Deadline for application: 12 June 2023

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (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 share a 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 must collectively accelerate the required transformation of businesses, their value chains, and the systems in which they operate to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature and tackle inequality.

How our community works

Our community leads positive change through our imperatives work by building the infrastructure of a better world through climate, nature and equity action. In our distinct pathways, we outline the critical transitions required in some of the significant areas of business activity to profoundly shift the systems we work in and transform them towards a better future. Together we succeed when our collective effort is rewarded through a lower cost of capital, which is the scope of our redefining value work; helping companies measure and manage risk, gain competitive advantage and seize new opportunities by understanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) information.

WBCSD’s contribution

WBCSD stimulates progress by ideating & level-setting new best practices and trends from different expertise & sectors. By improving performance, we enable standards and protocols supported by tools and technology to solidify businesses’ sustainability competence. We build partnerships by bringing together members and external partners to create coalitions and partnerships and build scale into change. Finally, we drive the policy agenda by amplifying the voice of positive business and shaping policies collaboratively to transform the systems we work in.

Our work aims to empower business leaders to raise their ambition to achieve a better world, deliver action at speed and scale in their operations and value chains, and sharpen the accountability of their performance.

Guided by WBCSD’s Vision 2050, the Energy Pathway work aims to create a sustainable energy system which provides reliable and affordable net-zero carbon energy for all. The speed at which the energy system will be decarbonized will critically influence our ability to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C. Projects in the Energy Pathway bring together forward-thinking companies across value chains to design a net-zero carbon, nature positive and equitable energy transformation as well as scale innovative business models for low-carbon energy solutions.

Job Overview

The Energy Pathway team is hiring a full-time Senior Associate to work in our “Scaling Deployment of Energy Solutions” project, which covers a bundle of workstreams covering various energy solutions – from renewable power to low-carbon heat and sustainable hydrogen.

The Senior Associate will work with internal and external stakeholders to support business with the scaling of these solutions. This will involve understanding the barriers to a faster deployment, and the manner in which WBCSD and its members can drive this transition. The Senior Associate can also expect to contribute to ongoing workstreams, supporting the delivery of reports, webinars, blogs, workshops, conference events and policy advocacy action.

The Senior Associate will be part of the larger Energy Pathway team within WBCSD and can expect to, occasionally, also work on other energy related projects.

The benefits of working in the Energy Pathway team include:

• Gaining a detailed understanding of the energy transition
• Helping shape real-world action via high-profile WBCSD member companies
• Learning from experienced professionals in the fields of energy in a global setting
• Developing a wide network of professional contacts
• Being part of a dynamic, supportive team with a clear purpose

Responsibilities and duties

• Lead and coordinate the design and delivery of key activities and deliverables across workstreams in the Scaling Energy Solutions project
• Foster and promote a pre-competitive collaborative environment across project member companies, and facilitate fruitful engagement of members
• Plan, coordinate and help deliver workshops, webinars; facilitate meetings and other virtual and in person events
• Manage relationships with external stakeholders, such as funders and key NGOs/IGOs, and identify relevant collaborative opportunities
• Follow the development of industrial decarbonization pathways and the role of various key technologies as well as key trends in the power market
• Work with our communications team to prepare outreach materials, presentations and publications
• Support impact measurement of various workstream activities and ideate to reshape future workstream activities accordingly.

Qualifications Skills and Experience

• Education: Master’s degree or equivalent professional qualification in energy, environment, sustainability or other relevant subject
• General experience:
  • 3+ years’ professional experience gained in a relevant industry setting
  • Business experience or experience working with government and other energy sector stakeholders
  • Excellent understanding of the energy transition and the value chains driving the transition. Knowledge of industrial decarbonization pathways is advantageous, as is exposure to renewable heat technologies – in the form of hydrogen, or various industrial electrification applications
  • Experienced in researching, critical analysis and writing of reports, blogs, articles and summaries for a variety of audiences

• Organization and coordination skills:
  • Strong project management skills with ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels and with different backgrounds
  • Managing a variety of internal and external stakeholders simultaneously
  • Knowledge of, and demonstrated skills in events organization (excellent organizational skills) and database management (proficient with database management software’s such as Salesforce)
• Communication skills:
  • Professional fluency in English (written and spoken) is critical
  • Writes convincingly in an engaging and expressive manner with clear language and in a well-structured and logical way
  • Structures and presents information to meet the needs of the intended audience
  • Persevering and behaving diplomatically in environments where stakeholders may have very different views and preferences
  • Proficient user of PowerPoint and able to produce and design professional slide packs

The position is full-time and based in either Amsterdam, London, Singapore or New York, but will also require occasional international travel.

The 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 Amsterdam, Beijing, London, New York 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
• Sustainable commuting incentives

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