Principal Consultant, Sustainable Finance Human Rights

Shape the Future of Sustainable Finance—Where Human Rights, Social Impact, and Capital Converge ERM is seeking a Principal Consultant, Sustainable Finance - Human Rights, based in Washington, DC to play a leadership role in advancing responsible investment and development outcomes globally. This Principal‑level role sits at the intersection of finance, human rights, and social performance, working with leading financial institutions and corporates across North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and beyond. You will help shape how capital is deployed—ensuring projects meet international standards, manage risk, and deliver meaningful environmental and social impact at scale. Why This Role Matters? Sustainable finance is transforming how the world invests, builds, and grows—and human rights and social performance are central to that transformation. In this role, you will influence how financial institutions and corporates assess risk, comply with global lender standards, and integrate human rights into investment decision‑making. Your expertise will help ensure that capital flows support resilient communities, responsible development, and long‑term value creation.

What Your Impact Is:

You will operate as a trusted advisor, project leader, and subject matter expert—guiding complex, multinational projects and shaping ERM's sustainable finance offering. Your work will directly support transition finance, nature finance, green and sustainability‑linked finance, and impact investing initiatives, while mentoring the next generation of consultants and strengthening ERM's market leadership in social performance and human rights.

What You'll Bring:

Required Degree in a relevant discipline (social sciences, international affairs, human rights, peace operations, or related field). Or equivalent experience. 6+ years (12+ preferred) of related experience in project management, human rights, and peace‑building operations Demonstrated passion for sustainability and a strong interest in sustainable finance Proven ability to succeed in a fast‑paced consulting environment, managing multiple projects, meeting strict deadlines, and traveling to client sites as needed Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, including experience authoring high‑quality technical reports Native‑level English proficiency (spoken and written) Fluency in Spanish (spoken and written) Preferred Experience working with international financial institutions, development finance institutions, and private sector investors Exposure to transition finance, nature finance, green finance, sustainability‑linked finance, or impact investing Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across regions Prior client‑facing consulting experience within environmental and social risk management

Key Responsibilities:

Collaborate across ERM's global practice areas to deliver best‑in‑class sustainable finance solutions, integrating expertise in human rights, peace‑building, social impact, and environmental and social risk management Support ERM Partners‑in‑Charge with effective project execution, quality control, and client engagement Manage projects within agreed scope, budget, and schedule while ensuring high‑quality deliverables Lead, mentor, and develop junior consultants to produce consistent, high‑quality outputs Support business development activities, including proposal development, marketing materials, client pitches, and new service development Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders Support development projects (renewable energy, power generation, electrical transmission, infrastructure, and other sectors) by applying international performance standards, human rights frameworks, and social performance best practices Lead and manage the preparation of ESDDs, ESIAs, human rights and social management plans/systems, and project monitoring activities in line with national and international lender standards Contribute directly to project delivery through report writing and review, data collection, surveys and fieldwork, literature reviews, and client recommendations Review financed projects against host‑country regulatory requirements and international lender standards through document reviews, site visits, interviews, and stakeholder engagement Design and deliver client training and facilitate meetings on sustainable finance, impact assessments, and social performance Collaborate with ERM practitioners on impact assessments and social studies, including labor and working conditions, supply chains, forced labor, community health and safety, compensation frameworks, resettlement action plans, Indigenous Peoples assessments, and information disclosure strategies Serve as a subject matter expert in sustainable finance, with a focus on human rights and social components; lead training and technical development for junior consultants For the Principal Consultant, Sustainable Finance - Human Rights position, the anticipated annual base pay is $130,000-$169,426 (USD). Actual pay will depend on factors such as education, experience, skills, location, performance, and business needs. In some cases, pay may fall outside this range. This role may be eligible for bonus pay (casual and fixed term/flex force employees are not bonus eligible). We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including paid time off, parental leave, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, AD&D insurance, 401(k) or RRSP/DPSP, and other applicable benefits to eligible employees.

Note:

Bonuses, commissions, and other forms of additional compensation are not guaranteed and subject to the sole discretion of ERM and its policies and procedures.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world's leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations. At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career. We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients. Our diverse team of world-class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues. We call this capability our "boots to boardroom" approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level. Please submit your resume and brief cover letter. ERM does not accept recruiting agency resumes. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, ERM employees or any other company location. ERM is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Thank you for your interest in ERM! #LI-Hybrid 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. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. 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. With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor. Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it). Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM's purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action. Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a "boots to boardroom" leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world. We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth. At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet. ERM Homepage Explore All Open Roles Explore Early Careers Roles Explore Experienced Professional Roles Explore Partnership Roles