Director, Sustainability

Company

GreenBiz Group is a fast-growing media and events company that accelerates a just transition to a clean economy. Through events that galvanize, stories that amplify and peer networks that bond, we define markets and advance opportunities at the intersection of business, technology and sustainability. We are a passionate team of people that builds and empowers communities to confront the threats of climate change and solve the thorniest challenges of our time.

Position

We’re looking for a Director, Sustainability to become a primary curator of and contributor to GreenBiz’s events serving the corporate sustainability market, and to support strategic growth with the audience. 

This position requires project management experience and broad subject matter expertise in corporate sustainability, across a wide range of topics — finance and ESG; circular economy; sustainable supply chains; climate tech; social justice — with expertise in net zero emissions preferred. We are seeking a strategic thinker who has the ability to connect the dots and anticipate where the field is going, as well as the ambition to “look around corners” to identify opportunities and risks in the growing, intersectional field of sustainable business.

• Your responsibilities will include content development for GreenBiz, the premier annual event for sustainability professionals; and GreenBiz Group’s online event focused on approaches for accelerating an organization’s net-zero transition. 
• This role will report directly to the SVP, Sustainability, and will work collaboratively with members of the GreenBiz leadership, content, marketing, creative, operations and sales teams, as well as extensively with external member companies, partners and experts.

Overall compensation (base salary + discretionary bonus) for this role will be provided commensurate with years of experience and qualifications within the following range: $120,000 - $170,000 plus health and wellness benefits.

This is a fully remote position available anywhere in the US with the option of coming into our Oakland, CA office as well as team events approximately 4 times a year.

Responsibilities

• Lead curation of the annual virtual Net Zero event, in close collaboration with additional content experts, including:
  • Evolving event value proposition, format, direction and content, in collaboration with Content and Product teams
  • Supporting strategic growth of the Net Zero event and community it serves through engagement with interested audiences and monitoring of trends
  • Driving content for the event from start to finish, from developing strategic direction to executing details at all stages of planning
    • Reviewing and evaluating speaker proposals 
    • Identifying and spearheading coordination with content partners, moderators and speakers to develop conference sessions
    • Drafting titles and descriptions for conference sessions
    • Identifying ideas, technologies and individuals to feature in the event’s keynote program, and working with the events and creative teams to produce keynote sessions
    • Working closely with the Event and Marketing teams to provide the information and resources they need in a timely manner
    • Liaising with sponsors and sponsor representatives to execute on relevant sponsor benefits.
    • Partner with the Operations team on logistics for the event, as needed.
• Collaborate on curation of the annual GreenBiz event program, including:
  • With the team, proactively developing of a strategic vision for the overall event 
  • Partnering with the Event, Operations and and Marketing teams to coordinate information and resources 
  • Maintaining ongoing and establishing new partnerships and relationships 
  • Establishing and evolving the GreenBiz breakout program format, direction and content to meet the needs and interests of the audience
  • Project managing and executing to develop the conference breakout program
    • With the SVP Sustainability, developing program trajectory, topics, session formats, direction and content
    • Sourcing internal and external speakers, including the review and evaluation of speaker proposals 
    • Identifying and spearheading coordination with content partners, moderators and speakers to develop conference sessions
    • Drafting and reviewing titles and descriptions for conference sessions to align with GreenBiz style 
    • Working closely with the Event and Marketing teams to provide the information and resources they need in a timely manner
    • Liaising with sponsors and sponsor representatives to execute on relevant sponsor benefits
    • Attending GreenBiz as a moderator, in-person resource and community leader
• Contribute to GreenBiz expansion in the corporate sustainability market segment 
• Support definition and roadmapping of the market in close collaboration with Corporate Sustainability team and GreenBiz leadership
• Support the pursuit of new business opportunities relevant to the market 
• Contribute to GreenBiz editorial and events, including:
  • Development of regular editorial thought leadership relevant to the target market
  • Support in developing event content for other GreenBiz events.
• Support the broader GreenBiz team’s success. 
  • Contribute to programming at other events, including in person events (Circularity, GreenFin, VERGE) and our online events on circular economy, electrification and other topics. 
  • Host webcasts and sponsor interviews where feasible and relevant.

Requirements

We are looking for someone with deep expertise, understanding and connections in corporate sustainability. This position is ideal for someone who is mid-level in their career (with 8-10 years of relevant experience), and interested in taking a leadership position to own and grow key facets of GreenBiz events and products with little oversight. We are looking for someone who is:

• Curious and Passionate: You care deeply about and are driven by addressing climate change. You approach people, organizations and events as an opportunity to learn and expand your perspective. You aren’t afraid to ask follow up questions when you don’t understand, and you bring humility and care to your connections. 
• Subject Matter Expert: You understand corporate sustainability and net zero emissions, including the major players, the important organizations, the gaps and the levers of change. You are also ready to learn and grow your knowledge. 
• Smart and Strategic: You know how to navigate the world and make new connections. You recognize opportunities to grow programs that have influence in transforming the sector. You like to think ahead to where the corporate sustainability field is going.
• Strong Communicator: You can speak and write clearly, thoughtfully, and effectively. This role is both external and internal-facing, so you feel comfortable speaking with everyone from your teammates at GreenBiz to corporate executives at our events. You believe deeply in the importance of transparent and honest communication. You always follow up and follow through on your word.
• Diligent and Detail-Oriented: You feel comfortable managing many moving pieces simultaneously, from confirming a speaker to emailing with an external partner to collaborating internally within a fifteen-minute period. Your organization and systems are exceptional and raise the bar for those around you. You believe magic is in the details. 
• An Independent Problem-Solver: You can figure things out. You are comfortable working amidst ambiguity and bring a strategic lens to projects and processes. You are excited to learn things you don’t know and do whatever it takes to get the job done. You also know how to ask for help when you need it. 
• Solutions-Oriented Skeptic: You are a critical-thinker and don’t take things at face-value. You ask hard questions to push us all forward, not to put anyone down. You believe solutions exist, and like to suss out what will make the most impact and how you can elevate important work. 
• A Dot-Connecter: You like to network, meet new people and draw connections between everything and everyone. You are excited to drive collaboration between teams at GreenBiz, partners, or among speakers. Intellectually, you can draw connections between trends and proof points from across industries.
• Technologically Adept: You feel comfortable using Google Apps (Sheets, Docs, Slides), Microsoft Office, Airtable, ClickUp, Salesforce, Drupal, and Marketo — or are willing to learn new platforms and systems that you don’t already know. 

• A Good Teammate: You show up with empathy, humility, and curiosity. You are not the type of person who says, “That’s not my job" — your motto is “How can I help?” Your intent with all your work is to create a positive impact — for our audience, your team members, and society as a whole.

About GreenBiz Group

GreenBiz offers a remote culture that is collaborative, hardworking and fun. Our team is spread across the USA; however, we also have a small office located in the heart of downtown Oakland, California. Please include a cover letter and resume when applying and familiarize yourself with our website at www.greenbiz.com.

We offer a competitive employee benefits package including:

• Full medical and dental benefits
• Retirement savings options
• Generous holiday schedule
• Discretionary paid vacation time
• Paid sick time
• Two paid volunteer days per year
• Reimbursement for home office expenses
• Employee stock option plan

Vaccination Requirement

GreenBiz Group requires new hires to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for all roles. GreenBiz Group provides reasonable accommodations consistent with legal requirements unless it results in undue hardship for the business. Additional information will be provided during the hiring process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

GreenBiz Group values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. GreenBiz Group is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws