Deadline for application: 20 March 2023

WBCSD is the premier global, CEO-led community of over 200 of the world’s leading sustainable businesses working collectively to accelerate the system transformations needed for a net zero, nature positive, and more equitable future.

We do this by engaging executives and sustainability leaders from business and elsewhere to share practical insights on the obstacles and opportunities we currently face in tackling the integrated climate, nature and inequality sustainability challenge; by co-developing “how-to” CEO-guides from these insights; by providing science-based target guidance including standards and protocols; and by developing tools and platforms to help leading businesses in sustainability drive integrated actions to tackle climate, nature and inequality challenges across sectors and geographical regions.

Our member companies come from all business sectors and all major economies, representing a combined revenue of more than USD $8.5 trillion and 19 million employees. Our global network of almost 70 national business councils gives our members unparalleled reach across the globe. Since 1995, WBCSD has been uniquely positioned to work with member companies along and across value chains to deliver impactful business solutions to the most challenging sustainability issues.

Together, we are the leading voice of business for sustainability, united by our vision of creating a world in which 9+ billion people are living well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century.

Job Overview

WBCSD has been investing in building a collective action platform in Circularity for many years as the leading convener of progressive businesses, and increasingly for its track record of delivery of key drivers of change climate, nature and equity action outlined in Vision 2050.

Approximately 45 member companies are engaged in transformational work across the big streams of work  in the Circular Products & Materials Pathway, working with strategic partners, to develop and implement collective action, delivering tools, aligned frameworks and KPI’s, and ambitious advocacy.

Specific collective impact projects to drive systems transformation include:

• Global Circularity Protocol development
• Circularity Metrics (Circular Transition Indicators)
• Sustainable Plastics & Packaging Value Chains, including business mobilization and action on the UN Global Treaty to end plastic waste
• Circular Chemicals & Portfolio Sustainability Assessments
• Digital Product Passports

The Pathway Director will  lead the full portfolio of pathway projects and will guide the future strategy and development of the program and the people. Reporting to the EVP – Pathways, the Director will work alongside peers steering the other pathways and ensure that all synergy opportunities are identified and shared content developed where possible. Furthermore the Director will be accountable to ensure that WBCSD Vision 2050 and Strategy 2030 goals are appropriately reflected in the pathway strategy and program, and will ensure that the Pathway evolves to deliver on the WBCSD Imperatives as defined in Vision 2050.

Pathway Director roles are active hands-on positions, and a high degree of subject matter knowhow is required alongside leadership skills.

Responsibilities and duties

• Lead the continued evolution, positioning and delivery of impactful Circular Products and Materials transformation work with support from the EVP Pathways and the WBCSD Leadership Team.
• Identify, foster and mange productive and impactful relationships between WBCSD and key international, regional and national organisations, entities and institutions in line with advancing WBCSD’s strategy and impact for circularity, at the appropriate levels within each organisation to ensure desired outcomes.
• Lead, manage and grow a team of direct reports including subject matter experts and project managers; involve and influence staff across a highly interconnected, matrix-based organisation; and grow and deepen WBCSD member company engagement.
• Represent WBCSD with members and partners and at (international) sustainable development convenings and with external stakeholders to enhance WBCSD’s profile as a trusted partner to drive transformation.
• Continually seek out and optimize the resources (human and financial) to achieve delivery of ambitious collective action,  including attracting support from partners, funders, professional service organizations, recruitment of new members and secondments from member companies.