Director, Sustainability Finance & Reporting

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global community of over 225 of the world’s leading businesses driving systems transformation for a better world in which 9+ billion people can live well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century. Together, we transform the systems we work in to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature, and tackle inequality.

We accelerate value chain transformation across key sectors and reshape the financial system to reward sustainable leadership and action through a lower cost of capital. Through the exchange of best practices, improving performance, accessing education, forming partnerships, and shaping the policy agenda, we drive progress in businesses and sharpen the accountability of their performance.

Role overview

Provide strategic and technical leadership across Action Themes 1 and 2, with accountability for the development and delivery of member-facing solutions, methodologies, tools and thought leadership at the intersection of sustainability, corporate performance, finance and business value creation. The Director will bring deep subject-matter expertise to help companies and financial-market stakeholders navigate complex challenges and emerging market expectations. The role is responsible for leading the development of practical, decision-useful resources that support implementation and enable companies to embed leading practices into strategy, performance management and business decision-making. The Director will convene business, finance and sustainability leaders, foster technical stakeholder engagement and drive cross-functional collaboration to deliver outputs that strengthen resilience, improve performance and support long-term value creation. Twenty per cent of the role is allocated to Action Theme 4, with particular accountability for investor and lender valuation requirements and the translation of sustainability-related risks, opportunities and outcomes into financial terms.

Key responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for Action Theme 1 & 2, translating WBCSD priorities and member needs into clear outcomes, plans, budgets, performance measures and resource choices; remain accountable for delivery and impact.
• Provide technical leadership across Action Themes 1 and 2, overseeing the development and application of methodologies, frameworks, tools and guidance that help companies integrate sustainability, performance and value creation considerations into business and investment decision-making. Ensure all outputs are technically robust, market-relevant and aligned with evolving leading practices and stakeholder expectations.
• Exercise decision accountability across the portfolio, resolving strategic trade-offs, dependencies and delivery risks within delegated authority and escalating material decisions with clear analysis and recommendations.
• Lead the development of practical methodologies, tools, guidance and thought leadership that help companies strengthen corporate performance, embed sustainability into decision-making, and navigate evolving market expectations, reporting requirements and value creation opportunities.
• Provide subject-matter leadership at the intersection of sustainability, corporate performance, finance and business value creation, ensuring WBCSD outputs are credible, decision-useful and capable of supporting implementation by member companies and financial-market stakeholders.
• Position WBCSD as a leading external voice on corporate performance, accountability and business valuation by shaping the narrative, shaping market conversations and building senior-level engagement with member companies, investors, partners, standard setters, regulators and other key stakeholders.
• Direct delivery across Action Themes 1, 2 and 4, including accountability for Action Theme 4 Open Sesame initiative and its interfaces with Action Themes 2 and 3; align contributors, funding, partnerships and timelines and take corrective action where outcomes, quality or value are at risk.
• Build and lead a high-performing contributor network, setting clear accountabilities, delegating authority, developing people and senior experts, and strengthening leadership capability and succession across the work.