Career Center

Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets

Director, U.S. Financial Regulations, Disclosure & Securities

Boston, MA | Remote

Organization

Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through powerful networks and advocacy, Ceres tackles the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses.  The Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets is transforming the practices and policies that govern capital markets to reduce the worst financial impacts of the climate crisis. We educate and engage regulators, financial institutions, investors, and other capital market influencers to act on systemic climate-related financial risk. For more information about Ceres, please visit our website (www.ceres.org). There is further information on the Accelerator www.ceres.org/our-work/accelerator.

Description and Responsibilities

This is a full-time position directing the policy and regulatory advocacy work of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets aimed at ensuring that the regulation of U.S. public markets addresses climate financial risk. Position requires a highly motivated, self-starter with prior policy experience influencing the regulation of public markets. The position will report to the Program Director, Net Zero Finance.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• Leading the development and refinement of Ceres Financial Regulators’ Strategy as it pertains to the regulation of the public markets, including securities disclosure and audit and accounting standards, in consultation and partnership with the Managing Director, the Senior Manager, Disclosure Research and other Ceres team members.
• Leading strategy implementation, with the priority of influencing regulatory adoption of existing Ceres recommendations for integrating climate risk in securities regulations. This includes managing strategy workflow including annual planning and performance tracking and reporting.
• Managing the development and execution of regulatory submissions in response to requests for comment by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other agencies working with Ceres staff and expert consultants and legal counsels.
• Supervising staff including the Senior Manager, Disclosure Research, and others as needed, including goal setting, performance reviews and day to day management and mentorship.
• Representing Ceres in high-level, technical engagements with U.S. regulators and investors to advocate for regulatory proposals, as well as in conferences and press conferences as needed for strategy implementation.
• Supervise contracts with expert consultants providing advisory, legal, regulatory, or research support.
• Lead the development and manage the execution of reports and research that address policy priorities and support uptake of Ceres recommendations.
• Track key policy and regulatory developments related to the role of federal securities regulators.
• Work with Ceres communications team to develop and implement communications and media strategy to support strategic objectives.
• Working with the Director of Campaigns, develop, maintain, and expand relationships with external partners, coalitions, and key allies, such as target non-profits, trade associations, think tanks, communications firms, lobbyists in line with strategy.
• Coordinate with other program teams (such as Investor Network, Company Network, Policy Network, Communications, Development, Climate & Energy, and Operations) as needed to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Help craft fundraising proposals to support the project and program work.
• As needed, participate in meetings with current and potential funders.
• Support other efforts of the Accelerator specifically and Ceres generally.

Qualifications

• At least ten years or more of direct experience working on policy issues, such as climate finance policy.
• Background or demonstrable focus on financial regulators is required.
• A year or two of experience in direct, high-level advocacy with securities, banking, or other financial regulators
• Prior experience producing regulatory submissions, or other technical or legal research products of high quality is preferred.
• Prior experience supervising staff.
• Experience cultivating effective and productive supervisory relationships with direct reports across gender identity, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Prior experience in driving complex projects, campaigns, or research products on time and on budget.
• Effective presentation style as well as strong speaking and written communication skills.
• Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative, and motivation.
• Experience cultivating effective supervisory relationships (across gender identity, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds) with direct reports.
• Record of success coordinating and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogues.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to take a collaborative approach.
• Ability to bring a positive outlook to working at Ceres.
• Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity
• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications.
• Preference (but not requirement) for candidate to be in the Washington, D.C. or Boston areas

Compensation

The hiring salary range for this position is $107,000-$112,000.

How to Apply

We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying: www.ceres.org.  If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references, as well as complete the additional information as instructed.

Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.  We strongly encourage applications from people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals, as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.  We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

To apply to this position, please click HERE.

Omar Lopez, Talent Consultant