Deadline for application: 01 June 2022

WBCSD is the premier global, CEO-led community of over 200 of the world’s leading sustainable businesses working collectively to accelerate the system transformations needed for a net zero, nature positive, and more equitable future.

We do this by engaging executives and sustainability leaders from business and elsewhere to share practical insights on the obstacles and opportunities we currently face in tackling the integrated climate, nature and inequality sustainability challenge; by co-developing “how-to” CEO-guides from these insights; by providing science-based target guidance including standards and protocols; and by developing tools and platforms to help leading businesses in sustainability drive integrated actions to tackle climate, nature and inequality challenges across sectors and geographical regions.

Our member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing a combined revenue 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. Since 1995, WBCSD has been 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, united by our vision of creating a world in which 9+ billion people are living well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century.

Our mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world by making more sustainable businesses more successful. Our vision is to create a world where more than 9 billion people are all living well and within planetary boundaries, by 2050.

The world faces three critical challenges: the climate emergency, nature loss and mounting inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated that these challenges are interconnected, and that our systems are ill-prepared for shocks. As global risks continue to build, business leaders are rallying behind a bold and urgent transformation agenda developed by WBCSD. Vision 2050: Time to Transform sets a shared vision of a world in which more than 9 billion people are able to live well, within planetary boundaries, by 2050. To achieve this vision, we need transformation at scale, and business needs to focus its actions on the areas through which it can best lead the systems transformations and drive transformative change in its sustainability planning and business strategies.

Job Overview

WBCSD is seeking a Director position in WBCSD’s Redefining Value (RV) program as part of the work funded under the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Conservation and Markets Initiative (CMI). CMI is being delivered in partnership with WWF and Brunswick. The project focuses on working with a cohort of food retail and food supply companies to support the embedding of nature into business decision making processes to reduce the upstream impact on natural resource factors (e.g. deforestation, overfishing) that occur through their supply chains. The project is exploring how internal processes such as governance, risk management, performance management and internal controls need to evolve to take better into account broader ESG issues and drive action on the global imperatives. Through the development of tools and resources, and significant corporate engagement, the ambition of this work is that by August 2023, at least 15 of these food supply and food retailer companies demonstrate meaningful progress in improving their management of material natural resource factors and shift sourcing and production to deforestation-free and overfishing-free systems.

This position offers a unique opportunity to drive significant impact leveraging the impact of collaborations and provides insights into multinational companies’ strategies, risks and opportunities, both within and beyond the food retail sector. The position is also very visible externally and the candidate will be expected to act as an ambassador and spokesperson for WBCSD across meetings, events and media.

This is a full-time, fixed term position until August 2023 with potential to be extended or made permanent depending on funding. This position can be based in either the Netherlands or UK. This role reports to a member of the WBCSD Senior Management Team.

Responsibilities and duties

Strategic

• Lead WBCSD’s activities as part of the CMI funding.
• Lead the development of business solutions (tools, resources, guidance) that support the embedding of nature and other ESG-related issues into enterprise risk management and governance and other core business practices.
• Engage with priority companies and other project partners to implement business solutions through workshops and other activities.
• Identify strategic portfolio of future business solutions that support grant outcomes and fully align with WBCSD’s strategy.

• Strengthen and identify value-adding long-term relationships with funding organizations including the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and other partner organizations within the Conservation and Markets Initiative.
• Position WBCSD as the leading voice for business solutions on embedding nature into business practice.

• Position WBCSD for future grant funding through the successful delivery of grant outcomes, the demonstration of real-world impact, and the tracking of engagement for grant reporting.
• Build a strong team, engaging and developing staff, and manage talent pipeline

Operational / Tactical

• Grow member engagement and interest in the CMI funded activities
• Act as the interface between CMI funded activities and the Food pathway / Nature imperative both internally and externally.
• Represent the WBCSD and the program to relevant global audiences, with conviction and polish, including media activities, stakeholder and other key events.
• Leverage network and projects to support the recruitment of new WBCSD members

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have significant senior business experience coupled with successful NGO and/or government interaction and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities across various sectors.  The candidate should have the following competencies:

Background: Ideally a Qualified Chartered Accountant or Management Accountant and/or strong technical background of enterprise risk management, corporate governance, and corporate reporting. Industry experience and good understanding of the food sector landscape and trends would be a significant asset.

Experience:

• More than 10 years of leadership experience including strategy development and business processes implementation. Experience in the domain of sustainability.
• Strong technical knowledge of enterprise risk management and other business processes (disclosure & sustainability reporting, governance, internal controls, assurance and auditing) is essential.

Strategy & Project management:

• Demonstrate superb project management / organisational skills to strategically structure a multi-year program with accountability for meeting budget and schedule commitments while pragmatically delivering real results.
• Experience in supporting the development of new initiatives from incubation to implementation.

Facilitation and stakeholder engagement:

• Evidence of successfully engaging with a wide range of different stakeholders (from CEO to technical experts, governments and other stakeholders) and creating shared vision and partnerships across diverse groups.
• Ability to foster partnerships across a broad range of organizations including professional bodies, standard setters, NGOs, philanthropic organizations and industry bodies.

Communication:

• Engaging communicator across cultures both in person and in writing such that complex ideas, thoughts and concepts are clearly articulated for a general audience. An ease in briefly summarizing the essence of issues and means to address them.
• Bring and convey passion and drive to attract and motivate additional companies, organizations and individuals to the project.

• • Show diplomacy and sensitivity to different opinions and approaches, managing a range of views and interests with first class negotiating and facilitation skills. Seasoned judgment, able to make decisions, justify recommendations, and be responsive, clear and firm with colleagues and partners.
  • Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills and well-established networks among public sector and private sector in particular; ability to develop an open and inclusive space to collaborate and manage productive relationships with partners, consultants, and others who contribute to the success of the project.

Language skills: Fluency in English (written and spoken) is critical, fluency in additional languages is an advantage.

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 offices in Amsterdam, London, New Delhi, New York City and Singapore
• 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
• International relocation support

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