This job posting expired and applications are no longer accepted.

Manager, Banking for Impact on Climate in Agriculture

at WBCSD
Published 23 June 2022
Location New York, Amsterdam, London, United Kingdom
Category Fixed-term  
Job Type Manager  

Description

Deadline for application: 31 July 2022

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. 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: 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.

Banking for Impact on Climate in Agriculture Overview

Given the material impacts of climate change and the short time window of opportunity left to achieve and align to a 1.5 degree trajectory, banks are actively decarbonizing their food and agriculture portfolios in line with a just rural transition. Investors (asset owners and asset managers) are demanding it, regulators are pushing for it (BoE, ECB, NGFS), global agreements (Paris Climate Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals) require it, and employees, clients, and communities will benefit from it. More importantly, there is a momentum in the financial sector to act now as a matter of ongoing concern for clients

However, while it represents one quarter of global GHGs, the agriculture sector is faced with larger data gaps and more complexities around the estimation of emissions and decarbonisation pathways than other sectors, which makes the measurement, alignment and disclosure of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of banking portfolios in this sector particularly challenging.

Against this background, WBCSD, UNEP FI, PCAF and EDF’s Banking for Impact on Climate in Agriculture (B4ICA) Initiative is convening and facilitating a coalition of companies to develop  methods, tools and guidance for finance institutions to assess, manage and disclose GHGs across their agriculture portfolios in line with Paris pathways. B4ICA has brought together a quorum of international banks that drive alignment of agri-banking portfolios towards decarbonization pathways through a series of building blocks covering:

  1. Credible methodology framework for metrics and targets: Develop with key stakeholders a framework of robust, credible and consistent methodologies for defining metrics (including the data behind it) and decarbonization pathways, as a foundation for use by the B4ICA, informed by the GHG Protocol, Science-based Targets, and/or other initiatives as appropriate. Relevant academics and experts will be involved in this process.
  2. Creation of data-led tools: Create a data-led tool/tools to enable the analysis of GHGs in portfolios and their alignment with decarbonisation pathways, as well as the direct comparison between peers and the ability to include sub-sector-, region- and client specific consideration. Building on other tools and GHG emissions solutions and data out there, the tool should be able to serve various purposes such as portfolio decisions, disclosure and client engagement.
  3. Action coalition: A group of core banks will test and apply the tools to drive action in selected value chains representing significant GHG footprint, while also intending to engage key companies, sub-sector industry platforms, farm associations/farmers, and regions. Examples of potential focus areas are dairy, rice (South and SE Asia), soy (Brazil) and animal proteins (Europe, North America and New Zealand), as well as opportunities in soil carbon and regenerative agriculture.

Job overview

WBCSD is seeking a Manager to implement, coordinate and scale up its Banking for Impact on Climate in Agriculture initiative, with the aim of managing and growing a successful set of banks and partners driving portfolio alignment in the food, agriculture and land use space that deliver net zero, nature-positive, equitable outcomes.

This will ensure that work on methods and frameworks, data-led tools and actions coalitions translates to clear impact and value for participating member companies.

This is a full-time position in either Amsterdam, London or New York. This position will work closely between WBCSD’s Food Pathway (Scaling Positive Agriculture Project), Imperatives (SOS 1.5, and Nature & Nature-Based Solutions Projects), and cross-cutting food and finance work to deliver change. It will also connect into important partnerships of WBCSD, including with UNEP Finance Initiative, the Platform for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

Responsibilities and duties

Project management: Manage and develop the B4ICA initiative to:

  • Ensure successful project delivery through effective project management plans and practices.
  • Translate business needs into technical roadmap and, conversely, current technical capabilities into business opportunities.
  • Manage participating banks, partners and communications.
  • Manage project budgets and commission technical work as required.
  • Identify and escalate risk and issues, reports external and internal dependencies – determines and monitors mitigation and corrective actions;
  • Ensures program objectives are met, decisions/issues are resolved in a timely manner.

Strategic management and coordination:

  • Ensure clear communication / coordination among all key project stakeholders and mobilize project team
  • Support the strategic evolution of B4ICA as the net zero, nature positive and equality landscape matures in line with ESG reporting priorities, along with important initiatives such as UNEP FI’s Net Zero Banking Alliance and the Taskforce for Climate Related Financial Dislcosure (TCFD).
  • Coordinate and share learnings and identify synergies across WBCSD projects linking to B4ICA, including Scaling Positive Agriculture, SOS1.5, Nature & Nature Based Solutions, cross-cutting food and finance and Redefining Value projects.

Partnerships and engagement:

  • Drive preparation of all communications/reporting to senior stakeholders at C-level, facilitates critical decision-making processes
  • Build and manage the partnerships with participating banks and knowledge / implementation partners
  • Draft reports and action plans, drawing on technical consultants where necessary
  • Develop and implement communications opportunities to accelerate the work through global advocacy events, partnerships and communications activities, working closely with WBCSD’s communications team.
  • Organize meetings and regional global communication events that bring together the value chain, investors and knowledge / implementation partners
  • Maintain project documentation, including contributing to the relevant grantor reporting (quarterly and/or as required)

Qualifications and skills

  • At least 5-7 years’ work experience, with a background in sustainability, ESG finance and/or international development space.
  • Undergraduate degree (Masters preferred) in a relevant subject, such as sustainable development, environmental sciences, agriculture or finance.
  • Robust knowledge of private sector in the sustainability space
  • Understanding of banking and financed emissions (preferred).
  • Experience in agriculture, food and land use sectors, including the management of nature, natural resources including soils, forests, water (preferred).
  • Strategic systems thinker with high attention to detail.
  • Effective project manager with a track record of delivering complex projects to tight deadlines.
  • Strong partnership skills and ability to engage investors, corporates and public sector partners.
  • Experience in organizing global advocacy events.
  • Strong written and oral communications skills, with an understanding of how to leverage communications to advance an agenda or initiative
  • Perfect fluency - both written and oral - in English (any other language is a plus)

Duration: 12 months fixed term position.

Location: Location options for the role are  London (UK), Amsterdam (Netherlands) and New York City (US)

WBCSD is a purpose driven, forward-thinking and action-oriented organization, characterised 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 London, Amsterdam, New Delhi, Singapore and New York City
  • 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
  • Sustainable commuting incentives

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