Director, Corporate Governance

Job Description

Description and Responsibilities

The Director, Corporate Governance will lead Ceres’ efforts to drive climate change and ESG integration into corporate governance systems. This role will focus on the role of boards of directors, lead research to benchmark corporate performance, and oversee ESG curriculum and other resources and Ceres’ engagement with corporate boards and corporate counsels. This is a full-time role, reporting to the Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets and will be preferably based in our Boston office.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and refine Governance strategy and workflow to ensure it aligns with Ceres’ overall goals.
• Continue to lead ESG training for the corporate director community. This involves building out Ceres’ ongoing and new training collateral and exploring new partnerships.
• Lead Ceres’ Responsible Policy Lobbying initiative, including:
• Work with governance program team members to engage companies and investors on the outcomes of Ceres’ newly released benchmark of US companies,
• Develop new streams of work building on the foundation established and
• Develop supplementary written materials to showcase this work.
• Manage and execute research to update corporate benchmarks, launch and dissemination.
• Lead engagements on ESG with corporate boards, corporate directors and governance teams which includes writing proposals or producing other written materials for other Ceres staff or external partners.
• Work to integrate just and inclusive environments issues into programs and projects where appropriate.
• Lead the development of new projects and thought leadership on board ESG oversight.
• Develop messaging and communications materials, including op-eds, press releases and blogs
• Partner with the Managing Director, Ceres Accelerator, the Ceres Development Team and others to raise money for the program, including participating in funder meetings, outreach to potential new funders and contributing to fundraising proposals.
• Supervise staff members including hiring and training new staff, conducting regular one-on-one meetings and semi-annual reviews, providing guidance and support with professional development.
• Support other Ceres Accelerator projects as requested.
• Contribute to the planning for the Ceres annual conference and program events, to further corporate governance programmatic work.
• Represent Ceres at conferences, seminars, press conferences and meetings as spokesperson for project or program work.
• Travel as necessary.
  

Qualifications

· Ten years of years of experience working on ESG issues, including demonstrated expertise in corporate governance. A record of published thought leadership on corporate governance is a plus.
· Experience in relationship management of senior leadership in the corporate and investor communities. This could include board directors.
· Demonstrated experience engaging with investors on ESG issues and a record in public speaking/ communication on ESG issues preferred
· A record of having led complex projects involving multiple internal and external stakeholders from concept to completion on own momentum and with limited guidance.
· Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, in a fast-paced environment.
· Experience cultivating effective and productive supervisory relationships with direct reports across gender identity, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.
· Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative and motivation.
· Effective presentation style and excellent oral and written communication skills.
· Experience with communications and fundraising preferred.
· Team player that likes working in a collaborative and fast paced environment.
· Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail software.
· Willingness to travel as needed to accomplish duties noted.
· Desire to work in a not-for-profit, advocacy-focused organization.
· Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ interest to be a more inclusive environment.

NOTE: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.