Principal Consultant, Agricultural Value Chains

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, 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:

As a Principal Consultant, you are at the core of our impact business, highly visible and a role model for all consultants. Your mission is to drive business development, deliver exceptional client outcomes, and lead high-impact projects that align with South Pole’s strategic goals. You play a dual role as both a trusted advisor to key clients and a thought leader in your area of expertise and/or your region. You proactively contribute to building South Pole’s market presence, securing new opportunities, and ensuring the successful implementation of complex sustainability and climate advisory projects. Additionally, you guide and mentor consultants, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team environment. 

Main tasks & responsibilities:

 1.Business Development and Strategic Growth:
- Maintain and expand existing client relationships that align with South Pole’s
strategic priorities.
- Lead the development of compelling proposals, ensuring alignment with client
needs and market trends.
- Represent South Pole in industry events and forums, positioning the company
as a leader in sustainability and climate advisory.
2. Client Engagement and Delivery:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for key clients, ensuring their satisfaction
and trust throughout the project lifecycle.
- Oversee the delivery of complex, high-value projects, ensuring timelines,
budgets, and client expectations are met.
- Translate client challenges into innovative and scalable solutions that drive
measurable impact.
3. Thought Leadership and Expertise:
- Act as a subject matter expert, contributing to thought leadership through
publications, presentations, and other industry engagements.
- Stay attuned to market trends, regulatory developments, and emerging
technologies to inform service offerings.
4. Team Leadership and Mentorship:
- Provide guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level consultants,
supporting their professional growth and career development.
- Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that promotes knowledge
sharing and continuous improvement.
5. Collaboration and Internal Alignment:
- Work closely with Regional Directors, Regional Business Development Manager,
and Center of Excellence Leaders to align business development efforts and
project delivery with organisational priorities.

Requirements:

1. Strategic and Analytical Thinking:

- Ability to think strategically and translate client needs into actionable solutions.
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage complexity.
2. Market Expertise and Client Focus:
- Deep understanding of sustainability, climate advisory, and related topics.
- Proven experience managing client relationships and delivering impactful
results.
- Good understanding of your regional market
3. Leadership and Collaboration:
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in a project-based environment.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and
collaborate effectively across diverse teams.
4. Business Development Acumen:
- Demonstrated success in identifying, pursuing, and winning new business
opportunities.
- Skilled in proposal development, contract negotiation, and client engagement.
5. Technical Expertise:
- Advanced knowledge in the agricultural sector.
- Advanced knowledge of one or more areas of sustainability, such as Scope 3
reductions, climate strategy, or environmental compliance.
- Familiarity with relevant tools, frameworks, and methodologies.
6. Education and Experience:
- Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., Environmental Science, Business,
Engineering).
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in sustainability or climate advisory,
including client-facing roles

 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.