Job Purpose and Background
CDSB, a consortium of nine leading environmental and business NGOs, was formed in 2007 at the Davos World Economic Forum in the absence of international accounting standards for climate change. Over the past 12 years, CDSB has cemented its position as a thought leader, aggregator and convenor in sphere of climate and natural capital-related financial disclosures.
CDSB aims to create the enabling conditions for material climate change and environmental information to be integrated into mainstream reporting. Committed to advancing and aligning the global mainstream corporate reporting model to equate natural capital with financial capital, CDSB offers companies a market-tested framework for reporting environmental and climate information. Our framework helps companies provide investors with decision-useful environmental and climate information through the mainstream corporate report, thereby enhancing the allocation of capital to foster climate-resilient capital markets and support the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy.
The ambitious and dynamic CDSB Secretariat team is based jointly in London and Berlin, hosted by CDP. We seek an Environmental Specialist (at the Technical Manager level) to play an integral role in the delivery of CDSB’s technical evidence programme. You will develop substantive high-quality and technically robust policy advocacy and practical capacity-building materials on climate change, forests, land-use change, biodiversity and water. These will be produced in the context of key reporting requirements, including the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive’s (NFRD) and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
About the role
Working closely with and reporting to CDSB’s Technical Director, collaborating with the wider CDSB team and its external Technical Working Group of leading experts on climate and environmental-related financial reporting, the successful candidate will undertake research and analysis, and produce reports.
The Environmental Specialist role is focused on developing technical resources aimed at companies and regulators/policymakers – both of which are needed to drive momentum in corporate reporting of environmental information to influence investor decision-making. Drawing on your solid environmental expertise and understanding of the financial impacts of environmental matters and climate change, you will undertake detailed research and analysis of corporate disclosure practices and policies, as well as regulation, principally across Europe, and globally as appropriate. You will package and present your findings in clear and concise written form as case studies, evaluations, handbooks, technical briefing notes, country-specific and thematic briefings, and consultation responses. You will also lead peer reviews of outputs as required.
The practical resources produced will support European companies (both financial and non-financial) in meeting their environmental and climate-related reporting requirements, and in contributing to businesses’ role in achieving the Paris Agreement outcomes. This will include developing specific technical guidance on climate impacts in the context of water management, land-use change and forestry, and biodiversity, considering associated financial risks and their management. Other research and analysis will relate to corporate governance on climate-related impacts and risks, the outputs of which will be tailored to the board level. You will also contribute substantive content to online and in-person training and webinars (e.g. e-learning on the TCFD Knowledge Hub), drawing on the technical materials produced and your substantive knowledge.
At the same time, you will aid in assembling a robust evidence base for policymakers to strengthen the effectiveness of climate and environmental aspects of EU policies and law on non-financial information. This will include your work as part of a team assembling evidence on European companies’ performance against the EU NFRD to identify opportunities for strengthening the Directive and its associated guidance for non-financial reporting. You will also identify opportunities for better alignment between policies and practice. Your work will also explore the wider implications of climate change and environmental matters in relation to the financial system.
The role requires collaboration with leading national and international policymakers, international businesses, intergovernmental organisations, institutional investors, regulators and stock exchanges, the accountancy industry, professional associations, corporates, and academia. It affords opportunities to engage in a range of national and international initiatives and consider legal and regulatory developments, stock exchange guidance, and efforts to achieve mandatory reporting of climate and natural capital in different jurisdictions.
The successful candidate will have:
- a relevant professional qualification related to environment and natural resources management (e.g. MSc, PhD, LLM, MBA in natural resources management, environmental economics, environmental law or environmental policy) or a professional accountancy/legal qualification and at least four years of relevant experience to the role;
- Demonstrated knowledge in a professional capacity of the links between climate/environmental and financial risks and related information;
- Understanding of the regulatory/policy context for environment and climate-related reporting;
- Practical experience of environmental matters, including in one or more of the following: water, land-use change, biodiversity and ecosystem services, and forestry;
- Excellent analytical and research skills and the ability to broker practical solutions to complex cross-cutting technical challenges;
- Proven track record of writing high-quality papers/reports on climate and/or environmental issues;
- Strong communications skills in English, including a proven ability to write quickly, succinctly and concisely and to distil complex and lengthy technical information into simple key messages;
- Organised approach to plan and deliver on time against a varied workload, with competing priorities using your initiative;
- Understanding of and commitment to the missions of CDSB and CDP; and
- An enthusiastic and supportive team player, who can work effectively in collaboration with others;
Desired:
- Work with companies and/or regulators/policymakers on the inclusion of environmental information in mainstream financial reports;
- Experience with monitoring and evaluation and climate/environmental-related metrics;
- Knowledge of the impacts and interdependencies of biodiversity, climate change and business;
- Understanding of environment and climate change from a corporate risk/governance perspective;
- Knowledge of current discussions on natural resource accounting and natural capital;
- Experience developing capacity-building resources/publications for a professional audience; or
- A working understanding of the TCFD, the NFRD and CDSB Framework.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Start date: As soon as possible
The post-holder must be willing to travel internationally if required and to represent CDSB outside of business hours. The contract of employment will be with CDP which hosts the CDSB Secretariat as well as being one of CDSB’s Board members. Applicants must possess the right to work in the EU. CDP cannot assist with work permits or other immigration requirements.
Salary and Benefits:
Competitive NGO salary, flexible working, annual discretionary bonus, 30 days’ holiday, generous non-contributory pension provision, life assurance and other benefits.
Before you apply
We’ll only use the information you provide to process your application. For more details on how we use your information, see our applicants privacy notice. By emailing us your CV and covering letter, you are permitting CDSB & CDP to use the information you have provided for recruitment purposes.
Interested?
Please email your CV, a recent example of your technical writing, and a 1-2 page cover letter setting out how you meet the required skills and experience for the role to: recruitment.cdpeuropeg@cdp.net with ‘CDSB Environmental Specialist – First name Last name’ in the subject.
ClimateEnvironmentSustainability CDP Worldwide (Europe) gGmbH Seeks Environmental Specialist (Technical Manager), CDSB Are you interested in Climate? CDP Worldwide (Europe) gGmbH is hiring a Environmental Specialist (Technical Manager), CDSB! Apply now. English CDP Worldwide (Europe) gGmbH https://www.cdp.net/en/info/careers/environmental-specialist-technical-manager-cdsb Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
