the implementation of highly complex projects, for which you will supervise project teams of varying sizes. You will provide technical guidance to the project teams and act as the main point of contact for the client. In addition, you may lead the development of new products and solutions at South Pole to address sustainability challenges. You will particularly work with companies with agricultural supply chains in the global south, where we support clients to take concrete action in order to manage and mitigate their impact on climate, water and forest resources. Exemplary assignments include development of supply chain strategies in order to achieve climate targets through emission reductions and insetting, improve water stewardship or achieve deforestation free supply chains.
Main tasks & responsibilities:
- Manage and supervise large/complex consulting mandates on sustainable supply chains and agriculture throughout their entire project cycle: initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure. Plan and implement projects to ensure the most efficient and highest-quality implementation.
- Interact and build relationships with our local and international clients and manage the timely delivery of mandates.
- Develop proposals with the Key Account Management team and regularly generate own leads, actively contributing to the business development activities of the company.
- Provide guidance on and technical leadership in the development of proposals and implementation of advisory projects, as well as lead their technical review.
- Develop and improve specialised skills and knowledge linked to topics and services offered by South Pole.
- Lead and directly manage small teams of consultants.
- Lead the development of South Pole’s thought leadership, services, products, marketing materials and offerings.
- Topics of engagement may include: sustainability and corporate supply chain risks with particular focus on climate, water and forests in agricultural supply chains.
Requirements:
Essential:
- University degree, ideally at a Master’s level or higher, in a sustainability-related field, ideally in Environmental Sciences, Agronomy or Environmental Engineering.
- Relevant work experience (the expectation is a minimum of 7 years) in corporate sustainability consulting or related field.
- Excellent project management skills, from both a technical and administrative standpoint, and proven ability to guide project teams.
- Excellent writing skills, with proven expertise in creating and reviewing high-quality written documents (proposals and deliverables).
- Excellent stakeholder and client management skills.
- Industry-relevant connections, with a dense network of potential clients, collaborators or other relevant stakeholders.
- Sound understanding of environmental sustainability challenges in multinational companies, especially with the integration of sustainability in supply chains and agriculture.
- Specific consultancy experience in sustainability and corporate supply chain risks with particular focus on climate, water and forests in agricultural supply chains.
- Experience in monitoring and quantification of environmental impacts along the supply chain on climate, water and forests.
- Experience in project management in a multi-stakeholder and multi-geographies context.
- Commercial skills and good business sense to be able to identify and seize opportunities in a challenging and competitive market environment.
- Proven knowledge and network in the relevant fields
- Excellent oral and written command of English
Desirable:
- Practical experience with agricultural supply chains in tropical countries and project development / program management.
- Practical experience in sustainable procurement, change management and sustainability strategy development.
- Professional proficiency in German and/or French
What we offer:
At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation.
We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make; South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.
