​Job Description

My client, a well-known battery storage developer, owner and operator (IPP) are looking to appoint their first ESG Director. The firm have an enviable track record in the US energy storage space and have significant PE capital backing.

The ESG Director will be part of the Legal, Compliance, and Policy team and will report to the Vice President of Government and Regulatory Affairs.

The ESG Director will concentrate on the following areas:

1. Address compliance gaps and identify opportunities to add value proactively, beyond compliance and risk mitigation, and contribute to long-term developmental impact and sustainability.

2. Work closely with VP of Human Resources to ensure DE&I efforts are advancing, and that we are continuing to foster and maintain a human environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion.

3. Lead the preparation of external annual ESG reports and responses to ESG information requests from external stakeholders such as rating agencies, investors and rankings, among others.

4. Oversee the annual ESG data collection process, ensuring that data is timely and accurate. Continuously improve the ESG reporting internal control environment to ensure consistent, accurate and timely ESG information as well as auditable and efficient reporting processes.

5. Identify, advise on, influence and implement new ESG reporting and disclosure practices, based on a deep understanding of requirements from regulators, investors/lenders and sustainability actors.

6. Monitor the ESG performance of the company and identify all critical potential social and environmental impacts and risks of transactions to ensure that their significance is well understood by the management team.

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Key Responsibilities

• Provide support to enhance community efforts in environmental education, including leading the development of community engagement plans.

• Establish a committee of ambassadors from across the company to ensure ESG is “top of mind” for all departments and is a core consideration during decision-making processes, ensuring we select and partner with contractors and suppliers committed to improving social, environmental, health, safety, and human rights performance.

• Track the company’s progress for each ESG initiative and report such to senior leadership on a regular basis.

• Manage external ESG reporting and disclosure activities and ensures means to increase information relevance and quality with the aim of positively impacting the company value, investor standings, brand and employer value proposition of the Company.

• Lead the annual ESG Report preparation including information and data gathering, content development and external assurance. Ensures alignment with ESG disclosure requirements and best practices. Identifies potential challenges and proactively manages them to ensure on time and quality deliverables.

• Oversee the preparation of responses to inquiries from relevant ESG rating agencies and other organizations.

• Manage multiple and complex internal and external ESG information request ensuring quality of deliverables in line with company standard and positions and ensuring milestones and deadlines are met.

• Point of contact for internal inquiries regarding annual ESG performance data and information. Effectively support relevant functions with ESG performance information.

• Continuously work toward improving the ESG reporting processes and related internal control environment to ensure ESG data reliability and accuracy. Work closely with team members, functions and business units to implement robust, audit-proof reporting processes and internal controls.

• Influence and advise stakeholders across various levels of the organization as well as in different functions and business units to achieve project goals.

• Collaborate closely with the business and key internal leaders, data owners, technical functions, internal audit and external assurance providers to maintain a well-controlled, standardized internal reporting processes for ESG and ensure accurate and timely reporting and disclosure of the annual ESG data and information.

• Ensure Standard Operation Procedures and other documentation supporting ESG reporting activities are in place, follow best practice and properly maintained.

• Create internal alignment and awareness within the functions and governance structures regarding the preparation of the annual reports and other submissions, reporting process, reporting requirements and action plans to improve ESG reporting and disclosure.

• Provide foresight, influence, and advise on necessary actions regarding new ESG reporting and disclosure trends and requirements that may impact the company and its position in the industry.

• Lead and/or support implementation of projects aimed at improving ESG reporting and disclosure at the company.

• Manage parallel priorities and complex projects ensuring high quality and on time deliverables.

• Build relations with key internal stakeholders to progress the ESG reporting and disclosure agenda within the company.

• Collaborate, support, and share knowledge with team members to ensure ESG team priorities are achieved.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Management or other technical / science-based education

• Work experience in the sustainability field, preferably working in both consulting and a corporate environment in a variety of sustainability-related matters

• Solid understanding of Equator Principle compliance obligations and ESG reporting and disclosure requirements in California and federal level.

• Good understanding of the renewable or battery storage industry

• Proven experience of successfully preparing ESG reports and responses to ESG rating agencies and rankings (e.g., CDP).

• Working experience in managing ESG data collection and reporting processes. Good attention to quality and details and solid analytical skills.

• Excellent project management skills and an ability to manage multiple complex projects and diverse stakeholders

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English to support the accurate provision of ESG information to external stakeholders

• Some public policy and external communications experience would be beneficial

• Strong interpersonal and an ability to work with senior stakeholders and leaders, build rapport across functional boundaries as well as people of diverse backgrounds