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.

Roles & Responsibilities

WBCSD North America (WBCSD NA) represents the interests of WBCSD in the Canadian, United States and Mexican markets. With over 25% of WBCSD’s base membership headquartered in the region, the WBCSD NA office works with members, partners, and other key stakeholders to advance the Vision 2050 and the Council’s Program Portfolio. It also works to ensure the outreach, engagement, and actions of WBCSD reflect the unique circumstances of the North American market.

We are looking for looking for a full-time Senior Associate who will support the Executive Director in raising the profile of WBCSD in the North American market. The Sr. Associate will help grow WBCSD presence and funding in North America and will help to strategically position WBCSD programs and projects in the region to make them attractive and business-relevant to North American companies. This includes creating opportunities for WBCSD visibility in the region, recruiting new members, managing member expectations, researching funding opportunities, building relationships with grant-making organizations, and managing relations with WBCSD stakeholders and partners in North America. The Sr. Associate will also be responsible for managing client-based systems, documenting WBCSD engagement in the region, and mobilizing outreach in the key markets of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Expected Activities

Reporting to the Executive Director, North America, the role focuses on recruitment and management of forward-thinking companies of strategic relevance to WBCSD and its work programs and fundraising goals. The candidate will drive WBCSD’s growth through his/her own network as well as by jointly approaching selected companies and funders with relevant WBCSD Program Directors.

Member relations activities include:

Member Retention

• Ensure that current membership is and remains highly engaged by promoting active member engagement
• Work with the Member Relations team on the membership engagement processes and management of risk accounts
• Assist with content for communication ensuring alignment with WBCSD HQ and assist with content and management of events, focusing on creating opportunities for north American members

Member recruitment

• Prepare, develop, and help define plans and tactics to pursue strategic targets
• Assist in recruiting activities to attract new members of strategic interest to the WBCSD, including prospecting and participation in calls/meeting and developing expert presentations and engagement sessions with North America-based companies
• Contribute to key prospecting events planning (annual Liaison Delegate and Council meetings, invites and sponsorship; UN General Assembly/Climate Week and WBCSD North America events at Greenbiz etc.)
• Plan and interact with prospects at key events, including in the organization of high-level meetings
• Help engage senior leaders at prospect companies to present the relevant value proposition of work programs in WBCSD
• Manage the pipeline of companies interested in WBCSD membership and deliver against annual targets
• Provide leadership with regards to digital nurturing of accounts and sales cycle management
• Keep the member relations database up to date. This includes ensuring key communications are properly recorded and up to date on WBCSD’s member management system

Developing Grant Funder Relationships

• Contribute to North American Fundraising strategy in collaboration with WBCSD Partnerships & Fundraising lead in Geneva
• Research prospective private foundations and public-sector funders with guidance from Partnerships & Fundraising lead
• Arrange meetings between prospective funders and WBCSD program leads
• Manage ongoing communications with funders
• Input research and communications information into a WBCSD CRM tool
• Assist in running the office operations, team coordination and activities

Qualifications and Profile

• Education: MS/MA degree (or BS/BA with advanced education) business, management, environmental or sustainability related education tracks preferred.
• Excellent key account sales skills, with proven successful track record in consultative selling situations
• Around five years of professional experience in sales, including inside sales, and marketing
• Hands-on digital sales and marketing expertise using CRM tools, preferably Salesforce
• Experience and comfort interacting at high levels in corporations, in different cultural contexts and complex project-type sales processes. Proven ability to build trusted relationships with corporate decision-makers
• Expertise on sustainability issues
• Passionate self-starter – ability to take initiative and seize opportunities for WBCSD growth - independent, proactive outreach. A fast learner that works accurately under pressure
• Excellent presentation and communication skills in English, both written and oral. A second language will provide preferential consideration
• Enthusiastic about multi-cultural work environment, including international travel
• Advanced knowledge of major MS-Office tools (Excel, ppt, word)

What WBCSD is offering

• The WBCSD offers competitive employment conditions and salary, a flexible and stimulating working environment and the chance to join a team of professionals who share a motivation to deliver business solutions for a sustainable world.
• Dynamic, international work environment
• Small organization requiring and offering a variety of tasks for everyone
• Access to a unique network of sustainability experts and leaders

Other considerations

• The position is full-time and based in the United States (New York City) but will require domestic and international travel dependent on COVID 19 restrictions and WBCSD travel policies.
• Candidates should be of U.S. citizenship or authorized to work in the United States.