Daily Sustainability Job Post

* The link and job description provided was active on March 30, 2022 – the date this was posted. Please refer to the employer’s website for up to date information. This is not our search, we are providing these links as a service to the community of sustainability and ESG jobseekers.

Position Overview:

With world attention on both the environment and the economy, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is where policymakers and business leaders turn for win-win solutions. By focusing on strong science, uncommon partnerships and market-based approaches, we tackle urgent threats with practical solutions. We are one of the world’s largest environmental organizations, with more than two million members and a staff of approximately 700 scientists, economists, policy experts, and other professionals around the world. We operate in 22 geographies with unique projects running across four programs. You will be part of a vibrant workplace where innovation and results are a way of life.

EDF envisions a world in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected to the environmental challenges we face and are engaged in creating durable, equitable solutions. We seek talented candidates who share our Core Values of Respect, Results, Innovation, Optimism, and Integrity, and support our Commitment to Diversity.

Program Overview

EDF+Business is a cross-cutting solutions team that develops and deploys business and investor engagement strategies that accelerate environmental leadership, innovation, and results across industries and supply chains. We are working to create a more sustainable and resilient world where companies, communities and the environment thrive – and we’re making it happen by leveraging the power of the marketplace. We’ve been at the forefront of this change for 30 years, bringing cutting edge science, policy, and economic expertise to high-impact companies to transform business as usual in their products, operations, and advocacy.

For more information on our work, visit business.edf.org.

Overall Function

Investors represent a powerful force in accelerating the shift to a more sustainable and resilient economy. They influence the flow of trillions of dollars and are under increasing pressure to use their influence to drive change at carbon-intensive companies and to align investment portfolios with a more resilient future. Our vision is that by 2025, leading investors will be competing for climate leadership and using their influence and capital to drive change across carbon-intensive industries and scale investment in low carbon solutions.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President – Investor Strategy, the Engagement Director will lead our relationship management strategy with investors and financial institutions of interest to EDF’s Investor Engagement team. This role will drive climate progress by working with leading investors leveraging the financial sector’s power, product offerings, and the regulatory landscape to consistently demand and support rigorous corporate net zero targets, plans and investments, while backing the public policies necessary to accelerate action.

In growing and nurturing EDF’s investor network, this role will strengthen existing investor relationships, prioritize new relationships, and help to inform and amplify the new ”ESG By EDF: Actionable Insights for a Decarbonizing World” platform, which aims to leverage EDF’s world-leading expertise in climate science, economics, and public policy to inform rigorous assessment and constructive engagement with carbon-intensive industries. Through our relationships and the ESG by EDF platform, we intend to equip the financial community with the independent analysis and tools needed to manage climate risk, assess opportunities, and accelerate urgent action in the sectors that matter most.

Key Responsibilities

As a member of the EDF+Business Investor Engagement team, the position’s responsibilities will include:

• Create and maintain a landscape of investors and financial institutions that have interest in and influence over carbon-intensive sectors and companies that will be key to achieving the net zero transition, including but not limited to oil and gas, petrochemicals, transportation/logistics and animal agriculture.
• Leads outreach to financial sector players, including conducting exploratory conversations, presenting newly released insights from the “ESG By EDF” analytical platform, and deepening dialogue around areas of mutual interest.
• Develop customized long-term relationship management strategies for different tiers of firms, ranging from light touch information sharing and engagement to formalized partnerships with a subset of particularly influential asset owners, asset managers, banks and other entities willing to pursue joint strategies and interventions to raise the climate bar for corporates.
• Partner with members of the EDF Marketing and Communications team to develop and promote high-impact thought leadership that compellingly communicates our analysis, insights and recommendations to the financial sector.
• Participate in advancing EDF DEI goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

We are seeking candidates who have a demonstrated ability to conduct outreach, communications and relationship management in sustainable finance or a closely related field. Candidates must have exceptional interpersonal skills, work collaboratively within the EDF team, and be able to build strategically and mutually beneficial relationships with external players and institutions. You should also have:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in sustainability, finance or a related field.
• At least 10 years of related work experience with demonstrated success.
• Understanding of the fundamentals of investment management.
• Demonstrated interest in climate change and/or experience with corporate sustainability and its intersection with the financial services industry and capital markets.
• Excellent outreach, communications and relationship management skills in support of highly visible work.
• Experience developing engagement strategies for key relationships and stakeholders.
• Experience managing staff and leading a team.
• Willingness to take initiative and able to multi-task under tight deadlines.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in managing projects.
• Expert writing and editing skills targeted at financial sector audiences.
• Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in English.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Environmental Defense Fund is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant’s qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.