Principal Consultant – Social Performance & Public Affairs (Resettlement) at Environmental Resources Management (ERM)

ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant to join our team.

• We are looking for highly motivated Resettlement and Livelihood Restoration Specialists to join our team. The post is based in one of our Africa Business Unit offices, including: Johannesburg/Cape Town/Durban, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Accra.

Job functions

• Lead the design and delivery of projects for ERM’s clients on social performance topics, for example land access and resettlement, influx, gender mainstreaming, livelihood restoration and socio-economic development.
• Identification of material social performance risks and opportunities as part of environmental and social due diligence,
• Defining appropriate corrective action plans, and measures for follow-up verification of improvement and remedy.
• Development of social performance policies and corporate due diligence measures such as social risk assessment framework, rights-based grievance mechanism, resettlement and livelihoods restoration planning, socio-economic development planning, training and capacity building.
• Manage complex resettlement and livelihood restoration projects, working closely with delivery teams across Africa to achieve compliant and sustainable outcomes.
• Work closely with client account teams to support the delivery of technically excellent solutions to complex challenges.
• Lead and contribute to business development activities, through the development of proposals, client presentations, and technical marketing initiatives.
• Support for the development and implementation of tools for social performance standards monitoring, including social audit protocols, monitoring systems.
• Support preparation of marketing materials and proposals as required.
• Adhering to all ERM and client requirements, specifically those related to H&S and governance.
• Using ERM’s methodologies and technologies consistently in line with ERM and client expectations
• Managing and successfully delivering small discrete projects/tasks and /or specific deliverables or phases of work on larger projects.
• The candidate must be fluent in spoken and written English. Candidates who are also fluent in a second language (e.g. French, Portuguese) are encouraged to apply.
• National and international travels might be required on a regular basis.

We are looking for someone with social performance (in Africa) focus on:

• Resettlement and livelihood restoration
• Knowledge of the UN Guiding Principles, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, IFC Performance Standards, Equator Principles.
• The “S” component of ESGs.
• Social impact assessment / management
• Socio-economic development including social investment, local content.
• Stakeholder engagement
• Gender mainstreaming
• Influx management
• Years of experience: 10 - 15
• Demonstrable experience working within cross-cultural teams and environments is also critical to the success of the candidate.
• At least a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline, and ideally brings previous experience within industry or consultancy.