Principal Consultant (Resettlement)

ERM: Environmental Resources Management; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant – Resettlement to lead complex projects in Africa. This senior role involves strategic leadership in resettlement services, managing client relationships, and mentoring junior consultants. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in social performance and resettlement planning, ensuring projects align with international standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 12 years in social performance and resettlement planning.
• Experience in delivering complex projects across diverse sectors in Africa.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-impact projects including involuntary resettlement and stakeholder engagement.
• Provide strategic leadership for resettlement assignments across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Education

Advanced degree in economics, development economics, anthropology, sociology, urban planning, or related field

Tools

GIS platforms

Job description

The Role

ERM is seeking a strategic, experienced, and highly motivated Principal Consultant – Resettlement to join and help lead our growing Capital Project Delivery team in Africa. This is a senior-level role for a seasoned resettlement and social performance expert who can lead complex, multi-disciplinary projects, advise clients at executive level, and drive the strategic direction and delivery of ERM’s resettlement services across the region.

You will be responsible for leading high-impact projects that include involuntary resettlement, land acquisition, social due diligence, stakeholder engagement, and livelihood restoration planning and implementation. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strong client relationship skills, a track record of delivering resettlement-related work in line with international standards, and the ability to mentor and build the capabilities of others across ERM’s teams and local partners.

As a senior member of the team, you will also support ERM’s growth by contributing to business development strategies, managing key accounts, and representing ERM in industry forums, client meetings, and thought leadership initiatives.

This role may involve travel to field sites in remote and diverse geographical areas. At ERM, we put Safety First - ensuring that all project work is conducted under the highest standards of health, safety, and wellbeing for our people and project stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and direction for the delivery of resettlement-related assignments across multiple sectors and countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRPs), Indigenous Peoples Development Plans (IPDPs), and Community Development Plans.
• Design and oversee socio-economic baselines, community needs assessments, and health and demographic studies, ensuring data quality, relevance, and integrity.
• Guide complex land access and asset valuation processes, including negotiation strategies, compensation frameworks, and regulatory approvals.
• Lead or supervise the delivery of social due diligence assessments, gap analyses, and corrective action plans for project finance and M&A transactions in compliance with international and national best practice frameworks.
• Design and implement stakeholder engagement strategies, including managing FPIC processes, grievance mechanisms, and conflict-sensitive consultation approaches.
• Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary project teams, including internal staff, sub-contractors, and field consultants.
• Review and provide quality assurance on reports, technical deliverables, and proposals.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to clients on resettlement risks, policies, and mitigation measures, engaging with senior client representatives, legal teams, and funders.
• Support business development efforts by leading or contributing to proposal writing, client relationship management, and regional growth initiatives.
• Mentor and build the capacity of junior consultants, fostering professional development and team cohesion.
• Represent ERM in client meetings, stakeholder forums, conferences, and professional networks as a recognized expert in resettlement and social performance.

Skills and Experience Required

• Advanced degree in economics, development economics, anthropology, sociology, urban planning, demographics, or a related field.
• A minimum of 12 years of professional or consulting experience in social performance, including significant expertise in resettlement planning, land acquisition, livelihood restoration, stakeholder engagement, and social risk management.
• Demonstrated experience delivering complex resettlement and social performance projects across diverse sectors (e.g., mining, energy, infrastructure, renewables) and geographies in Africa.
• Strong working knowledge of international environmental and social standards, including IFC Performance Standards, World Bank ESF, EIB ESS6, AfDB Integrated Safeguards, and national legislative frameworks.
• Practical experience conducting or overseeing asset valuation, baseline studies, grievance redress mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation, and social investment planning.
• Proven ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and manage project delivery under pressure—on time, within budget, and to the highest quality.
• Strong project management skills with experience overseeing complex, multi-stakeholder, and often field-intensive work.
• Excellent communication and writing skills, with the ability to translate technical content into client-facing reports and strategic insights.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French or Portuguese is a strong advantage.
• Experience working in cross-cultural teams and building relationships with clients, government institutions, and communities.
• Familiarity with social data management tools, GIS platforms, and digital tools for stakeholder engagement is desirable.

Principal Consultant Qualities

As a Principal Consultant at ERM, you are expected to:

• Demonstrate technical leadership and deep subject matter expertise in resettlement and social performance.
• Lead complex, high-profile projects with minimal direction, ensuring excellence in delivery.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, lenders, and key stakeholders.
• Drive business development, proposal leadership, and client relationship management.
• Contribute to thought leadership, innovation, and best practice development.
• Mentor and develop junior and mid-level consultants to build internal capability.
• Collaborate effectively across disciplines and geographies within ERM.
• Uphold ERM’s values and ensure the highest standards of quality, integrity, and safety.

Why ERM?

ERM is the world’s largest pure-play sustainability consultancy, partnering with leading organizations to deliver transformative projects that generate positive environmental, social, and economic outcomes. With over 50 years of experience and a presence in more than 40 countries, we combine deep technical expertise with a collaborative, purpose-driven culture. ERM helps clients tackle complex challenges, ensure compliance, and contribute meaningfully to sustainable development across sectors such as mining, infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and oil and gas.

ERM’s Resettlement and Social Performance Services

ERM provides comprehensive resettlement planning and implementation support to clients undertaking complex capital projects across Africa and globally. Our services span the full resettlement lifecycle—from early land access strategies and census/baseline data collection to the development of Resettlement Action Plans (RAPs), Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRPs), and physical resettlement implementation.

We work closely with clients, local authorities, and affected communities to ensure that all activities align with international best practice and lender’s requirements, and national legislative requirements. ERM is experienced in delivering asset valuation, stakeholder engagement, grievance redress mechanisms, and socio-economic monitoring, often under tight timelines and challenging field conditions. We combine strategic oversight with field-based implementation, often in partnership with trusted local subcontractors, to help clients secure land, maintain social license to operate, and ensure affected households are treated fairly, transparently, and with dignity.

Join Us

If you're looking to make a real impact on the ground while working with a global leader in sustainability consulting, ERM offers the platform, people, and projects to take your career forward. Apply now to be part of a purpose-driven team creating lasting social and environmental value.