Workstream Lead – Net-Zero Urban Development & Carbon Credits (MENA)

Workstream Lead - Net-Zero Urban Development & Carbon Credits (MENA)

Location: Germany/DACH or UK (with frequent travel to Egypt)

Engagement Type: Freelance / Fixed-Term Contract | Permanent Employment considered

Affluent Technology is an international engineering consultancy with offices in the UK, Germany and India. We deliver complex engineering, infrastructure and sustainability programmes, combining strategic project leadership with specialist technical expertise.

For major multidisciplinary projects, we take responsibility for programme scoping, methodology, quality assurance and client management while engaging specialist consultants and technical partners for delivery.

We are currently expanding our expertise to support a major carbon-neutral urban development project in Egypt.

We are seeking an experienced Workstream Lead - Net-Zero Urban Development & Carbon Credits (MENA) to lead the scoping, planning and coordination of a large-scale carbon-credit feasibility programme.

The project involves an approximately 64 km² (8 × 8 km) master-planned development in Egypt, designed to operate as a climate-neutral urban and industrial ecosystem.

The development integrates multiple sectors, including:

• Renewable energy generation and distribution
• Sustainable buildings and urban infrastructure
• Agriculture and food production
• Industrial manufacturing and electric mobility
• Water and wastewater management
• Waste management and circular economy
• Logistics and transportation infrastructure

The objective is to identify potential greenhouse-gas emission reductions and removals, evaluate their relevance to the development's net-zero ambitions and establish a structured programme for assessing carbon-credit eligibility.

This position requires a senior professional who can combine large-scale infrastructure programme management, multidisciplinary sustainability expertise and a practical understanding of carbon markets.

You will work closely with the Carbon Crediting Methodology Lead, who will be responsible for technical creditability decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Phase 1 - Scoping and Strategic Planning (8-12 Weeks)

Programme Leadership and Scope Definition

• Lead the initial programme scoping and planning activities.
• Establish project boundaries, participating assets, development phases and relevant stakeholders.
• Identify and prioritise potential carbon-reduction and carbon-removal opportunities.
• Develop a comprehensive programme roadmap, including deliverables, timelines, milestones and decision gates.
• Establish governance, reporting procedures, responsibilities and quality-control processes.
• Coordinate technical assessments across renewable energy, buildings, agriculture, mobility, water, waste and industrial activities.
• Identify interactions between different infrastructure systems and their implications for greenhouse-gas accounting.
• Work with technical specialists to identify relevant emission sources, reduction opportunities and data requirements.
• Support the distinction between site-level climate neutrality and activities potentially eligible for carbon-credit generation.

Carbon-Credit Feasibility Planning

• Establish and maintain a carbon-credit opportunity register.
• Coordinate initial project data collection and identify critical information gaps.
• Work with the Methodology Lead to identify potential eligibility barriers, environmental-attribute ownership issues and double-counting risks.
• Incorporate regulatory and permitting information supplied by the client into the programme assessment.
• Ensure technical uncertainties and commercial risks are reflected in programme planning.

Stakeholder and Specialist Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for senior client stakeholders.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary teams, external consultants and technical partners.
• Identify the specialist expertise required for detailed Phase 2 assessments.
• Prepare specialist scopes of work and support expert selection and onboarding.
• Manage project risks, budgets, resources and client expectations.

Phase 2 Preparation

• Translate the agreed assessment scope into detailed work packages.
• Prepare cost estimates, delivery schedules and commercial proposals.
• Define technical deliverables, quality gates and approval requirements.
• Develop a complete commissioning and handover package.
• Support the transition into Phase 2, with the possibility of continuing as Programme Lead.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional experience in urban development, infrastructure, energy, sustainability or related engineering sectors.
• At least 5 years of senior management experience delivering net-zero districts, sustainable cities or large-scale climate-neutral infrastructure programmes.
• Demonstrated leadership of complex, multidisciplinary projects involving at least three of the following: energy, buildings, water, mobility, agriculture, waste or circular economy.
• Strong understanding of greenhouse-gas emissions accounting and carbon-credit project development.
• Knowledge of the carbon-credit project lifecycle, including feasibility screening, methodology selection, validation and registration.
• Working knowledge of ISO 14064-2/-3 and the GHG Protocol.
• Proven experience managing project budgets, external consultants, subcontractors and commercial proposals.
• Experience developing fixed-price offers, project schedules and delivery plans.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills, including engagement with senior executives, private developers and public-sector organisations.
• Excellent English or German communication skills; proficiency in both is advantageous.
• Willingness to undertake frequent, multi-day business travel to Egypt.
• Previous involvement in carbon-credit feasibility or registered carbon projects.
• Experience delivering infrastructure or sustainability programmes in Egypt, North Africa or the wider MENA region.
• Familiarity with sustainable district and infrastructure certifications such as DGNB, BREEAM Communities, LEED ND or Envision.
• Project management certification such as PMP, PgMP, MSP or IPMA.
• Experience in industrial manufacturing, electric mobility or sustainable agriculture.
• Familiarity with FIDIC contracts.

We place greater emphasis on proven project delivery and leadership experience than on formal certifications alone.

What We Offer

• An opportunity to lead a major international carbon-neutral infrastructure assessment programme.
• Direct collaboration with senior client stakeholders and technical experts.
• Significant responsibility for shaping programme strategy, scope and delivery.
• Flexible engagement arrangements, with freelance consultancy preferred.
• International project exposure and multidisciplinary collaboration.
• Compliance and intercultural preparation ahead of regional travel.

This is a senior programme leadership opportunity requiring direct experience in complex, multidisciplinary net-zero infrastructure projects.

Applications without specific evidence of relevant project leadership and technical experience will not be considered for shortlisting.

Further project and client details will be shared with shortlisted candidates under NDA.

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