Manager, Corporate Climate Standards Development and Engagement

Description:

About the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Our mission is to secure a safe and stable climate by accelerating the transition to a thriving, just, and resilient low-carbon economy. We are widely recognized as an influential voice on climate issues, a trusted convener, and a credible source of expertise and analysis. We work closely with international climate negotiators; federal, state, and local policymakers; executives of Fortune 500 businesses; and a wide range of other stakeholders to advance strong policy and action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote clean energy, and strengthen resilience to climate impacts. C2ES is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.

Our organizational values: We are ambitious and practical, advancing effective solutions that push the boundaries of the achievable. We are open-minded and inclusive, seeking out and considering a wide range of voices, views, and approaches. We are people-focused, dedicated to improving human well-being and recognizing that respect and empathy are central to success. We are one team, working collaboratively, communicating openly, making ourselves accessible to each other, and treating one another with kindness and respect.

Background: C2ES works to build avenues for companies to accelerate their decarbonization efforts and meet ambitious climate goals. To this end, C2ES has been actively engaged in developing standards and methodologies needed to reflect new solutions and approaches that can better enable and reflect businesses' investments in low-carbon value chains, including through market-based approaches such as book and claim approaches and high-integrity carbon markets. Currently, C2ES serves alongside the Gold Standard and the Center for Green Markets Acceleration on the Executive Steering Committee of the Advanced and Indirect Mitigation (AIM) Platform, a methodology designed to capture GHG emissions reductions in companies' value chains. Separately, C2ES is the Secretariat for the Energy Transition Accelerator, an initiative of the U.S. State Department, the Bezos Earth Fund, and The Rockefeller Foundation to accelerate the just clean energy transition in emerging economies and developing countries.

Position Summary: The Manager, Corporate Climate Standards and Engagement, will engage leading businesses that have made strong commitments to climate action, working on two complementary and related workstreams. First, this role will manage outreach to C2ES's Business Environmental Leadership Council, other companies, and key stakeholder groups to increase awareness, pilot testing, and adoption of the AIM Platform's criteria, as well as assist in compiling technical input to the development of related and/or adjacent standards. Second, this role will manage corporate engagement for the ETA. The Manager will report to Verena Radulovic, C2ES VP for Business Engagement, with a dotted-line relationship to Chris Davis, ETA Company Lead.

In the first year of this position, it is expected that the division of labor will be 40% supporting the AIM Platform and 60% supporting the ETA, though priorities could shift. Both the VP for Business Engagement and the ETA Company Lead work closely to clarify priorities and support balancing and managing across the two spheres of work, and adjust when necessary to meet time sensitive requirements for either program.

Requirements:

Responsibilities and Duties:

Manage outreach to C2ES's Business Environmental Leadership Council, other companies, and key stakeholder groups to increase awareness and use of the AIM Platform's criteria, including by:

• Engaging companies to road test draft AIM criteria and guidance, collect and manage feedback, and liaise with AIM Platform team to share insights to strengthen and finalize criteria;
• Supporting the recruitment of new interested companies through research, meetings, and direct outreach to companies who may benefit from AIM adoption;
• Preparing for and conducting bilateral meetings with companies as needed in order to maintain their active interest, solicit input on key issues, or for other purposes in line with engagement strategy
• Engaging key stakeholder groups such as NGOs, investors, and industry groups to increase awareness and understanding of AIM criteria and appropriate use, coordinating with AIM Executive Steering Committee;
• Monitor developments to the GHG Protocol, SBTI, ISO, and other standards and methodologies on application of market mechanisms for Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions and, working with the Vice President, Business Engagement, and Director, Corporate Net Zero Transition, to help prepare technical input and public comments;
• Developing presentations, talking points for senior leadership, webpages and other online materials on corporate carbon transition plans, corporate climate goals, and climate-related financial disclosure;
• Supporting C2ES events, including workshops and meetings involving the Business Environmental Leadership Council, NGOs, government agencies, media groups, and/or academic institutions.

