Senior Director, Environmental Planning & Advisory (Department Head)

Science-Driven. Nature-Focused. Future-Ready.

REEF, a specialized subsidiary under Red Sea Global. REEF delivers comprehensive environmental advisory services, focusing on mangrove plantation enhancement, coral management programs, and in-depth baseline environmental surveys.

With a strong commitment to responsible and science-led development, REEF drives sustainability through innovative restoration strategies and long-term solutions that benefit both nature and communities.

Join a passionate team combining scientific rigor and creative thinking to lead the way in sustainable environmental practices across Red Sea Global’s pioneering destinations.

Job Purpose:

• This is a leadership position responsible for overseeing the Environmental Planning & Advisory department within REEF.
• This includes driving business development, identifying and creating operational processes, procedures and systems for the EP&A department, managing effective client relationships, maintaining excellence in project delivery and organically growing a highly efficient and professional team of environmental planners, regulatory advisors, project managers, and training young professional consultants.
• He/She will report to and support the Operating General Manager in building and maintaining a high-performance culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• The Environmental Planning & Advisory Department Head will prepare and translate business strategies into actionable steps to meet annual revenue, EBIDTA, customer and employee satisfaction KPIs.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the Environmental Planning & Advisory department, including collaboration with REEF OGM to set department vision and operations strategy in line with overall REEF business plan and budget
• Oversee and provide management direction to the Impact Assessment & Permitting, GIS, Environmental Compliance and Environmental Data Management divisions
• Translate strategy into actionable steps for operational efficiency, departmental growth, implementing departmental-wide goal setting, performance management for team members, and annual operations planning and budgeting
• Act as key Business Development lead winning and building a pipeline of work for EP&A, managing internal and external clients, including for major client accounts, establishing teaming arrangements and negotiating positive risk-reward position for REEF in the proposal process and during execution of work.
• Discuss, set and meet established annual revenue generation, cost recovery, profitability, utilization and other key metrics of performance for the EP&A department
• Ensure Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) and related permitting processes and project deliverables on major projects are fit for purpose to secure required permits and approvals on time, on budget and to client expectations
• Anticipate staffing, recruitment and monitor utilization in collaboration with Division Leaders within the EPA department
• Provide executive direction for development of guidelines, policies, regulations, and procedures that together comprise the governance framework for the EP&A Department ensuring the department remains in compliance with established protocols, QA/QC workflow is maintained and risks are appropriately identified and mitigated
• Act as thought leader in the EP&A space, including maintaining active industry network associations, representing REEF at conferences, and publishing original work
• Provide proactive Project/Program Director support, working collaboratively with Procurement, Legal and Finance, REEF internal and RSG external resources to drive successful completion of REEF EP&A portfolio and contracts
• Work strategically across different internal RSG Departments and external stakeholders (e.g., government) to facilitate REEF objectives toward expediting project milestone completion and obtaining superior results, including attending regular management meetings
• Oversee EP&A operations, including approving invoices, equipment procurement, CAPEX and OPEX expenditures, and other daily activities for seamless operations, working with the OGM through active communication
• Interface with human resources for team objectives setting and end of year calibration, including performance reviews, salary and other compensation (training courses, professional development etc).
• Measure performance of resources, client satisfaction, supporting external departments to facilitate , products and services and recommend improvement strategies
• Drive innovation across the EP&A department, including surveys, studies, reporting, trend analysis, novel AI techniques, in collaboration with Projects and Programs across REEF with other senior leadership and stakeholders
• Build manage, and maintain effective relationships with suppliers, vendors, partners and clients
• Provide guidance and contribute to the development of REEF marketing material internally and externally
• Lead proposals with a dynamic team to increase REEF revenue and profitability
• Oversee the maintenance and continuous improvement of environmental supply chain of approved environmental sub-consultants to address knowledge gaps and service needs
• Ensure transition planning is in place for key leadership roles within the function
• Oversee upskilling and training requirements for the department

Job Requirements:

Qualifications & Experience:

• At least 20 years of consulting experience in real estate property development, energy, infrastructure, mining or other natural resource sectors
• Demonstrated experience building business and pipeline of EP&A related consulting work and maintaining strong client relationships
• Proven track record in environmental management, having worked under advanced regulatory systems on major- or, preferably, mega-projects, in public (governmental authority) and/or private capacity with multiple environmental stakeholders
• Implementing business strategies, plans and short and long term objectives,
• Experience with budget development, financial payment processes, contract handling, financial planning and strategy at a leadership level,
• Entrepreneural mind-set with experience leading small and large businesses
• Comfortable and experienced with C-Suite level interations, presentations, and consultations.
• Professional qualification in relevant subject area, including environmental science, biodiversity and conservation, in-depth understanding of regulatory ESIA and permitting processes, ambient environmental quality monitoring programs
• Scientific understanding and experience with analyzing biological data, including biological statistics and multi-year / multi-variate trend analysis
• Secondary or tertiary education, at minimum with Masters of Science level, preferably Ph.D.
• At least 15 years experience running scientific /EP&A consulting departments, including in-depth knowledge of organizational development requirements
• Experience managing teams of planners, regulatory analysts, project managers, for large multi-year ESIA / permitting projects (fees >USD 1M) regionally (Middle East) and globally for capital projects > 150M USD CAPEX.
• Experience managing and delivering on budget, time and quality for large, complicated project and programs, their milestones, and budgets
• Recognized thought leader with experience providing training courses, lectures, and workshops including working with teams of people to provide vocational uplift training, presenting scientific findings and research
• Mentoring and coaching a diverse array of people, including building a thriving and positive team culture and effectively managing change
• Technical review of environmental project deliverables, including scientific baseline reports, modeling reports, impact assessment and permitting plans, monitoring plans and reports etc
• Understanding of advanced business planning and regulatory issues, including in-depth familiarity of relevant codes, standards, legislation, guidelines and policy
• Solid understanding of data analysis, data collection as well as performance metrics,
• Experience with marine coastal engineering nearshore and offshore projects
• Experience working in Saudi Arabia, understanding of Saudi Arabia logistics permitting requirements
• Experience working within an EPC, EPCM, PPP, IPD environment, with interface management experience across project stage-gate processes
• Able to take high level of responsibility and accountability, including delegation of work and authority from General Manager

Skills:

• High emotional intellegence, excellent communication skills
• Strong negotiation, persuasion and influence competencies
• Results orientation
• Strategic thinking and problem solving
• High level of business acumen
• Proficient with Microsoft software products
• Ability to work independently and provide expert reviews to support QA/QC processes
• Strong interest and demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and train others
• Excellent command of written and spoken English and Arabic (mandatory)
• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills.
• Experience working in Saudi Arabia, Middle East and / or globally

Job Context:

• Based in Riyadh with frequent travel to project locations
• Work schedule typically 48 hours (Thursday to Sunday) with discretionary hours expected to meet business needs

For more information about Red Sea Global, visit:

🌐 Website: https://www.redseaglobal.com/en

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/red-sea-global/

▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMo1fSbA3iOhvvC8OP0IYNA

🐦 Twitter: @TheRedSeaGlobal