EMEA Water Strategist

About the role

ERM is seeking a senior Water Strategy Specialist at Principal Consultant or Director level to lead our commercial growth agenda in water resilience across EMEA. This strategic role is central to positioning ERM as a market orchestrator in emerging water-related opportunities, including Water‑as‑a‑Service (WaaS) , Nature & Water Credits , and finance‑linked water strategies . You will define and drive step‑change commercial campaigns in preparation for FY27 , shaping partnerships, value propositions, and integrated solutions that connect clients' water agendas to climate, nature, and financial markets. This is an opportunity to build a high‑growth capability area for ERM, influence regional strategy, and shape the future of water resilience advisory across EMEA.

Responsibilities

• Commercial Leadership
• Design and execute a regional commercial campaign to build pipeline and secure strategic accounts ahead of FY27.
• Develop tailored water propositions for priority sectors such as energy, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and food & beverage , as well as for financial institutions .
• Coordinate multi-country pursuit teams to position ERM for large, transformational opportunities.
• Strategic Advisory
• Lead the development of advanced water resilience strategies aligned with CSRD , TNFD , and corporate water stewardship frameworks.
• Integrate water risk into finance innovation models , supporting blended finance structures, investment decision-making, and sustainability-linked financial products.
• Advise clients on emerging water market mechanisms, regulatory drivers, and innovation pathways.
• Partnership Development
• Identify, evaluate, and consolidate partnerships to support WaaS and Water Credit solutions, including with engineering firms , technology partners, and organizations such as the Water Resilience Accelerator .
• Shape collaboration models that enable ERM to serve as an orchestrator across the water value chain.
• Value Chain Integration
• Drive cross-sell opportunities by connecting water resilience strategies to climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity outcomes.
• Work across upstream, midstream, and downstream actors to build holistic, integrated solutions.
• Enable clients to embed water strategies into broader sustainability roadmaps.
• Thought Leadership
• Represent ERM at industry events, conferences, and roundtables.
• Publish insights, perspectives, and position papers to strengthen ERM's voice in shaping the water resilience agenda in EMEA.
• Contribute to internal capability building and mentoring within the Water & Nature teams.
• Qualifications & Experience
• Education
• Advanced degree in Environmental Science, Water Resources, Sustainability, Finance , or a related field.
• Professional Experience
• 10+ years in sustainability consulting, corporate strategy, or water stewardship roles.
• Demonstrated success in commercial development , strategic program design, and building cross-sector partnerships.
• Strong understanding of financial instruments such as green/blue bonds, blended finance structures, and water-related investment models.
• Familiarity with water‑intensive industrial value chains; experience with emerging contaminants (PFAS, APIs) is an advantage.

Requirements

• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication, and negotiation capabilities.
• Ability to translate technical solutions into clear business value propositions for executives and investors.
• Strong strategic mindset with the ability to navigate complex, multi-country, multi-stakeholder contexts.

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