Independent Consultant - Power-to-X & Advanced Biofuels

About Us

RSB – Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials is a global, multi-stakeholder organisation dedicated to driving the truly sustainable development of the bioeconomy. Frequently recognised as an industry leader in supply chain sustainability, RSB applies its best-in-class sustainability framework across sectors including aviation, chemicals, materials, and shipping.

Our small, dedicated team operates remotely from countries around the world, working collaboratively with a diverse base of member organisations, industry partners, and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.rsb.org .

Purpose of This Call

RSB now invites eligible organisations and individuals to indicate their interest. Throughout this document, “Consultant” refers to both organisations and individuals. RSB is building a pre-approved External Consultant Roster: a qualified pool of selected specialists and organisations that will be called upon for project-based work over the next 2 years.

Consultants accepted onto the roster will complete a brief onboarding process to become familiar with RSB’s systems, ways of delivering services, and sustainability framework. When a specific project or capacity gap emerges, RSB will contact roster members whose profile best matches the assignment, share a defined scope of work, and invite them to submit a proposal.

Inclusion on the roster is an expression of readiness and fit and not a guarantee of immediate work or remuneration.

Requirements

• The Service

The Power-to-X (PtX) & Advanced Biofuels Consultant will provide technical research, policy analysis and value-chain expertise on renewable hydrogen, PtX fuels and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) topics, to support RSB's work on PtX fuels, advanced biofuels, SAF policy, certification readiness, and related grant-funded programmes. Estimated time investment and budget are to be confirmed based on the agreed scope, daily rate, and project needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Support technical research, stakeholder mapping, policy analysis and drafting across RSB's PtX fuels and advanced biofuels work.
• Analyse renewable electricity, hydrogen and CO₂ sourcing, as well as biomass and waste feedstocks, relevant to PtX fuel and advanced biofuel pathways.
• Assess regional development opportunities, certification requirements, GHG accounting considerations, cross-sector resource dynamics, and international market access.
• Contribute to specific areas of roadmap development and policy briefing outputs, with initial work expected to focus mainly on India and potential targeted support for MENA-related activities.
• Support other team priorities across RSB’s PtX fuels and advanced biofuels portfolio as needed.
• Indicative Outputs

Specific deliverables, estimated time input, and project duration will be clarified in the Terms of Reference (TOR) issued to shortlisted roster members when a project need is identified. Indicative output types may include, but are not limited to:

• Technical research reports, policy briefs and roadmap inputs on PtX fuels, advanced biofuels and SAF.
• Stakeholder mapping and consultation summaries.
• Resource and feedstock assessments covering renewable electricity, hydrogen, eligible carbon sources, biomass and waste feedstocks.
• Life-cycle GHG modelling and carbon accounting analysis relevant to PtX fuels.
• Market, regulatory and certification-readiness analysis, including market-access requirements under frameworks such as EU RED, ICAO CORSIA and UK SAF policy.
• Required Qualifications & Experience
• Essential
• Strong written and spoken English proficiency.
• Ability to maintain regular availability overlapping with CET working hours of a minimum of 4 hours per day.
• Proven output/delivery track record in your area of expertise.
• Full compliance with all applicable local laws and regulations, including tax and social security obligations, and legal authorisation to perform consultancy services in the country of residence or operation.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, the ability to operate autonomously, and a proactive approach to communicating progress, risks, and opportunities in a clear and constructive manner.
• Self-sufficiency in a remote and fully digital working environment with reliable internet connectivity. Video calls and collaborative tools will be used for coordination.
• For organisations:
• Ability to assign appropriately qualified personnel to assignments and to ensure continuity of delivery, including cover for absences.
• Confirmation that the named individuals proposed for RSB assignments meet the essential criteria above.
• Desirable (will strengthen your expression of interest):
• Demonstrated technical expertise in PtX fuels, renewable hydrogen technologies, advanced biofuels, or sustainable aviation fuel pathways.
• Familiarity with EU RED or ICAO CORSIA regulatory frameworks, and with relevant regulatory and certification requirements more broadly, including UK SAF policy.
• Demonstrated understanding of global PtX fuel and advanced biofuels developments, including key project trends, market-access requirements, and the role of renewable electricity, hydrogen, eligible carbon, and sustainable feedstocks.
• Track record of producing original technical content, including resource assessments, policy analysis, roadmap inputs, applied sustainability analysis, or certification-related analysis, rather than literature summaries only.
• Knowledge of renewable hydrogen, PtX and advanced biofuel production routes and value chains.
• Understanding of key scale-up challenges, including renewable electricity, eligible carbon sources, sustainable feedstocks, hydrogen infrastructure, project bankability, certification readiness, and market recognition.
• Familiarity with life-cycle GHG analysis and accounting approaches relevant to PtX fuels.
• Awareness of PtX market and policy trends.

Benefits

For Consultants, this model offers a meaningful advantage: by completing the pre-qualification process once, you avoid repeated tender submissions and gain direct access to RSB’s pipeline of project-based opportunities as they emerge, with a relationship and context already in place.

Working with RSB offers the opportunity to contribute to a globally recognised organisation at the forefront of sustainability and systems transformation.

· Meaningful, mission-driven work: Contribute to advancing sustainability standards and real-world impact across global value chains, influencing how industries operate and evolve.

· H igh-impact assignments: Participate in intellectually engaging, project-based work that allows you to apply your expertise to real-world challenges.

· Opportunity for ongoing collaboration: Consultants on the roster may be engaged on multiple assignments, fostering longer-term professional relationships with RSB.

Engagement Terms

Type of Engagement: Project-based (as required) with an overarching Framework Agreement

Remuneration: Agreed day rate

Location: Remote

Working Hours / Time Zone: Minimum 4 hours per day overlapping with CET/CEST.

Framework Agreement Duration: Initially until September 2028 [2 years], unless a Consultant or RSB request removal or changes to Framework Agreement.

Roster Project Launch: October 2026