Director, Inclusive Economy

~ Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is a global nonprofit organization that works with its network of more than 250 member companies to build a just and sustainable world. ~

From its offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, BSR develops sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration. Visit www.bsr.org for more information about BSR's more than 20 years of leadership in sustainability.

We are proud to say that we have a team of some of the most talented and motivated people in the industry working in our global offices in Copenhagen, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Tokyo.

BSR partners with many leading international organizations and companies to advance our major priorities focused at creating a climate compatible world, an inclusive economy, and corporate sustainability leadership. We catalyze business action through translation, solutions and collaborations.

Position Overview

The Director, Inclusive Economy, will focus on advancing BSR's major thematic priority on advancing an inclusive economy. This includes thought leadership and research, collaborative initiatives, and advisory services work with governments, private foundations, companies and other stakeholders. In addition, the successful candidate will contribute to other organizational priorities.

The successful candidate will work closely with BSR colleagues from multiple areas of expertise to lead the development and guide the implementation of BSR's efforts to advance inclusive economic growth.

Specifically, the successful candidate will refine BSR's inclusive growth strategy; identify targeted opportunities to integrate inclusive growth strategies and initiatives with BSR member companies and other key stakeholders; identify and secure funding from foundations and public sector funders for such projects, and play a role in overseeing the implementation of projects advancing inclusive growth. The successful candidate will work collaboratively to integrate economic growth into BSR's overall activities, as well as represent the organization externally on this subject.

This position will focus on inclusive economy efforts in the more mature economies of the US and Europe, working also in collaboration with BSR colleagues addressing the issue in the context of the dynamic economies of Asia, Latin America, and Africa.

This position is full-time, with a preference for San Francisco, and the potential to be based in New York, and reports to a member of BSR's Executive Committee.

Responsibilities

• Strategy Refinement: BSR launched its Inclusive Economy strategy in May 2015, with an emphasis on leveraging good quality jobs, access to products and services, and community-informed investment to ensure that business contributes to and benefits from an economy that works for all in an era of massive technological change, disruptive business models, and income inequality across the globe. The Director will be asked to prioritize issues and initiatives to enable BSR to influence and support business action in this area. Specifically, we are seeking candidates who bring experience on issues such as practical business contributions to addressing quality employment in the era of automation, income inequality, and the development of products and services to meet the needs of communities affected by economic stagnation in the mature economies of the US and Europe.
• Business Development: The Director will lead BSR's efforts to secure support for Inclusive Economy projects, building on a base of support already secured for this work. This will involve business development with BSR's 250+ member companies, as well as private foundations, public sector funders, and others. He or she is expected to identify, research and build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with such partners to advance BSR's mission including priorities in specific areas of expertise. The role requires the successful candidate to partner effectively with BSR colleagues leading areas of expertise such as Women's Empowerment, Climate Change, and other relevant areas.
• Project Implementation: The Director will play a role in shaping BSR's delivery of consulting services on inclusive economy and other areas of expertise to grant funders. This will include designing and managing projects including developing and monitoring budgets pre- and post-award as well as adding value to teams managed by BSR's industry and areas of expertise leads. This will include also direct participation in select projects.
• Thought Leadership and Research: The Director will contribute to BSR's production content in this area, and will contribute to this directly through writing and speaking at relevant events.

Qualifications

• Degree, and strong preference for Master's degree, in business, law, public policy or other relevant discipline required.
• Demonstrated expertise in one or more specific areas relevant to the inclusive economy agenda, e.g., quality employment in the era of automation, income inequality, and financial inclusion. 
• Significant experience in the private sector or other relevant institutions (at least 10 years) required, demonstrating a strong understanding of the issues, ability to develop and maintain business relationships, generate business opportunities, manage multiple projects under tight deadlines, and deliver for clients and funders.
• Proven track-record in developing financial support, from business, private foundations, or public sector funders, to enable project implementation. 
• Demonstrated expertise on how the private sector addresses inclusive economy challenges as well as on the landscape of other grant-funders and their priorities on the topic. 
• Proven leadership and management skills, including a demonstrated ability to mentor other team members.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Willingness to undertake business travel (~30% time).
• Language skills: Fluent in English, with an additional major language strongly preferred. 
• Capacity to work and thrive in a growing, fast-paced entrepreneurial organization with a collaborative environment.
• High ethical standards and commitment to BSR core values of Leadership, Respect and Integrity.

Diversity

BSR is committed to developing an inclusive work environment where diversity of thought, style, culture and skill and is valued in support of individual performance and potential, as well as our business goals and mission.