Managing Director Food, Land & Water Program

Company: The World Business Council for Sustainable Develop
Location: New York
Posted on: January 15, 2021

Job Description:

Managing Director - Food, Land & Water Program The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. We help make our member companies more successful and sustainable by focusing on the maximum positive impact for shareholders, the environment and societies. Our member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing combined revenues of more than $8.5 trillion and 19 million employees. Our global network of almost 70 national business councils gives our members unparalleled reach across the globe. WBCSD is uniquely positioned to work with member companies along and across value chains to deliver impactful business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues. Together, we are the leading voice of business for sustainability: with a vision of a world where more than 9 billion people are all living well and within the boundaries of our planet, by 2050. The Food, Land & Water (FL&W) Program brings together several projects that WBCSD is engaging its member companies on to identify business solutions for the transformation of the Food and Land system globally. Under FL&W we have several projects and partnerships that, together cover the full value-chain of the global food system. Most notable:

• FReSH: is currently working with over 40-member companies to develop business solutions around dietary switches, reduction of food loss and waste, ending hunger and true cost of food. EAT is a key partner providing multi-stakeholder access and science-based targets.
• SCF: (Soft Commodity Forum is bringing together now 6 of the leading commodity trading and processing companies to work on major sustainability challenges in the food supply chain.
• CSA is bringing together some 20 companies to work on climate and water smart agriculture solutions and testing those in various regions around the world.
• GAA is the Global Agribusiness Alliance and currently brings together around 20 companies working on the production/agriculture side of the value chain looking at sustainable landscapes, small holder challenges, water and food loss solutions.
• Beyond our own projects, WBCSD is actively engaged in the FOLU (Food and Land-Use Coalition) as well as one of the incubators of the Global Food Systems Dialogues (with WEF and EAT). Currently we are working with member companies to create an overall narrative for the Food System Transformation that will map the challenges, targets and solutions required to transform the system and define the role and contribution that business can play. This narrative will be the basis for optimizing the work-plan and structure for WBCSD's Food, Land and Water Program. We are looking for a Managing Director Food, Land & Water Program. This is a full-time, permanent position based at the WBCSD offices in Geneva, Switzerland, reporting to the WBCSD President and CEO. The Managing Director Food, Land & Water will be a member of the WBCSD SMT. The successful candidate will lead the overall Food, Land & Water Program, direct the (strategy and implementation on) program and project content, working closely with member companies and partner organizations, represent the voice of business on relevant international fora and work within the governance structure of the group, to develop, coordinate and advance the project through various work-streams, to grow the membership base and ensure we reach an ambitious level of impact. Role & Responsibilities Managing the Program
  • Develop the FL&W strategy, seek support, engagement and approval by the Program Board, and implement the work plan and key objectives for the next 5 years.
  • Align the current project structure (FReSH, CSA, GAA, SCF, FSG and Water) into a coherent and focused Program structure that aligns the members interests, with key - science-based - targets and maximises the effectiveness of available management talent.
  • Build a strong team with a mix of experts, young vibrant talents and company secondments.
  • Instil a member-value-led and science-based culture in the team and projects within the FL&W program
  • Manage the program budget and fee generation effectively. Ensure costs are well-controlled.
  • Assist various projects and work-streams to ensure impact and timely delivery of results.
  • Ensure robust and transparent governance in the running of the Program.
  • Hold the project to the highest standards of intellectual and factual integrity and credibility.
  • Own and further develop relationships with key Funders, Partners, NGOs and International Agencies in the areas of FL&W, Social responsibility and Ethical Performance.
  • Develop relationships with the key FL&W related other initiatives.
  • Coordinate with the four other strategic programs of the WBCSD to identify and benefit from synergies with other projects. Building the network
    • The Managing Director of WBCSD FLW Program will be the face and external representative of this critically important Program for WBCSD. The ambition should be to establish WBCSD as the "center of gravity" for business solutions in the transformation that the global Food and Land-use system will be go through in the next decade.
    • The MD FL&W will:
    • Actively lead the acquisition of new members for WBCSD in the FL&W Program by attracting and recruiting new members from select geographies or sectors, as agreed with member companies, to create an optimally diverse mix of companies across the value chains in the Food and Land-use Systems.
    • Work with company CEOs, including program board co-chairs, other senior executives and technical experts, to deliver planned results and maximise company commitment and engagement.
    • Establish and collaborate with partnerships involving e.g. academic or other institutions and non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations.
    • Recruit and manage consultants or service providers, be it academic or other.
    • Identify key NGO and government contacts and approaches (regional, national or international level) to drive advocacy effectiveness. Compelling communications
      • Develop and implement a world-class communications strategy for the project, working closely with member companies and their communications teams, while maximising the WBCSD track record and communications infrastructure to:
        • Develop and position compelling messages throughout the project.
        • Identify and influence key audiences.
        • Contribute in building trust between business and the various FL&W system stakeholders.
        • Select the key conferences/events to present the FL&W program and projects
        • Convincingly represent the WBCSD and the project to relevant global audiences, with conviction and polish, including media activities, stakeholder and other key events. The Dream Profile The ideal candidate will have significant senior executive level industrial experience, coupled with successful track record of NGO and government interaction and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the Food, Land & Water system. The candidate will also:
          • Be a leader that can contribute to the successful management of WBCSD in their capacity as member of the SMT.
          • Be a confident leader representing WBCSD externally to the most senior of audiences.
          • Demonstrate superb project management / organizational skills to structure a multi-year program with accountability for meeting budget and schedule commitments while pragmatically delivering real results.
          • Have a strong capacity for systems thinking and eliciting innovative, holistic solutions, including sensitivity to the implications and possibilities of new technologies.
          • Be culturally and emotionally at ease working with a wide spectrum of people and nationalities from CEO level to technical experts, governments and other stakeholders.
          • Bring and convey inspiration, passion and drive to attract and motivate additional companies, organizations and individuals to the project to meet common but demanding goals.
          • Show diplomacy and sensitivity to different opinions and approaches, managing a range of views and interests with first class negotiating and facilitation skills (including humour, kindness and courtesy).
          • Be fluent and highly articulate in English (written and spoken), with other language skills warmly welcome.
          • Possess manifest personal and intellectual credibility and integrity. The position is full-time and based in Geneva, Switzerland, but will also require international travel. The WBCSD is a purpose driven, forward-thinking, and action-oriented organization, characterised by diversity of gender, nationalities, and work experiences. The Work Environment: WBCSD offers a competitive, modern, and flexible working arrangement:
            • Geneva-based organization with offices in New Delhi, London and New York City
            • Competitive compensation and benefits
            • State of the art facilities and ICT enabled working tools
            • Flex-time and part-time possibilities
            • Dynamic working atmosphere
            • Open culture encouraging interaction and sharing of ideas and opinions
            • International relocation support
            • Sustainable commuting incentives
            • Annual community service Please also note that the WBCSD will only respond to candidates selected for the interview process

Keywords: The World Business Council for Sustainable Develop, New York , Managing Director Food, Land & Water Program, Executive , New York, New York