How to Apply: Egon Zehnder has been exclusively retained by The Rockefeller Foundation (“Foundation”) to search for a Vice President, Sustainable Operations located in New York, NY. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Rockefeller.sustainableops@egonzehnder.com.
Position Summary
The Vice President, Sustainable Operations champions The Rockefeller Foundation’s ambitious climate strategy for operations—leading the development and implementation of sustainability strategies and taking responsibility for achieving our net zero objectives across global operations and facilities. This includes leading strategies around emissions and market-based mechanisms (i.e., carbon credits, SAF, etc.). This role will also lead a thought leadership and influence agenda around scaling climate impact across the philanthropic sector and the ecosystem reached by its operations and ways of working.
The Vice President, Sustainable Operations will play a crucial role in creating and upholding a culture of sustainability across the Foundation and its global workforce, embedding it into processes and decision-making. This position will collaborate with cross-functional leaders and teams to drive sustainable practices across the organization, advance policies aimed at reducing operational emissions, implement green programs and strategies, and foster team engagement and learning around sustainable practices that promote mindset shifts around current behaviors and reinforce necessary changes.
The Vice President, Sustainable Operations reports to the Chief Operating Officer. They will directly manage the Foundation Services teams in New York and Washington, DC, which are responsible for the facilities and administrative operations in our New York City headquarters and Washington, DC office.
Pay Range: $228,000- $342,895. This represents the present low and high end of the Foundation’s pay range for this position. Actual pay will vary based on various factors, including but not limited to experience.
Work Schedule: This role is required to be in the office five days a week, Monday through Friday.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Team Leadership
- Provide overall strategic direction, leadership, and guidance to the Sustainable Operations department whose function includes sustainability strategy and Net Zero commitments, facilities management, office administration, travel, as well as safety, security, and emergency management strategy.
- Supervise New York and Washington DC Foundation Services leads and provide inspirational leadership and direction to the department’s team members, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
- Ensure that the department’s operations are run efficiently and effectively, delivering high-quality services to the organization.
- Oversee the department’s budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources and financial sustainability.
- Oversee and assess the performance of the department, identifying areas for improvement and implementing necessary changes to drive excellence.
- Establish the monitoring and reporting of appropriate metrics and key performance indicators.
- Oversee emergency management planning, and monitoring environmental, health, and safety of NYC headquarters and regional office while ensuring compliance with regulations and standards.
- Advise executive/senior leadership across the Foundation on sustainability, and operational excellence across facilities and administration, and contribute to strategic decision-making.
- Partner with the Foundation’s facilities teams in Nairobi, Bangkok, and Bellagio to integrate Foundation sustainability priorities and practices, where appropriate.
Sustainability
- Develop and implement a comprehensive sustainability strategy that aligns with the organization's mission and values and net zero operations commitment including goals, measurable targets, and an action plan.
- Identify, develop, and integrate needed sustainability processes and policies across the Foundation’s core operations including areas such as procurement, water use, waste management, travel, event management, etc.
- Oversee risk related to potential environmental issues related to the Foundation’s operations, including developing and monitoring key risk indicators and developing mitigation strategies in alignment with the Foundation’s broader enterprise risk management framework.
- Promote a culture of sustainability and collaborate with staff across all departments to integrate sustainability into day-to-day operations, including engagement and educational programs for staff and the community.
- Identify, develop, and manage sustainability reporting and communication, ensuring transparency and alignment with standards and frameworks relevant to private philanthropy.
- Meet and stay ahead of sustainability regulations and compliance requirements, to ensure RF’s long-term ability to maintain best-in-class sustainability policies and practices.
Net Zero
- Oversee the Foundation’s Net Zero operations commitment and drive the implementation to successfully achieve identified milestones and targets to reduce the Foundation’s GHG emissions and offset any remaining emissions.
- Develop and oversee strategies to reduce emissions from all aspects of the Foundation’s operations, including direct emissions (Scope 1), indirect emissions from energy use (Scope 2), and value chain emissions (Scope 3).
- Develop and implement market-based mechanisms to offset residual carbon emissions, including the use of carbon credits and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
- Identify and partner with reputable carbon credit provider(s), ensuring these mechanisms are integrated into the overall strategy and tracked for effectiveness in achieving net zero objectives.
- Partner with program teams to ensure the strategies and projects the Foundation is considering for its carbon credit investments are aligned and integrated with the climate solutions being developed by the Foundation.
- Lead Foundation’s annual GHG accounting and reporting for global operations.
Thought Leadership & Relationship Management
- Oversee thought leadership and influence strategy to inspire and influence the sector and ecosystem to act with the Foundation towards global sustainability practices.
- Evaluate and guide the Foundation’s participation in existing efforts and coalitions where the Foundation can lend its voice and influence.
- Manage relationships and partner with the Connected Leaders team to develop and implement a convening journey that leads to collaboration and action.
Education, Experience, and Skills
- Generally expected to have 12+ years of relevant experience, including 5+ years of management/leadership experience.
- Bachelor of Science or Arts in Environmental Studies, Sustainability, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
- Experience with carbon accounting using GHG protocol, developing renewable energy projects, and building carbon reduction programs.
- LEED accredited professional preferred.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to partner cross-functionally to solve complex challenges.
- Demonstrated commitment to sustainability and experience in shaping and leading change in complex, global settings.
- Ability to gather and use data to make sustainability decisions.
- Exceptional emotional intelligence, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and connect with a diverse array of internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, able to build and maintain effective relationships and to inspire his/her teams to lead by example.
Qualifications and Competencies
- Balances Stakeholders: Anticipates and balances the needs of multiple stakeholders.
- Cultivates Innovation: Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
- Develops Talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
- Drives Vision & Purpose: Paints a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
- Values Differences: Recognizes the value of different perspectives and commits to inclusion, equity, and diversity in every aspect of work.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at http://rockefellerfoundation.org and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn.
The Rockefeller Foundation offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that includes health insurance programs, tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment, a generous 401K, parental leave, and various forms of paid time off, all to help our employees feel energized, cared for, and engaged.
As an organization, we focus on six values to advance our culture and continue our success. We are dedicated to being Transparent, Optimistic, Accountable, Collaborative, Trusted, and Equitable. We operate from a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything that we do. It is not only the right thing to do – we could not make an impact without our team members' diverse perspectives and experiences. We expect all employees at the Foundation to contribute by developing their unique perspectives and talent, challenging conventional wisdom through evidence and reason, and amplifying marginalized voices.
The Rockefeller Foundation is committed to the principles of equal employment opportunity and compliance with all federal, state, and local laws concerning employment discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities Act. To this end, the Foundation ensures equal opportunity to all employees and applicants regardless of race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, lawful alien status, physical, mental, and medical disability, veteran status, liability for service in the United States Armed Forces, or any other protected status.
The Rockefeller Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
