Principal Consultant, Climate Change

Lead the Future of Climate Disclosure, Assurance Readiness, and Sustainable Business Transformation

As a Principal Consultant, Climate Change & Sustainability Disclosure, you will help some of the world's most influential organizations navigate an increasingly complex sustainability landscape while building credible, assurance-ready climate programs. Based in one of our preferred locations (Boston, MA; Manhattan, NY; Philadelphia, PA; or Washington, DC) in a hybrid work environment, this role offers the opportunity to shape market-leading solutions, influence executive decision-makers, and drive meaningful change across industries.

At ERM, you'll combine deep expertise in greenhouse gas accounting, climate disclosure frameworks, assurance readiness, and decarbonization strategy with a builder's mindset. You will partner with Fortune 500 and privately held organizations as they respond to evolving requirements such as ISSB/IFRS S2, CSRD/ESRS, California SB 253 and SB 261, CDP, and TCFD. In addition to delivering client excellence, you'll play a key role in developing scalable solutions, mentoring future climate leaders, and expanding ERM's market presence.

Why This Role Matters

Organizations today face unprecedented pressure from regulators, investors, customers, and stakeholders to deliver transparent, reliable, and assurance-ready climate disclosures. This role sits at the forefront of that transformation.

As a Principal Consultant, you will help clients establish trusted sustainability reporting programs, strengthen governance and controls, prepare for third-party assurance, and develop practical pathways toward decarbonization goals. Your expertise will directly influence executive decision-making while helping organizations create measurable environmental and business value.

You will also play a pivotal role in shaping ERM's climate advisory offerings by developing scalable methodologies, advancing digital solutions, and growing the next generation of climate and sustainability professionals.

What Your Impact Is

• Enable organizations to develop credible, assurance-ready climate disclosure programs aligned with leading global frameworks and emerging regulations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership teams, sustainability leaders, finance functions, and other key stakeholders.
• Advance ERM's climate and sustainability disclosure solutions through innovation, productization, and scalable delivery models.
• Strengthen client confidence through rigorous greenhouse gas accounting, assurance readiness assessments, and technical leadership.
• Build high-performing teams and mentor consultants to develop the next generation of climate professionals.
• Contribute to ERM's growth through client relationship development, commercial leadership, and thought leadership.

What You'll Bring

Required

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, atmospheric science, engineering, energy policy, economics or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• 6+ years (10+ years preferred) of experience in climate and sustainability consulting, assurance, industry or government.
• Deep expertise in the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 across Scopes 1, 2 and 3.
• Hands-on experience with ISSB/IFRS S2, CSRD/ESRS, CDP and TCFD.
• Experience in sustainability assurance or assurance readiness.
• Track record building scalable solutions and operating models, including global or offshore delivery.
• Demonstrated commercial ownership, including managing a project portfolio of approximately $1M+ annually and contributing to sales.
• Line management of 5+ staff and a commitment to the professional development of others.
• Structured, effective communicator who can shape and deliver messages at executive level.
• High-level proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Positive outlook, collaborative mindset, and commitment to ERM's success as a global company.

Preferred

• Master's degree in environmental science, atmospheric science, engineering, energy policy, economics or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• Experience in sustainability assurance or assurance readiness within a Big 4 firm or verification body.
• PCAF/financed emissions experience.
• Environmental compliance or air quality permitting experience.
• Sector experience in energy and utilities, financial services and asset management, industrial and manufacturing, transportation, consumer products, technology or life sciences.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Climate & Disclosure Leadership

• Lead GHG inventories under the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1 across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, including Scope 3 screening and PCAF financed emissions.
• Advise on target setting, including SBTi, and develop decarbonization pathways and emissions abatement analyses.
• Guide clients through ISSB/IFRS S2, CSRD/ESRS, CDP, TCFD and U.S. state disclosure requirements, including California SB 253 and SB 261.
• Lead assurance-readiness and pre-assurance work, including reporting criteria, controls, evidence, and methodology, process and data gap assessments that prepare clients for limited or reasonable assurance.
• Perform quantitative analyses using Excel-based and bespoke models and ERM's digital emissions platforms, acting as GHG subject matter expert.
• Direct independent technical reviews of deliverables and coach colleagues to deliver high-quality, defensible outputs.

Solution Development & Delivery Model Innovation

• Design standardized, scalable offerings, methodologies, templates and toolkits for climate and disclosure engagements.
• Productize assurance-readiness and GHG data services, such as Scope 1 and 2 data vouching and recalculation.
• Leverage ERM's global delivery centers and hybrid delivery models, with clear quality review and escalation protocols.
• Contribute to ERM digital tool development, including methodology alignment and user acceptance testing.

Managing Clients and Projects

• Lead multiple simultaneous engagements through scoping, proposals, contracting, budget and delivery.
• Build trusted relationships with clients and manage a wide range of stakeholders, from sustainability and finance teams to executive leadership.
• Listen to clients, co-develop value-driven solutions and think strategically to influence decision-makers.
• Deliver impactful executive communications and education, including on Scope 3 and assurance expectations.
• Accountable for personal billability, revenue contribution targets and engagement financial performance.

People Leadership & Teamwork

• Line manage direct reports, including performance management and career development, and coach and celebrate others to advance engagement and results.
• Mentor junior and mid-level staff, build practice capability and support knowledge transfer across teams.
• Lead multidisciplinary and cross-border teams, including colleagues in ERM's global delivery centers.

Business Development Activities

• Identify new opportunities and lead proposals, pitches and business development campaigns.
• Support Partners, Principals and Account Management teams with commercial strategies and sales goals.
• Collaborate with Corporate Sustainability Advisory, Transactions and Digital Services, and cross-sell services such as air quality, environmental compliance and ESG due diligence.
• Monitor regulatory and market developments and contribute to ERM thought leadership.

For the Principal Consultant, Climate Change & Sustainability Disclosure position, the anticipated annual base pay is $122,400–$164,100 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible). 

We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off (vacation, sick, and floating holidays), parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k), and other applicable benefits to eligible employees. 

Who We Are:
As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

Please submit your resume and brief cover letter. 

ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. 

Thank you for your interest in ERM!

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