Location
London, Manchester, Madrid, Italy, Belgium (Brussels) - Hybrid

Hours
Full Time - Flexible working arrangements available including remote, office-based or hybrid

Salary
Competitive remuneration package reflecting experience and expertise

About the Role
Ricardo Energy & Environment is a leading sustainability consultancy specialising in energy, climate change, environmental and economic expertise. We partner with governments, industry and multilateral institutions to shape and deliver ambitious energy transition policies. Our teams support decarbonisation across complex sectors including heavy industry, power, transport and buildings by combining regulatory analysis with strong technical insight.

We are expanding our Policy, Strategy and Economics team and seek a Principal Consultant with expertise in energy regulation, power sector decarbonisation, industrial decarbonisation pathways, and energy markets. The role involves project management, technical delivery, and business development activities such as competitive bidding, client and partner relationship management, and participation in promotional events.

You will provide technical leadership and support the development of junior staff while collaborating across disciplines including renewables, heat supply, environmental and transport policy. A strong commercial awareness and enthusiasm for business growth in your technical area is essential. Experience working with clients such as the UK Government, European Commission, overseas governments and multilateral development agencies is highly desirable.

Key responsibilities include monitoring market developments, leading large complex projects, ensuring client satisfaction and timely delivery, managing project finances, conducting policy evaluations, regulatory assessments, market studies, stakeholder consultations and impact assessments. You will also guide junior staff, contribute to knowledge sharing, support business development and represent Ricardo externally at meetings, workshops and events.

Experience
- Educated to Master’s level in economics, energy policy, engineering, physics, environmental studies or related discipline
- Experience in energy consulting, regulatory analysis or public sector advisory work
- Proven track record in business development and competitive bid writing within a consultancy environment
- Experience managing or contributing to projects for clients such as the European Commission, World Bank, GIZ, EBRD, Asian Development Bank and UK Government
- Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following: gas or electricity market design, regulatory frameworks for hydrogen or CCS, carbon pricing or energy taxation, energy subsidies, infrastructure decommissioning or transition planning, evaluation of public support schemes or industrial roadmaps
- Strong understanding of technologies, economics and policy frameworks driving the energy transition across different power sector structures
- Knowledge of EU energy and climate legislation and funding mechanisms

About you
- Strong commercial awareness and enthusiasm for growing the business
- Ability to lead and deliver complex consultancy assignments with high-quality outputs
- Experience in client relationship management and stakeholder engagement including interviews, workshops or public consultations is desirable
- Additional language skills (especially French, German or Eastern European languages) are advantageous
- Familiarity with Better Regulation guidelines or policy impact assessment tools is a plus
- Specialist knowledge in areas such as cost structures of energy technologies, fossil fuel subsidies and reforms, power purchase agreements, low or zero carbon incentive mechanisms, or electrification of downstream sectors is beneficial

Qualifications
Master’s degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline is essential