Description
The 50/50 Climate Project, a nonprofit organization founded by prominent leaders from the corporate governance and shareholder advocacy is seeking an inaugural Executive Director.
50/50 Climate Project is a resource and action center that works with institutional investors to move corporate boards of directors to reduce their companies’ climate-change impact and transition to sustainable business strategies. In eighteen months of focused shareholder activism, the Project has worked with the world’s largest institutional investors in establishing the right to nominate their own candidates for company boards of directors on the company’s proxy ballot. This new right creates opportunities to promote sustainable business strategies and climate competency in corporate board rooms. The Project will build to scale the growing institutional investor commitment to address climate risk in US and international corporate governance. The extraordinarily large May 26th shareholder votes for proxy access (61%) and the 2 degree stress test (39%) at Exxon demonstrates the new potential for climate change action.
The Executive Director position is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to lead the Project to the next phase of investor climate change advocacy. We are looking for someone with strong leadership and campaign strategy skills who has interest and experience in financial initiatives, corporate research, social or environmental organizing.
Responsibilities will include:
- Creating and supporting corporate governance/board of director initiatives on climate change
- Strengthening the existing international network of activist institutional investors
- Overseeing corporate governance research
- Work with the founding advisors and NGO allies
- Establish the organization as an official 501(c)(3). (The project currently operates as a fiscal sponsored program of As You Sow).
- With the assistance of the advisory board members and consultants, oversee fundraising
- Eventually build out an office and a staff.
Desired qualifications include:
- Strong strategic planning and leadership skills
- Commitment to environmental issues and social justice
- Able to work with institutional investor principals and senior staff
- At least 10 years’ experience in corporate research, social or environmental organizing, and/or investor advocacy
- Excellent communication, writing, presentation, project & personnel management skills
- Strong relationship-building skills, including through situations of uncertainty and under pressure
- Ability to develop and implement innovative and strategic priorities.
- Flexibility, creativity, and collaborative management style
- Excellent communications skills including public speaking and the ability to communicate complex ideas and research.
- Fundraising experience is a plus
- Creative and entrepreneurial thinker
Salary: Compensation is competitive with leading nonprofits. Excellent benefits including medical, 401K-plus match, etc.
Location: The position can be located anywhere in the US, but West Coast candidates should expect some travel and early morning phone hours.
To apply: Send a cover letter and resume to: settleson@gmail.com, subject line: 50/50 ED
The 50/50 Climate Project, (a fiscally sponsored project of As You Sow) will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, or sexual orientation. Further, the Project and As You Sow actively seeks to recruit and retain a diverse staff in all areas of operations.
* The 50/50 Climate Project is a fiscally sponsored by As You Sow, a not-profit 501c(3) organization headquartered in Oakland, California.