Senior Associate Director or Director, Climate and Sustainability, APCO Impact

Job Description

APCO Impact is a unique consultancy that takes an integrated and focused approach to social impact and sustainability. We partner with corporations, brands, non-profits, foundations and governments to drive sustainability and weave positive social impact into decision-making at all levels. Our focus is on addressing root causes, changing systems and moving towards a more regenerative, equitable future. Our team brings together a range of experts across climate and sustainability, ESG, equity & justice, corporate purpose and philanthropy. Specialists in both strategy and operations, our teams are multi-generational and comprised of individuals who bring a mix of lived and professional experiences across the gamut of social and environmental issues.  We are continually investing in our own knowledge so we are positioned to help clients see across trends and around the corner.

APCO Impact sits within APCO Worldwide, a global public affairs agency, allowing us to leverage specialized expertise in climate and sustainability, while also bringing to bear APCO’s global network of best-in-class policy, communications and advocacy professionals. 

The Senior Associate Director or Director, Climate & Sustainability will be joining a team of global professionals who operate across sectors and geographies to ensure our clients deliver transformational impact.

The Role:

The Senior Associate Director or Director, Climate & Sustainability will work closely with and report to the Global Lead, Climate and Sustainability. We are seeking someone who is a builder and collaborator with a deep commitment to urgent action on climate change, driving towards Net Zero by 2050 or sooner. This person has deep experience working with clients and has content experience and knowledge in some of the key cross cutting areas – climate finance, nature-based solutions, ESG metrics and reporting, infrastructure, policy, renewables, water, transportation, supply chain, oceans, circular economy, sustainable food production, and/or the SDGs. Experience with Race to Zero, SBTi, CA100+ Net Zero Company benchmark, ISSB/TCFD, scenario development and disclosure a huge plus but not required.

Core responsibilities:

Working closely with the Global Lead, Climate and Sustainability, you will work to further develop and cohere a strong client practice, leading with client delivery in the climate and sustainability space.

• Business development: Lead and support on new business outreach that includes research, pipeline management, proposal and pitch writing, budgeting, and planning; regularly generate own leads, actively contributing to the business development activities of the company
• Project leadership: Lead and manage client projects, building trusted relationships with clients and APCO colleagues, providing guidance on topical climate strategies for clients across a range of projects and topics
• Manage and supervise large/complex consulting mandates throughout their entire project cycle: initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure
• Plan and implement projects to ensure the most efficient and highest-quality implementation
• Interact and build relationships with our international clients and manage the timely delivery of mandates
• Content Leadership: Have a strong grasp on climate and sustainability content and can develop and structure effective projects that deliver climate action plans
• Provide guidance on and technical leadership in the development of proposals for the corporate sector on topic corporate climate strategies, climate change mitigation solutions and implementation of advisory projects
• Communication: Provide clear direction and feedback on how best to communicate strategic thinking across different contexts, authoritatively presents and facilitates across all project workstreams internally and externally; and can manage diverse stakeholder input and the project’s strategic perspective in real-time
• Management: Manage and supervise direct line-reports, delegating responsibilities and supporting the work of consultants by providing guidance and motivation to drive maximum performance and their own development
• Culture & conduct: Professional, constructive and collaborative across all aspects of work
• Equity, diversity, & inclusion: Demonstrate through your behaviour and decisions a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and integrate and prioritize equity in project work, including research and strategy recommendations in deliverables and client/partner conversations
• Productivity & accountability: Set a high bar for your work product, proactively own your workstreams and deliverables, flag challenges where required, and deliver on time and on budget

About you:

You should have 10 years plus of full-time work experience, ideally with a strong strategy background from an agency, consultancy, business, non-profit or government with a focus on climate change and/or sustainability issues. You have a demonstrated track record and/or commitment to climate change and client-facing experience.

You are a team player who: 

• Has a solid content background in climate and sustainability
• Enjoys solving complex problems in developing opportunities, ideas, and solutions
• Communicates your argument and perspective clearly and convincingly, verbally and in writing
• Brings experience in developing common agency- and consulting-style deliverables, such as synthesized issue insights and strategy options and recommendations
• Values delivering for, and collaborating with, clients, funders, and partners
• Has high integrity, a high bar for quality and rigor, hands-on attitude, and proactivity
• Is committed to applying and advocating for an equity lens in the workplace and in the work itself. This includes seeking and honoring diverse research inputs and interrogating and challenging biases and stereotypes

About APCO in MENA

Home to some of the fastest growing economies in the world, the Middle East and North Africa region has a pivotal role to play in driving global conversations – from environmental policies to religion and pop culture. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are clear leaders in this equation, although the wave of innovation continues to transcend borders.

APCO launched its regional operations in 2006 in Dubai. Growing from a team of less than 10 consultants, APCO today has over 200 people from 26 countries working in teams across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Manama and Kuwait and our projects take us to countries across the region and the Levant. APCO was awarded Best Agency in the Middle East by PRWeek in 2019 and Best Agency to Work for: EMEA Network by PRovoke Media in 2017 and 2019.

With a portfolio of over 100 clients, APCO’s MENA offices deliver public relations and digital communication support across health, food, consumer & retail, finance, technology, real estate & hospitality, non-profit and public affairs practices. The region also offers specialized services, created for the Middle East, such as our Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and our Compass and License to Operate offerings.

In addition, APCO’s global AI Comms Lab, a first-of-its-kind innovation center which utilizes artificial intelligence to build and protect the reputations of major global brands, governments and organizations is driven from the Dubai office.

From helping governments connect with the private sector and civil society, to supporting the Pope’s historic visit to the region and launching iconic brands and destinations, we understand the nuances of the MENA region and pride ourselves on making an impact.