Principal Consultant- Private Markets Commercial Team (Mid-Senior Level) in London

ERM is a global leader in sustainability and climate advisory, supporting many of the world’s largest companies and investors across sectors to respond to the financial, strategic, and operational implications of sustainability and the low-carbon transition.

The Private Markets Commercial team is focused on designing and executing the commercial strategy for scaling ERM’s private markets business globally. We work with private equity and infrastructure investors to build differentiated ESG and climate capabilities, supporting fund-level strategy, investment and portfolio value creation, and transformation programmes that strengthen risk management and long-term performance.

This is an opportunity to join a high-growth, high-visibility team shaping the future of private markets sustainability advisory.

The role involves:

• Leading strategic client engagements and major programmes for private equity and infrastructure investors, including complex multi-workstream delivery.
• Building and maintaining trusted advisor relationships with senior investor stakeholders (e.g., Operating Partners, ESG Heads, CIO/COO-level leaders).
• Shaping and executing commercial strategies for priority accounts, including growth planning, opportunity identification and conversion, and cross-service collaboration.
• Owning and driving business development opportunities, leading proposals, client pitches, and commercial negotiations as appropriate.
• Providing strategic direction and quality oversight across multiple engagements, ensuring deliverables are executive-ready and impact-focused.
• Driving innovation in ERM’s private markets service offerings and commercial propositions, informed by evolving market needs and regulation.
• Contributing thought leadership and external market presence through published insights, event participation, and client-facing forums.
• Leading and developing teams through coaching, mentoring, and creating high-performance delivery cultures.
• Supporting leadership in shaping global private markets commercial strategy, scaling delivery models, and improving repeatability and profitability.

About you:

You are a commercially minded, senior consulting leader with strong credibility in private markets and sustainability. You excel at building senior client relationships, driving growth, leading teams, and delivering strategically complex programmes. You combine deep sustainability knowledge with the ability to articulate business and investment relevance in a compelling way.

Required capabilities and experience include:

• Significant experience in ESG/climate/sustainability consulting, strategy consulting, or private markets advisory, including leadership of complex engagements.
• Strong commercial track record: business development, account growth, and shaping scalable client propositions.
• Strong understanding of private markets dynamics and ESG value drivers, including portfolio value creation, deal support, governance, risk, and investor expectations.
• Deep knowledge of key climate and ESG topics and their business implications: transition strategy, decarbonisation pathways, climate risk, sustainable finance, disclosure regulation and frameworks (ISSB/IFRS S1/S2, CSRD, TCFD).
• Exceptional communication skills with ability to influence and advise at executive level.
• Proven ability to coach and build teams and to lead through ambiguity and growth.

ERM is committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We welcome talent from all backgrounds and provide equal opportunities for every candidate. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or need accommodations during the selection process, we’re here to support you.

At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation.