Principal Consultant

Anthesis Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A sustainability consultancy in the UK seeks a Principal Consultant specializing in agri-food and regenerative agriculture. This role involves managing projects, engaging with clients, and delivering sustainability strategies across various sectors. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in the agri-food sector, a relevant degree, and strong project management skills. Benefits include competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Flexible working

25 days holiday

Two volunteering days off

Birthday day off

Employee Participation Plan

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in agri-food or related sectors.
• Practical project management experience, preferably in an NGO or consultancy.
• Understanding of sustainability and environmental legislation.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high-quality project delivery and manage project teams.
• Build relationships with clients and understand their business.
• Support client decarbonisation journeys in agricultural supply chains.

Skills

Experience in agri-food sectors

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

English proficiency

Education

Degree in Agriculture, Sustainability, or Environmental Science

Tools

Advanced Excel skills

Job description

About Anthesis

Anthesis is the sustainability activator. Proud to be a B Corp, we seek to make a significant contribution to a world which is more resilient and productive. We drive sustainable performance for cities, corporates, investors and other organisations through financially driven sustainability strategies backed by technical expertise and delivered by innovative collaborative teams across the world.

Summary of Role

Anthesis' Value Chain Team operates across the private, not for profit, and public sectors with a focus on the full supply chain of a product, from raw materials up the value chain. The team consists of three core areas: Responsible Sourcing & Due Diligence, Supplier Engagement and Social & Environmental Management Systems. We are seeking a Principal Consultant with a specialism in agri‑food and regenerative agriculture to start within the UK Value Chain Transformation Team to support our existing client projects and to help deliver our ambitious strategy for the agri‑food sector.

Responsibilities

• Senior voice across others to ensure efficient and high‑quality project delivery.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with clients and gain an understanding of their business.
• Manage yourself and project teams to drive project profitability and account growth, ensuring commercial success and impact.
• Work with key clients as part of a global team to provide ongoing sustainable agriculture and food expertise and project delivery.
• Review primary supplier engagement data across a variety of sectors and projects to support client decarbonisation opportunities.
• Input into training collateral to support engaging and upskilling key clients, their supply chains and other stakeholders.
• Support clients with expert advice on setting and delivering progress against SBTi and client decarbonisation journeys in agricultural supply chains across sectors, including FLAG.
• Hold 1:1 meetings, interface with key internal Anthesis teams, client stakeholders and third parties to provide insight and support on production systems and sustainability hotspots.

Key Requirements

• Degree or relevant qualification in a related field (Agriculture, Sustainability, Environmental Science).
• Demonstrable experience (7+ years) working in arable/livestock/fresh produce/commodities sectors.
• Practical experience in project or programme management, either in‑house, as a consultant or in an NGO environment.
• Strengths in multi‑stakeholder environments, including senior stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of sustainability challenges impacting agri‑food value chains with a focus on greenhouse gas emissions reductions, removal opportunities and regenerative agriculture.
• Working knowledge of SBTi and Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
• Experience delivering high‑quality, professional reports in multiple formats for various audiences.
• Experience of business development and building a pipeline of commercial opportunities relevant to expertise.
• Line management experience of junior colleagues.
• Strong analytical skills and commercial acumen, with advanced Excel skills.
• Demonstrable experience of sustainability legislation and reporting affecting food system organisations.
• English language proficiency.

Personal Attributes and Qualities

• Passion for improving sustainability.
• Output driven and accountable.
• Flexible and innovative.
• Self‑motivated and collaborative.
• Organised, prepared and professional.
• Skilled communicator.
• Ambitious and willing to develop.

Benefits

• Work within a highly motivated team in an innovative and rapidly growing global company.
• Opportunity to have a direct impact and be a key part of the growth and development of the business and the team.
• Work solely on projects that have an impact on the sustainability and climate change goals/challenges for clients.
• Opportunity to work with, collaborate with and learn from sustainability SME's who are passionate about the work they do.
• Exposure to a wide range of clients and projects on a global basis.
• Competitive salary in line with experience and skills.
• Competitive benefits including flexible working, 25 days holiday and two volunteering days off and the day off for your birthday.
• Opportunity to participate in the Anthesis Employee Participation Plan (EPP), an industry‑pioneering employee incentive plan that allows all employees to be rewarded for growth in the equity value of Anthesis.
• Cooperative, supportive and open working atmosphere.