Principal Consultant

(Real estate - Strategy)

Location

North west, London or South west

Salary

Competitive

Reports to

Head of Aim for Zero (Real Estate)

The Role

This role sits within our Real Estate sector which works with market leaders in commercial real estate to develop innovative global zero carbon strategies. Our clients are building owners, real estate investors and developers and our services are shaped to help them transition to a net zero economy.

Our Aim for Zero service develops net zero pathways and plans with ambitious targets so that businesses have a clear, progressive, but achievable strategy for transforming their carbon impact.

As a principal level Project Manager/Director and account lead for key clients in the Real Estate sector, you lead the technical delivery of complex in-house and fund level strategy, performance management, benchmarking and net zero projects. By engaging with a wide range of stakeholders you play a key role in managing sustainability risks and realising opportunities. You also contribute to   targeted business development activities and internal strategy design.

Responsibilities

    Account management: You maintain strong relationships with our existing real estate clients and build new relationships to win further work including cross-selling Verco’s full range of services.

    Project Management: You manage global environmental in-house and fund level strategy projects to ensure delivery to client on time, to quality and within agreed budget. You deliver our clients’ sustainability objectives, acting as a pro-active agent of change.

    Technical input: You provide technical input on the environmental performance of property assets to support the achievement of deliverables to time and to budget

    Strategic Service Development: You work with the Head of Service develop Verco’s Aim for Zero services in line with changes to the sector, policy, the economy, etc. to ensure they remain competitive.

    Business development: You identify and progress business development opportunities to increase sales and meet team targets. You write proposals that meet the needs of clients and secure sales.

     External champion for service: You promote Verco’s services via networking externally to bring in new clients and gain repeat work from existing clients

    Operational: You provide timely responses to operational needs including (but not limited to) timesheet, invoicing, reviews, project management information, health & safety etc.

    Environmental: You contribute to Verco’s sustainability plans and outcomes as required

What you bring

Education, Qualifications & Training

Demonstrable:

Degree (or equivalent) in engineering, economics, science, environmental or relevant area.

Desirable:          

Masters or relevant post-graduate qualification, a project management qualification i.e. APMP, and membership of professional institutions such as IEMA.

 

Employment Experience

Essential

 - managing large, complex, multi-client projects as well as project teams, to deadlines

- key account management and new business development with clients

- sustainability/ESG regulation or voluntary reporting in property sector

- undertaking complex analytical tasks

- managing bids and bid teams and delivering proposals to deadlines

- engaging successfully with senior stakeholders in client businesses

- leading, facilitating & presenting at meetings, workshops & seminars 

Desirable:        

- policy & impact analysis from client perspective

- advising clients on strategic opportunities & risks, i.e. target setting & policy impact assessments

- setting sustainability strategy, target-setting or measurement of carbon impacts

- developing, evaluating or assessing investment strategies for real estate companies

- technology, financial, legislative & market instruments to achieve & report on global, national & corporate carbon mitigation & environmental objectives and targets

 

Knowledge & Understanding

Essential: 

A sound technical knowledge of the Real Estate sector and Net Zero including:

 

- sustainability issues & carbon management

- principal sources of GHG emissions from buildings

- ESG relating to commercial real estate

- UK and European energy and climate change policy frameworks

- key voluntary reporting investor initiatives such as GRESB, TCFD, CDP & SBTI

Desirable:          

Experience of CRREM, UKGBC guidance, NABERS, REEB, SECR EU Taxonomy & BREEAM

Skills & Competencies

Essential:

High level competence in the use of IT, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint

Strong communicator, both verbal and written

A proactive and inquisitive approach

 

Desirable:        

Working knowledge of Microsoft Power BI

Familiar with the use of financial frameworks and models

Able to manipulate large data sets and undertake effective analysis to answer client questions and present for internal and external reporting purposes

Other requirements & attributes

Essential:

Willing to travel nationally and internationally to implement projects on occasion

Able to present a professional appearance to clients

Desirable:          

A clean UK driving licence

To apply

The focus on your continuing professional development is key for us. It ensures we offer client service excellence based on professional knowledge, skill and expertise that’s not only current, it’s forefront. So we’re committed to helping everyone across the business develop, with annual learning days set aside as standard in line with your own needs, along with an enabling environment for building your knowledge and skill base as you develop in the role.

You can benefit from our annual performance-based bonus, a 5% pension contribution, BUPA medical insurance, life assurance, travel insurance (both personal and work - and winter sports!), your annual professional association membership fees, interest free travel loans, our Cycle to work and Give as you earn schemes, along with the option to buy additional holidays to your standard entitlement. And as we are an employee-owned business, share purchase options are available periodically to the team.

We put a large emphasis on your wellbeing and provide regular check-ins and awareness sessions to support you in achieving the balance that’s right for you. We aim to be as flexible as possible We’re a sociable bunch with shared interests so you can expect an ongoing supply of events, trips, activities and STEM-related volunteering.

Read more about us at: www.vercoglobal.com

How to apply

Submit your CV and a covering letter to careers@vercoglobal.com confirming the role you’re applying for in the subject line of your email and we’ll be in touch.

Our mission isn’t just about what we do, it’s also how we do it. So diversity matters to us at Verco. We value and respect unique contribution and hire the best people, whatever their background, offering a working environment that enables you to thrive and achieve your potential. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

You must be eligible to work in the UK. We do not currently have visa sponsorship status, but this is something we are putting in place so that Skilled Worker visa sponsorship can be available and we welcome applications from suitable candidates who might be eligible to come and work with us via this route.