Principal/Senior Managing Consultant, Climate Risks (Physical Risks)

We are looking for a passionate climate scientist who wants to apply their deep expertise in climate model simulation, climate physics and statistical analysis to support our corporate clients in understanding and quantifying the physical risks of climate change. You enjoy developing bespoke analysis, working together with a motivated team, and integrating public and client-specific data adhering to best scientific standards to support client ambitions. You are enthusiastic about using the latest datasets and methodologies and translating them into a business context. You are passionate about translating complex problems into understandable challenges and bringing climate science ‘out of the ivory tower’. You will work with large international corporations to help them understand and quantify physical climate risks and develop climate resilience that contributes to a climate smart society in the future.

The goal of the Principal/Senior Managing Consultant, Physical Risks is to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality consultancy advice to international, regional and local clients on physical risks for the corporate sector. You will be fully accountable for the development and overall management of proposals on climate change scenario analysis, physical risk identification, and integration into corporate risk management, as well as for the implementation of projects, for which you will supervise various project teams. You will provide technical guidance to the project teams and act as the main point of contact for the client. You will also leverage your vast technical expertise to drive business development activities and generate new leads. In addition, you will contribute to the development of new products and solutions at South Pole relating to physical risks.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

• Lead the planning, management and execution of highly complex/very large consulting mandates for the corporate sector on climate change scenario analysis, physical risk identification, and integration into corporate risk management to ensure the most efficient and highest-quality implementation;
• As a senior expert, provide supervision, guidance on and technical leadership in international consulting mandates and proposals, as well as lead their technical review;
• Develop new consulting business opportunities and collaborate closely with the Key Account Management team;
• Interact and build relationships with our local and international clients, and contribute to the winning and timely delivery of consulting mandates;
• Lead the development of South Pole’s thought leadership, services, products, marketing materials and offerings;
• Lead and directly manage small teams of consultants in a multi-stakeholder and multi-geographies context;
• Participate in business strategy and leadership-relevant internal discussions to position our consulting activities within South Pole's overall business and offering;
• Provide guidance on and technical leadership in the development of proposals and implementation of advisory projects for the corporate sector on physical risks and broader alignment with disclosure frameworks and regulations (e.g. CSRD, ISSB, TCFD), as well as lead their technical review;
• Develop and improve specialised skills and knowledge linked to South Pole’s physical risks offer;
• Support in driving South Pole’s thought leadership, services, products, marketing materials and offerings relating to physical climate risks in alignment with global reporting frameworks;
• Topics of engagement may include: gap analysis against ISSB/CSRD E1/TCFD requirements; climate change scenario analysis (focused on physical risks); identification and analysis of physical risks; and development of business resilience strategies.

Requirements:

Essential

• University degree, ideally PhD in climate science, hydrology, meteorology, or physics;
• Expert knowledge of climate science, climate risks, natural catastrophe modelling, financial impact quantification;
• Relevant work experience (the expectation is a minimum of 10 years),in sustainability consulting or climate risk management including experience in working with corporate clients in one or more of the following areas: climate scenario analysis; climate risk management, climate adaptation, financial impact modelling;
• Working knowledge on advanced statistical methods including usage of AI tools;
• Working knowledge of project oriented programming language;
• Excellent technical project supervision skills and ability to guide project teams;
• Excellent stakeholder and client management skills, including ability to lead contract negotiations;
• Industry-relevant connections, with a network of potential clients, collaborators and other relevant stakeholders;
• Commercial skills and good business sense so as to be able to identify and seize opportunities in a challenging and competitive market environment;
• Understanding and experience working within the CSRD/ISSB/TCFD reporting frameworks;
• Excellent oral and written skills in English;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with specific communication experience to senior decision makers (such as C-Suite) and across a range of stakeholders.

Desirable

• Working experience in insurance or reinsurance space with expertise in financial planning and risk integration;
• Strong quantitative skills (data analysis/visualisation and advanced Excel a bonus);
• Good working knowledge of all Google Suite applications and MS Word and Excel;
• Diligent, reliable and proactive;
• Fully comfortable operating in a fast-paced international environment;
• Excellent prioritisation and time management skills.