Director, Accelerator, Financial Institution Engagement

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies, and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future.

For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site (www.ceres.org).

Here at Ceres, we value integrity, equity, belonging, compassion, and respect. We demonstrate those values through how we communicate and collaborate with our colleagues and external partners; and embody them in our decision making and advocacy efforts to create a more just and sustainable future.

About the Accelerator Team

The Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets is a center of excellence within Ceres that aims to transform the practices and policies that govern capital markets to reduce the worst financial impacts and embrace the opportunities of the climate crisis. It spurs action to address the systemic financial risk posed by climate change—driving the large-scale behavior, corporate governance and systems change needed to achieve a net-zero emissions economy through key financial actors, including federal and state regulators, investors, banks, and insurers. More on Accelerator at www.ceres.org/accelerator and Ceres’ banking work at www.ceres.org/banking.

About the Role

This position is designed for a highly motivated self-starter with prior industry experience in the US banking sector looking to be an advocate for strong and effective climate and clean energy policies, especially in the banking sector.

The Director will report to the Net Zero Finance Program Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. This is a full-time position that can be performed remotely or from the office in Boston, MA or San Francisco, CA. Candidates must be flexible to work with employees in all US time zones.

Specific duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Lead the Ceres Accelerator Financial Institution Engagement Program.
• Lead the strategic planning and implementation of financial institution engagement, including financial institution outreach, engagements, relationship-building, and related activities to promote sustainable finance and climate finance, focusing on the US banking sector.
• Develop thought leadership focusing on sustainable and climate finance for the US banking sector, including research, reports, RFI responses, op-eds, technical events, etc.
• Manage performance and professional development of direct reports.
• Partner with Ceres teams including Accelerator, Company Network, Investor Network, and Policy teams to lead outreach to support bank engagement strategy planning and implementation, with an emphasis on US super regional and regional banks.
• Work with Ceres team to drive external outreach to bank, and possibly housing finance, leadership to address climate change as a financial risk.
• Coordinate outreach with investors, regulators, and other influencers of the non-Company Network members of the banking industry.
• Drive strategies to impact banking and other financial institutions, industry, regulators, industry associations, and other influencers using earned media, advocacy days, national & regional meetings, direct engagement with policymakers, and other strategies.
• Support Accelerator’s financial regulatory work with state and some federal banking regulators.
• Develop, maintain, and expand relationships with external partners and key allies, such as non-profits, trade associations, think tanks, communications firms, and lobbyists working in, and associated with, financial institutions.
• Lead the development of events, activities, and outreach for the bank engagement effort. Work with Ceres team to drive an external campaign to get bank, financial institutions including credit union leadership to address climate change as a financial risk.
• Prepare materials and support Ceres staff and Investor, Policy, and Company Network members to engage with the press, regulators, legislative staffers, and lawmakers on banking issues.
• Recruit bankers and business leaders, in coordination with the Investor Network, Company Network, and policy teams, to engage in advocacy on financial institutions.
• Help craft fundraising proposals to support the project and program work.
• As needed, participate in meetings with current and potential funders.
• Support and organize activities related to Ceres’ virtual and in-person events.
• As organizational needs arise, and upon successful internal readiness evaluation by the communications and marketing team and relevant program leaders, this person may be called upon to serve as a public spokesperson for external speaking and media engagements and/or as a lead or contributing author for thought leadership. Duties could include managing editorial projects from start to finish, leading and/or supporting message and content development for reports, briefs, and op-eds and media materials, as well as managing consultants and partners.
• Handle other duties for Ceres and Ceres Accelerator as requested.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or commensurate experience required.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of related full-time experience required.
• Experience in or with the US financial sector required; direct experience in banks or depository financial institutions highly preferred.
• Direct experience working on sustainable finance or climate finance preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to bring a nuanced advocacy perspective to both analysis and corporate engagement and to make clear recommendations for actions and next steps.
• Strong presentation, verbal communication, and written communication skills.
• Strong experience with outreach, relationship management, and partnership development.
• Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative, and motivation.
• Prior experience managing individuals and contractors is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Planning expertise and delivering projects on deadlines and within time and resource budgets.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to take a collaborative approach.
• Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity.
• Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications.