Grist — A Beacon in the Smog

Ceres is a national coalition of investors, public pension trustees, foundations, labor unions, and environmental, religious and public interest groups, dedicated to advancing more sustainable business practices and corporate accountability. Ceres' mission is to move businesses, capital, and markets to advance lasting prosperity by valuing the health of the planet and its people.

Ceres plays a unique role in the national environmental and sustainability movement by bringing the perspective and power of investors to environmental and sustainability issues and specifically to the performance, practices and policies of corporations. Today Ceres is a growing organization with expanding influence in the investment, environmental, and corporate arenas. Our program activities seek to foster greater public disclosure of environmental and social impacts by corporations, encourage engagement between companies and their stakeholders, and create opportunities for collaborative dialogue leading to positive change on key sustainability issues. For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site (www.ceres.org).
Ceres’ Investor Programs works with investors worldwide to improve corporate and public policies on climate change and other environmental, social, and corporate governance issues. We work for a world where the capital markets advance the health of the planet and its people. Our mission is to improve the functioning of these markets so that the future is livable, safe and just for everyone.

Our vision for achieving a sustainable global economy is Ceres 20•20. The plan has four pillars, each with specific ambitious goals:
We need honest accounting that abolishes the folly of free pollution.
We need higher standards of business leadership.
We need bold solutions that accelerate green innovation.
We need smart new policies that reward sustainability performance.

Description and Responsibilities
Ceres is seeking a Director of Investor Programs to lead Ceres’ work with institutional investors and asset managers on climate change and other sustainability issues. The Investor Programs is a priority program of our organization. This position will provide direction and oversight to the current program staff and focus on building the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR). INCR is a project of Ceres with more than 80 institutional investors with over $7 trillion in assets.
The Director of Investor Programs will lead and supervise the efforts of a seven-person team of varied experience including two individuals who work remotely from home offices in other states. The Director will serve as a member of Ceres’ senior management team. S/he will collaborate with all Ceres staff to build INCR and assure the effectiveness of all Investor Programs activities.
Specifically, the Director of Investor Programs will:
• Lead the efforts to strengthen and grow the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR)
• Develop the strategy of the Investor Programs to support the overall direction of Ceres including integration with corporate and industry programs
• Oversee the coordination of various INCR working groups
• Develop and oversee the recruitment plan to bring new institutional investors and asset managers into INCR
• Direct the integration of sustainability issues and education into the Investor Programs core work with institutional investors and asset managers
• Oversee the Investor Programs policy work with the Securities & Exchange Commission
• Direct the expansion of Ceres sustainability work within the asset manager community
• Provide strategic direction to Ceres work with asset owners (e.g. pension funds) on influencing corporations on sustainability issues
• Direct the planning of special events for INCR members, including investor summits
• Partner with Ceres Development team to raise funds for INCR projects and programs
• Serve as resource to Ceres staff about Investor and asset manager issues related to sustainability
• Serve as liaison and spokesperson for INCR nationally and internationally at conferences and other events, including communication with media outlets
• Serve as member of internal senior management team to direct overall work of Ceres, including attending weekly meeting
• Supervise Investor Programs staff, including conducting annual performance assessments, leading annual team and individual goals process, conducting quarterly check-in meetings and more frequent team management meetings as necessary

Qualifications
• Graduate degree, required. M.B.A. preferred.
• At minimum, 7 years experience in the investment field, preferred.
• C.F.A. credentials, preferred.
• Experience in or with the not-for-profit sector, preferred.
• Demonstrated track record in building relationships and growing a program.
• Experience and/or knowledge of environmental/ sustainability issues preferred.
• Experience with bridging the environmental/sustainability field and the business/investment field.
• Strong management experience required, with the ability and interest to work closely with staff members to set and achieve individual and team goals.
• Extensive program management expertise required.
• Broad understanding of institutional investors’ priorities and how to speak to the investment community to support and promote sustainability.
• Superior communication skills, both oral and written; ability to work effectively with people at all levels of the organization, and with external constituents; often seasoned professionals in the business world.
• Strong initiative and motivation, with the ability to excel in a demanding fast-paced environment.
• Appreciation for entrepreneurship and ability to think creatively to address concerns of the investment community.
• Ability to travel for meetings and speaking engagements.
• Proficiency with word processing, spreadsheet, database, email, Internet and presentation software applications, a plus.

We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying http://www.ceres.org .
In addition to a resume and three references, interested applicants should mail a letter to the search committee describing their qualifications, interests, and potential contribution.
Address all correspondence to:
Careers at Ceres
99 Chauncy Street, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02111
Fax: 617-267-5400
Email: careers@ceres.org
Ceres is an equal opportunity employer and seeks qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation.