EMEA Water Strategies Commercial Lead

ERM: Environmental Resources Management; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading environmental consulting firm is seeking a senior Water Strategy Specialist at Principal Consultant or Director level to lead their commercial growth agenda in water resilience across EMEA. The successful candidate will develop strategic campaigns and partnerships that connect clients' water agendas to climate and financial markets. Experience in sustainability consulting and excellent stakeholder engagement skills are essential. This pivotal role offers a chance to shape the water resilience strategy and provides competitive compensation.

Benefits

Competitive compensation

Leadership development

Career progression pathways

Collaborative international environment

Qualifications

• 10+ years in sustainability consulting, corporate strategy, or water stewardship roles.
• Demonstrated success in commercial development and strategic program design.
• Strong understanding of financial instruments related to water investment.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute a regional commercial campaign for strategic accounts.
• Lead the development of advanced water resilience strategies aligned with frameworks.
• Identify partnerships for WaaS and Water Credit solutions.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Negotiation

Strategic mindset

Education

Advanced degree in Environmental Science, Water Resources, Sustainability, Finance

Tools

Financial instruments such as green/blue bonds

Job description

About the Role

ERM is seeking a senior Water Strategy Specialist at Principal Consultant or Director level to lead our commercial growth agenda in water resilience across EMEA. This strategic role is central to positioning ERM as a market orchestrator in emerging water-related opportunities, including Water‑as‑a‑Service (WaaS), Nature & Water Credits, and finance‑linked water strategies.

You will define and drive step‑change commercial campaigns in preparation for FY27, shaping partnerships, value propositions, and integrated solutions that connect clients’ water agendas to climate, nature, and financial markets.

This is an opportunity to build a high‑growth capability area for ERM, influence regional strategy, and shape the future of water resilience advisory across EMEA.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Leadership

• Design and execute a regional commercial campaign to build pipeline and secure strategic accounts ahead of FY27.
• Develop tailored water propositions for priority sectors such as energy, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage, as well as for financial institutions.
• Coordinate multi-country pursuit teams to position ERM for large, transformational opportunities.

Strategic Advisory

• Lead the development of advanced water resilience strategies aligned with CSRD, TNFD, and corporate water stewardship frameworks.
• Integrate water risk into finance innovation models, supporting blended finance structures, investment decision-making, and sustainability-linked financial products.
• Advise clients on emerging water market mechanisms, regulatory drivers, and innovation pathways.

Partnership Development

• Identify, evaluate, and consolidate partnerships to support WaaS and Water Credit solutions, including with engineering firms, technology partners, and organizations such as the Water Resilience Accelerator.
• Shape collaboration models that enable ERM to serve as an orchestrator across the water value chain.

Value Chain Integration

• Drive cross-sell opportunities by connecting water resilience strategies to climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity outcomes.
• Work across upstream, midstream, and downstream actors to build holistic, integrated solutions.
• Enable clients to embed water strategies into broader sustainability roadmaps.

Thought Leadership

• Represent ERM at industry events, conferences, and roundtables.
• Publish insights, perspectives, and position papers to strengthen ERM’s voice in shaping the water resilience agenda in EMEA.
• Contribute to internal capability building and mentoring within the Water & Nature teams.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Advanced degree in Environmental Science, Water Resources, Sustainability, Finance, or a related field.

Professional Experience

• 10+ years in sustainability consulting, corporate strategy, or water stewardship roles.
• Demonstrated success in commercial development, strategic program design, and building cross-sector partnerships.
• Strong understanding of financial instruments such as green/blue bonds, blended finance structures, and water-related investment models.
• Familiarity with water‑intensive industrial value chains; experience with emerging contaminants (PFAS, APIs) is an advantage.

Skills

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication, and negotiation capabilities.
• Ability to translate technical solutions into clear business value propositions for executives and investors.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to navigate complex, multi-country, multi-stakeholder contexts.

What We Offer

• A pivotal role in shaping ERM’s water resilience strategy and commercial direction across EMEA.
• The opportunity to lead high-impact, multi-sector client engagements at the intersection of water, finance, climate, and nature.
• A collaborative, international environment with access to ERM’s global network of subject matter experts.
• Purpose-driven work with organizations committed to building water-secure, climate-resilient futures.
• Competitive compensation, leadership development, and career progression pathways.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for every candidate. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or need accommodations during the selection process, we’re here to support you. Our commitment doesn’t stop at hiring. Once you join us, we’ll ensure you have the tools, support, and adjustments needed to succeed and feel a true sense of belonging. Learn more about our Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging (DIB) efforts by visiting our 2025 Sustainability Report.