Business Development Lead - Africa Environmental Planning and Advisory (EPA) Team

Job Description Duties and Responsibilities:

Leadership:

1. Contribute to and drive the annual business strategy for the Africa EPA team with the support of the EPA senior leadership team.
2. Aim to position the team as the lead in the sector.
3. Collaborate with other P&A team leads.
4. Input into wider WSP business policies.
5. Provide team leadership and guidance to the Africa EPA team, including the South Africa, Mozambique, and Ghana EPA Teams.
6. Convene and chair team coordination meetings to discuss weekly resourcing pressures, opportunities, and business administration aspects.
7. Convene and chair Africa EPA team meetings quarterly to provide feedback on financial performance, opportunities, projects, and people aspects.
8. Assist with business administration and removal of roadblocks where needed.
9. Crisis control and management.
10. Drive and conduct recruitment as required by the team.
11. The role requires strong interpersonal skills and provision of mentorship and guidance to all team members.

Business Development:

1. Key client/account relationship management, participation in marketing and business development activities, and development of proposals.
2. Tender Go-No-Go decisions.
3. Technical and financial sign off of proposal in accordance with Authority Matrix.

Commercial:

1. Responsible for financial performance for EPA team (RSA, Moz, Ghana) and reaching financial targets for EPA Africa.
2. Manage and interrogate Project Forecasting Tool (PFT) and provide guidance to the team on financial systems.
3. Monitoring work in progress (WIP) and invoicing progress.
4. Conduct Debt review and follow up on relevant significant debts where required.

Technical:

1. Lead/prominent role in delivering local and international (Africa) projects.
2. Offer technical guidance and support on projects where required.
3. Maintain professional registration and technical capabilities.
4. Engagement with Clients and other stakeholders at the senior executive level and providing support and guidance on critical E&S aspects affecting their projects.

Health and Safety:

1. Role model standards for SHEQ performance and behavior consistent with the company’s health, safety, environmental, and quality vision and policies by influencing those around you.
2. Contributing to the identification of SHEQ risks and driving processes to achieve Zero Harm.
3. Embracing, displaying, and promoting the company values and ensuring a safe working environment is maintained at all times.

Qualifications:

1. An Honours or higher degree in a relevant environmental discipline.

Key Competencies:

1. Demonstrable leadership experience.
2. 15 years or more experience as an environmental and/or social specialist leading and delivering local and international (Africa) ESIA and/or ESDD consulting assignments.
3. EAPASA Registration is required or evidence of application in process.
4. Registered Pr. Sci. Nat is recommended.
5. Project experience across the following sectors: conventional and renewable power generation and transmission, road and rail infrastructure, mining, ports and marine infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, and industrial manufacturing facilities.
6. Knowledgeable in a wide range of environmental and social sub-disciplines (i.e. air quality, ecological impact, occupational health and safety, resettlement planning, labour practices, etc.)
7. Experience in Sub Sahara Africa (outside of South Africa) and ability to travel.
8. Strong technical report writing skills, producing professional reports in fluent English.
9. Strong project management skills.
10. Comfortable to engage in client-facing business development.
11. Significant commercial acumen.

Generic Skills:

1. EAPASA Registration.
2. Knowledgeable in a wide range of environmental and social sub-disciplines.
3. Strong technical report writing skills.
4. Strong project management skills.
5. Significant commercial acumen.

Strong preference will be given to:

Candidates with team management experience and a strong capability for this role.

Additional Information

What's in it for you?

WSP recognizes that work is only one part of our lives and making time for the other things in our life is important – be that our families, our friends, or ourselves. So, if working from home, working part-time, or having flexible start and finish times will help with this, let us know as part of your application.

As well as rewarding you with competitive pay, WSP offers standard benefits including first-class medical cover, generous days of annual leave, and paid professional subscriptions.

Be you, be happy - we strive to have a friendly and inclusive culture which respects and maximizes the contribution individuals can bring to WSP. We recognize the benefits that people with varying backgrounds and experiences can bring.

Here at WSP, we positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, or maternity/paternity. We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.