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CI recognizes that to change the global development path we must engage and influence all sectors of society. This approach is based on our recognition that global economic development has the potential to erode the healthy ecosystems and ecosystem services upon which sustainable development ultimately depends. This shift in CI’s focus provides CI the opportunity to influence the development paradigm at the scale needed to make significant and lasting change. The incumbent will be instrumental in leading this shift, growing our capacity, applying our strategy and increasing the impact and results of CI’s work in support of human well being globally.
Conservation International's Center for Environmental Leadership in Business (CELB) has been a catalyst for innovation. The focus on human well being calls for an expansion of the Center's influence by working with corporate and environmental leaders in the development of sustainable business models and global commitments to healthy ecosystems.
The Senior Vice President is a key leadership position within Conservation International. S/he reports to the EVP for EFM and leads a division of CI with 35-40 staff members, and an annual operating budget of $6-7 million. The Senior Vice President is responsible for developing the organization's vision for corporate engagement and for working with other senior leaders to integrate that vision into CI's programs especially as it relates to field programs, policy, fundraising and marketing, and communications. The Senior Vice President is CI's principal external spokesperson on matters related to corporate engagement, and is responsible for defining and meeting CI's corporate (non-foundation) fundraising goals. In addition, in conjunction with CI's Marketing and Communications team, the SVP will develop and lead CI's marketing strategy with corporations, including cause-related marketing and corporate-focused brand positioning with key consumer-facing companies that will generate a significant new revenue stream for CELB.
The SVP will guide CELB in the development of strategic goals to achieve sustainability across major global industries such as agriculture, forestry, energy, fisheries, mining, retail/consumer goods, tourism, entertainment and financial services, and will lead CELB in the identification of key corporations that CI would like to engage as environmental leaders capable of raising the standard of performance throughout entire economic sectors. S/he will develop, manage and leverage these relationships to reduce the ecological impact of business operations, drive widespread adoption of sustainable practices, dedicate financial resources to on-the-ground conservation initiatives, and influence consumers, shareholders and employees. S/he will also build the capacity of CI's field programs to engage and manage corporate relationships at the local/country level in order to enhance the field's ability to harness private sector ingenuity and resources on behalf of healthy, sustainable economies.
The position directly supervises CELB's Vice President for Business Practices as well as several of CELB's senior directors. The Senior Vice President serves as the staff liaison to CI's Board of Directors on corporate engagement issues, and manages the CELB Executive Council and Advisory Committee. The Executive Council comprises some of the most influential and effective corporate leaders, including the heads of several Fortune 500 corporations. It is an essential component of our corporate strategy and must be effectively led in order to have the impact possible. The position also represents CELB on the CI Leadership Group and other senior-level committees responsible for decisions affecting the institution.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
STRATEGY
- Consistent with CI's overall mission, develop and lead others in the refinement and implementation of CI's corporate engagement strategy designed to influence business practices and create and amplify solutions to critical global environmental problems in which industry plays a defining role.
- Within the overall strategy, lead identification of approaches to maximize the scale of industry-wide impacts through engagement with influential corporations demonstrating environmental leadership in key economic sectors.
- Work with other senior leaders to align efforts, and ensure an integrated approach to CI's business engagements worldwide.
STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION
- Identify key global corporations/”accounts” that CI would like to influence and/or have as partners. Provide leadership in establishment of high-level relationships with key corporate partners, and guide the management of these accounts in support of CI’s mission.
- Develop a global presence to influence corporate practices and relationship with nature, beginning with corporate engagement offices/programs currently in Asia and Europe.
- Lead the creation of tools and resources to help corporations deal with their interactions with nature in win/win ways.
- Support the work of field programs in identifying and managing corporate relationships at the local/country level.
FUNDRAISING & COMMUNICATION
- Secure financial contributions at the multi-million-dollar level from corporate partners to ensure the funds needed to carry out CI's mission.
- Assist field programs with their corporate fundraising efforts.
- Serve as CI's principal spokesperson on matters related to corporate engagement.
- Serve as staff liaison for CI Board on matters related to corporate engagement, and manage CELB Executive Council.
PEOPLE & PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
- Be responsible for the maintenance of CELB's brand identity and integrity.
- Oversee CELB staff, budgets, programs & projects.
- Supervise and support CELB VP and other direct reports, as well as other CELB Senior Directors/Directors on program design and implementation.
- Represent CELB on CI Leadership Group and other senior-level committees responsible for decisions affecting the institution.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
- Home base is CI's Arlington, VA, headquarters
- Frequent travel (>25%) to headquarters of corporate and NGO partners, and to field project locations
- Availability to deal with pressing business, emergencies, and unanticipated crises or opportunities that may arise related to CI institutional needs or management of CELB.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Required:
- 10+ years executive-level experience in business partnership development and implementation
- Experience and excellence in leadership and management of multi-dimensional organizations
- Ability to create innovative strategies, partnerships and programs without existing models
- Internationally-recognized stature in the field of business practices and policies related to sustainable development and the environment
- Demonstrated fundraising experience at the 7-8 figure level
- In-depth knowledge of public policy and private sector positions on the environment and sustainable development at the international, national, state and local levels
- Capability to interact effectively with senior executives at other non-governmental organizations
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including ability to articulate CI/CELB vision and act as public-facing spokesperson with media and other key constituents
- Demonstrated ability in staff supervision and coaching, and building successful teams
- Extensive professional experience in public speaking and writing for publication
- English language fluency
Preferred:
- Advanced degree a plus
- Foreign language skills
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