Deadline for application: 2 May 2024

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. We help make our member companies more successful and sustainable by focusing on the maximum positive impact for shareholders, the environment and societies.

Our member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing combined revenues of more than USD $8.5 trillion and 19 million employees. Our global network of almost 70 national business councils gives our members unparalleled reach across the globe. WBCSD is uniquely positioned to work with member companies along and across value chains to deliver impactful business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues.

Together, we are the leading voice of business for sustainability: with a vision of a world where more than nine billion people are all living well and within the boundaries of our planet, by 2050.

WBCSD North America is the regional office for WBCSD for recruiting, engaging, and retaining members on behalf of the headquarter office in Geneva.  WBCSD is an independently registered 501(c)3 non-profit in the United States and operates on a structured basis with WBCSD.

Job Overview

Operating in a demanding and fast-paced environment across a breadth of subjects and sector verticals, the WBCSD Member Relations team is looking for an outstanding Key Account/Member Manager (KAM) with a passion for sustainability to join our growing organization.

We are looking for an agile, consultative salesperson who can contribute to the organization’s by recruiting new members and actively engaging existing members, primarily in the U.S. We are looking for a curious and adaptable individual that can convene and inspire companies to act on sustainable systems’ transformations. The ideal candidate can build strong relationships with top companies and network with their leaders to position why WBCSD is the best organization to help them further their sustainability goals and drive business impact, then translate that value proposition into revenue.

This team member will be responsible for ensuring that the member experience we deliver exceeds expectations, so we can sustain and grow our member base in order to achieve long-term success in accelerating the systems transformations needed for a net zero, nature positive, and equitable future.

The position is full-time, and we are focused on qualified candidates in the Chicago and New York City areas.  The role will require domestic and international travel, with flexibility.

Responsibilities and duties

A core responsibility for the role is to ensure outstanding engagement with assigned current members in the Region.  This requires developing a familiarity with the member’s sustainability and business goals, ensuring the member is moving toward those goals via their involvement in WBCSD programs and projects, creating opportunities for member executives to showcase their work and progress at key events, and coordinating information and interactions across WBCSD.

Another key responsibility is recruiting.  The KAM needs to connect more strategic companies from across the Region into WBCSD’s experts, programs and services, to help members and WBCSD drive climate, nature, and equity action with urgency.  Foundational work includes building on existing relationships and cultivating new ones, sourcing leads through strategic prospecting, partnering with members and global network partners.

The successful candidate will also build our profile with businesses in key Regional markets, illustrating WBCSD’s wide range of services and content areas. This includes representing WBCSD at relevant events in the region and working with our communications team to ensure all messaging is current, compelling, and tailored to the audience and opportunity.

We are looking for a leader that:

• Builds and maintains trust and quality relationships with company leaders and ensures coordination between WBCSD colleagues and member delegates.
• Understands the strategic priorities and challenges of leading companies, monitors company’s strategic outlook, insights, latest news, etc.
• Collects, updates and maintains prospect data and information, tracks evolution of relationships including organizational changes, key contacts etc.
• Has demonstrated success finalizing sales and/or member agreements.
• Keeps up to date with WBCSD offerings that match member’s priorities.
• Works with members to identify strategic opportunities for leadership & engagement, ensures members are aware of all WBCSD programs, services and resources that might further their sustainability objectives and strengthen their engagement.
• Ensures the upselling of value within the member company organization.
• Has a solid understanding of climate, nature, and equity opportunities and challenges in business.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience
• Master’s degree in a business, commercial or sustainability degree preferred; a Bachelor’s degree along with highly relevant work experience also acceptable.
• Interest in Sustainability and the role business can take to address today’s climate, nature, and equity challenges
• Proven experience in key account/member development and management.
• Experience in sales and providing consultative solutions based on customer needs
• Business acumen and un understanding of corporate strategy and how sustainability plays an integral role in business success
• Understands corporate organizational models and works across multiple interfaces to create desire outcomes
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with aptitude in building relationships with professionals of all organizational levels
• Excellent organizational skills
• Experience working in Salesforce or other CRM application
• Strong skills in problem-solving and negotiation
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills
• Facilitation and stakeholder engagement: Evidence of successfully aligning different stakeholders and developing effective relationships with new partners or stakeholders. Ability to be assertive and take initiative when appropriate
• Teamwork: Evidence of successfully working across teams and diverse interest groups
• Multi-Tasking: Ability to manage own projects, accounts, and ad hoc demands simultaneously, set priorities, effectively use resources, identify and address problems, and meet deadlines

The WBCSD is a purpose driven, forward-thinking, and action-oriented organization, characterized by diversity of gender, nationalities, and work experiences.

The Work Environment

WBCSD offers a competitive, modern, and flexible working arrangement:

• Geneva-based organization with U.S. hub offices in New York City and Chicago; ability to work from home
• Competitive compensation and benefits
• State-of-the-art facilities and ICT-enabled working tools
• Flex-time and part-time possibilities
• Dynamic working atmosphere
• Open culture encouraging interaction and sharing of ideas and opinions

Please also note that WBCSD will only respond to candidates selected for the interview process.