Application Guide
How to Apply for Principal Consultant – Sustainability Strategy, Implementation & Disclosure
at Environmental Resources Management
🏢 About Environmental Resources Management
Environmental Resources Management (ERM) is a global sustainability consultancy that partners with leading organizations to accelerate their sustainability journey. Unlike generalist consultancies, ERM is exclusively focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues, offering deep expertise in low-carbon transitions and ESG disclosure. Working at ERM means being part of a mission-driven team that shapes industry standards and helps clients navigate complex regulatory landscapes.
About This Role
As a Principal Consultant, you will lead high-impact sustainability projects for major clients across APAC, from strategy development to implementation and disclosure. You'll drive business growth by identifying opportunities and crafting winning proposals, while mentoring a team of consultants. This role is pivotal in helping clients meet evolving standards like AASB S2 and ISSB S1, directly influencing their sustainability performance and reporting.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day might start with a virtual check-in with your APAC team to align on project milestones, followed by a client workshop on ISSB readiness. After lunch, you could review a proposal for a new net-zero strategy engagement, then mentor a junior consultant on stakeholder mapping. The day may end with a call with a European colleague to coordinate a global disclosure project, balancing strategic thinking with hands-on delivery.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Environmental Resources Management Is Looking For
- A seasoned sustainability professional with 10+ years of experience, including recent roles as a Project Director delivering complex consulting projects with budgets over $500K.
- Proven expertise in mandatory and voluntary disclosure frameworks (AASB S2, ISSB S1, GRI, SASB) and hands-on experience in preparing sustainability reports that meet regulatory requirements.
- Strong business development track record with a history of converting leads into contracts worth >$1M, including experience writing technical proposals and presenting to C-suite stakeholders.
- Excellent people leader who has managed cross-functional teams of 5+ consultants, with a focus on mentorship and professional development.
📝 Tips for Applying to Environmental Resources Management
Tailor your resume to highlight project director-level experience with specific budget sizes and team management, using metrics (e.g., 'led $2M portfolio of sustainability projects').
In your cover letter, mention familiarity with APAC-specific sustainability regulations, especially Australian AASB S2 and ISSB S1, and give an example of how you've applied them in a client engagement.
Showcase your business development wins by including a brief case study of a competitive proposal you won, detailing the client's challenge and your solution.
Prepare to discuss your approach to managing complex stakeholder relationships, particularly with multinational corporations or government clients in APAC.
Research ERM's recent thought leadership (e.g., reports on net-zero pathways or ESG disclosure trends) and reference them in your application to demonstrate genuine interest.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Emphasize your experience leading sustainability strategy projects from scoping to disclosure, with specific examples of frameworks used (e.g., ISSB, GRI).', "Highlight your business development success, including revenue targets achieved and how you've identified and converted opportunities in the APAC market.", "Demonstrate people leadership by describing how you've mentored junior consultants and fostered a collaborative team culture.", "Connect your personal values to ERM's mission of accelerating global sustainability, showing passion for the field and alignment with the company's purpose."]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review ERM's 'Sustainability Disclosure' services page and recent case studies to understand their client work and methodology.
- → Read ERM's latest 'Sustainability Report' or thought leadership pieces on topics like net-zero strategy or TCFD/ISSB alignment.
- → Familiarize yourself with the APAC sustainability landscape, especially Australia's AASB S2 and Singapore's SGX listing rules, as these are likely key markets.
- → Check ERM's LinkedIn page for recent posts about their team culture, awards, or new hires to get a sense of company values and priorities.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic application that doesn't reference specific ERM projects or APAC sustainability regulations—tailor is critical.
- Focusing only on technical expertise without demonstrating business development skills or people leadership, which are equally important in this role.
- Ignoring the remote work aspect—failing to mention your experience managing virtual teams or working across time zones could be a missed opportunity.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to Environmental Resources Management!