Principal Consultant

Job Description

As a Principal Consultant at ESC, you will play a leadership role supporting high‑quality environmental and planning‑phase consultancy services across Asia. Reporting to senior management, you will provide strategic support for feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments (EIA/ESIA/ESHIA), baseline and scoping programmes, permitting strategies and multidisciplinary planning assignments. You will lead teams of consultants and associate consultants, oversee complex and high‑risk projects, guide technical quality, strengthen client relationships and drive business development through proposal leadership, tendering, budgeting and service‑line growth. This role requires strong commercial judgement, sector expertise and the ability to steer teams toward robust, timely and client‑focused outcomes.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight and technical direction across complex planning‑phase projects, ensuring high‑quality, timely and compliant deliverables.
• Lead service areas such as EIA/ESIA/ESHIA, feasibility studies, planning‑phase baseline design, permitting strategies and early‑stage environmental and social advisory.
• Serve as a key client focal point, leading and supporting senior‑level engagements, project shaping and long‑term relationship development.
• Drive business development efforts including proposal development, tender submissions, project budgeting and positioning strategies.
• Manage, mentor and grow teams of consultants and associate consultants, fostering collaboration, technical excellence and professional development.
• Oversee project financial performance, resource planning, risk mitigation and cross‑office coordination.
• Support multi‑disciplinary integration across planning, environmental, social, biodiversity, risk and sustainability functions.
• Champion knowledge sharing, capability building and development of best practices within the function and across ESC.

Job Requirements

• Minimum 10–15 years of professional experience in planning phase environmental consulting, including ESIA/EIA/ESHIA, feasibility studies, permitting or related advisory.
• Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental engineering, planning or a related discipline; a Master’s degree is an advantage.
• Proven track record in business development, tendering, proposal leadership and project budgeting.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning and project management skills, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage complex, sensitive or high-profile client engagements.
• Strong understanding of regional environmental and planning regulations, impact assessment frameworks and international best practice.
• High level of professional integrity, sound judgement and ability to work effectively across teams and geographies.

Employment Type: Full-time