Manage engagement with ETA companies, including by:

• Producing a regular ETA company call (currently a monthly cadence), including setting agenda, identifying and coordinating speakers, developing talking points, drafting email communications, and producing meeting materials;
• Preparing for and conducting bilateral meetings with companies as needed in order to maintain their active interest, solicit input on key issues, or for other purposes in line with engagement strategy;
• Support the recruitment of new interested companies through research, meetings, and onboarding into informal ETA company group;
• Engaging companies on substantive topics including the development of use cases for ETA credits, the selection of crediting methodologies, the creation of a governance framework for the ETA Coalition, and the determination of appropriate credit price and volume structures;
• Producing desk research to inform company engagement strategy and interactions, as well as other research and data analysis as needed on topics like credit pricing and transaction structures;

For both the AIM Platform and ETA:

Serve as an active member of the AIM and ETA Secretariat teams to ensure company engagement efforts are aligned with overall AIM and ETA objectives and activities, including by:

• Executing core project management functions for the company engagement workstream, including preparing and maintaining workplans and timelines, managing tasks and following up with those responsible, and tracking deliverables and progress against milestones including through monthly reporting;
• Participating in and contributing to regular weekly meetings of the project management team, as well as ad hoc meetings with individual members, including internal communications to share updates on workstreams and projects;
• Effectively collaborating with the rest of the AIM and ETA Secretariat teams to ensure progress toward shared objectives;
• Contributing to AIM and ETA presentations, events, and conferences by creating content and designing materials, helping to organize logistics and run-of-shows, external communication with participants, and other tasks as needed;
• Contributing to grant reports and other internal efforts to evaluate progress and impact.

Work with the VP for Business Engagement to identify prospective BELC members from AIM and ETA participation that align with, and would derive value from, broader C2ES programming.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) expectations

• All staff are expected to participate in monthly DEI All staff meetings. During these meetings staff are able to interact and learn about different topics provided by the JEDI council.
• Demonstrate commitment to valuing diversity and contributing to an inclusive working and learning environment.
• Complete company trainings assigned during on boarding and on a yearly basis.

Some travel required, up to 15 percent.

Qualifications and skills:

• Excellent outreach and stakeholder engagement skills, including skills in problem-solving with diplomacy and grace
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate small group collaboration, driving complex deliberations, clarifying and documenting decisions and sustaining momentum among individuals working across timezones.
• Experience working directly with companies to develop and implement their climate initiatives (e.g., calculating their greenhouse gas emissions or developing and implementing sustainability goals and strategies).
• Familiarity with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and how companies develop their climate targets
• Good understanding of market-based approaches to reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions and challenges companies face when measuring and reducing their scope 3 emissions.
• Strong project management skills with demonstrated ability to prioritize among and efficiently manage multiple assignments, work independently, and meet critical deadlines.
• Good networks and connections across companies and NGOs in the corporate climate and sustainability field.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong presentation skills including outstanding ability to distill complex information into professional presentation decks, documents and other communication materials
• Team player - flexibility, ability to work collaboratively, and a willingness to pitch in at all levels.
• BA & 4-7 years of relevant experience; Master's/JD + 2-4 years; or equivalent experience. Degrees in sustainability management, business, public policy, or related fields preferred.

** To apply, please upload two things: a cover letter and resume to our website.

Employment Status: Full-time; benefits-eligible; exempt from overtime.

Starting Salary Range: $79,000-$98,000, with salary in the range depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits Offered:

• Health Insurance. C2ES covers 80% of the health insurance premiums.
• Dental Insurance. C2ES covers 100% of the total cost of the dental plan.
• Vision Insurance: Employee covers the total cost of this plan.
• Long- and Short-Term Disability.
• FSA.
• Group Life insurance and Voluntary Life insurance.
• Leave Time: New employees start with 3 weeks' vacation per year.
• Sick time: up to 10 days per year.
• Personal Leave: Up to two personal leave days.
• FMLA Leave: Case by case is evaluated by the Supervisor and HR.
• Parental Leave
• Holidays: C2ES observes several holidays during the year. Additionally, the organization closes the last week of year.
• 5% C2ES contribution towards 403b retirement Plan.
• Hybrid and flexible environment.

Reporting to: Vice President, Business Engagement with dotted-line reporting on ETA responsibilities to ETA Company Lead.

Travel, Time & Location Requirements: Location may be in the Washington, DC area or remote; if remote, physical presence in the main office is expected at least 5 weeks per year. Moderate travel expected for workshops and conferences. Candidates must have the right to work in the United States.

We are fully committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. We believe we will only be effective in developing and advocating for climate solutions if we have a diverse range of voices and perspectives represented within C2ES, in our work, and among our partners. C2ES is committed to creating and growing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization and among the stakeholders we collaborate with and convene. By fostering this culture, we can enhance our work and amplify our impact. We encourage individuals of all races, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, sexual identities, and abilities to apply for this position. For more on C2ES's DEIJ policy, visit: https://www.c2es.org/about/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-justice/

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