Ceres

Associate, Finance   Organization Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through powerful networks and advocacy, Ceres tackles the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses. For more information about Ceres, please visit:  www.ceres.org .  Description & Responsibilities The Associate is a key member of the Finance team in its efforts to support the organization’s program activities. This is an opportunity for a trustworthy and energetic individual eager to be in the middle of the financial workings of Ceres and grow professionally.  While the day-to-day work includes a significant amount of information gathering and data entry, there will be ample opportunity to help shape and implement financial policies and procedures, including those pertaining to contracting and sub-granting.  The Associate reports to the Finance Manager.  This position is full-time and based in our Boston, MA office. Primary responsibilities include: Serve as a resource to Ceres staff, contractors, and sub-grantees to distribute and explain materials related to finance policies and procedures. Provide financial orientation to new staff. Serve as a resource to Ceres staff for Abacus Expense Management and Abacus Travel; responsible for making administrative changes and updates in Abacus related to staffing changes and finance policies. Perform any necessary follow up for missing or incomplete information. Accounts Payable: Collect and review submitted expense request forms and invoices from staff for contractors and sub-grantees.  Check financial coding, enter into Intacct accounting system and enter applicable journal entries; to be reviewed by Finance Manager. Perform any necessary follow up for missing or incomplete information; obtain signatures for checks and mail; file all forms and invoices. Review staff credit card expenses and staff reimbursement requests in Abacus Expense Management. Check financial coding, ensure finance policies have been met, and approve for integration into Intacct accounting system. Maintain a log of all outstanding consultant contracts and compare submitted invoices to such contracts. Collect and review all contracts for accuracy and completeness; obtain appropriate signatures; assign contract numbers; scan and e-file on the Ceres’ server. Maintain current finance documents on the Ceres’ server and organizational database; maintain all finance Google docs; maintain and update subscriptions excel workbook. Create weekly finance team meeting agenda; adding items for review and updating for completion of tasks. Schedule monthly budget to actual meetings with budget managers and finance team; download reports from Intacct; edit and format reports and upload to the Ceres’ server and organizational database prior to meetings. Assist in creating spreadsheets for annual budget process. Schedule grant projection meetings and Finance Committee meetings and take notes in these meetings. Collect, scan and file purchase orders. Assist the Controller in gathering information and preparing schedules for the annual audit. Update weekly Monday morning staff memo for finance priorities and any finance deadlines. Perform administrative duties such as filing, photocopying, managing calendars, mailing correspondence, and organizing and shipping materials or reports. Support staffing and logistical needs for Ceres events such as the Conference or Summit. Engage in special projects as time permits.  Qualifications At least 2 -3 years of work experience, required Office experience required, preferably with some accounting or bookkeeping Working knowledge of accounting, business or related discipline Proficiency with Intacct a plus Accounts Payable experience a plus Abacus Expense or other expense management systems experience a plus Proficient with Microsoft Office (strong Excel user) and Google Docs Experience with Salesforce, a plus Good oral and written communication skills Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team Ability to evaluate workload and prioritize projects Well organized and detail oriented Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity Discretion in working with confidential information Ability to handle and prioritize multiple tasks in order to meet deadlines Interest and willingness to be trained on data systems and tools for necessary work.  How to Apply We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying:   www.ceres.org .  Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, two writing samples, and a list of three references.   Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

Administrative Assistant to Vice Presidents   Organization Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through our powerful networks and advocacy, we tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses. For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site ( www.ceres.org ).  Description & Responsibilities The Assistant will support two of the four Vice Presidents who serve on the Program Management Team. This critical role provides administrative and logistical support and assists with internal and external communications for the Vice Presidents.  This opening is designed for an extremely organized, self-starter who has a demonstrated track record of successfully working with senior staff.  The position reports to two Vice Presidents and is based in Boston, MA.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following: Provide administrative and logistical support to Vice Presidents Conduct some research as directed by Vice Presidents Prepare VPs for internal and external meetings ensuring materials are available or prepared for presentations Book travel and draft trip itineraries for VPs Manage calendars and prioritize meetings for VPs Process expense reports, reimbursements, and other finance-related administrative duties Track outreach to constituents and funders and update database with activity Attend internal and external meetings in order to take notes, compile meeting minutes and produce next steps for meeting attendees Provide writing support on communications to external partners Assist with planning, coordination and logistics for Department meetings and events, including side meetings at the Ceres annual conference or team retreats Coordinate and organize activities and meetings with internal and external partners Work closely with other Assistant to VPs to assure coordination and alignment across Program Management Team  Complete other administrative projects as assigned by Vice Presidents   Qualifications Minimum of four years of relevant work experience supporting a senior staff member Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative and motivation Strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail required. Successful record of organizing and advancing multiple projects and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment Familiar with sustainability issues such as climate change, water risks, deforestation, etc., a plus Strong writing skills to develop correspondence on behalf of senior staff members. Strong oral skills Ability to work both independently and as part of a team Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail applications Familiarity with a CRM Database (such as Salesforce), a plus.   How to Apply We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying:  www.ceres.org .  Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume and list of three references.  Please apply through the Ceres website,  https://www.ceres.org/about-us/career-opportunities .  Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law. 

Senior Director,  Sustainable Capital Markets   Organization Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through powerful networks and advocacy, Ceres tackles the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and equitable workplaces.  For more information about Ceres, please visit our website ( www.ceres.org ).   Description and Responsibilities Ceres is seeking a highly qualified Senior Director of Sustainable Capital Markets to oversee a new center that seeks to transform the outdated practices and policies that govern capital markets to accelerate action on global sustainability threats.  This new position will directly oversee the launch of a portfolio of capital markets-focused projects and ensure integration with other Ceres program teams to build off the organization’s long history of work, experience and thought leadership in this space.  The Senior Director will help to strengthen and support capital markets-focused projects managed out of those programs. In addition, s/he will play a lead role in representing Ceres and its intellectual capital externally, including building and managing new, high-level partnerships with key capital markets players and influencers. The position will also be central to increasing the financial resources of the center, in partnership with Ceres Development program, through conducting targeted outreach and cultivation of key funding partners, including individual donors and foundations.   This is an exceptional opportunity for an experienced professional with capital markets expertise to advance private sector leadership on a wide range of sustainability issues. This role is for someone with strong internal management capabilities, who can be extremely effective at representing Ceres externally in a wide range of settings with capital markets partners and members, funders, and donors. For the first year, while the center is being built and initial projects are gaining traction, the Senior Director will report to the Vice President of Innovation and Evaluation and work closely with the CEO. The position will also be closely aligned with Ceres Network programs, enabling the new team to tap into the collective power and impact of Ceres’ relationships with influential investors and companies. Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following: Lead and coordinate the development, launch and/or implementation of the major strategies and campaigns in partnership with key program directors across the organization. Develop and manage a set of critical organizational projects and partnerships to elevate Ceres influence and impact within the capital markets, including new partnership models aimed at increasing collaboration on key issues with other NGOs.  Directly oversee the establishment of new projects associated with the new center, such as an advisory board, a fellowship program and/or prize. Identify and foster a pipeline of potential new projects and initiatives to advance the center's goals, in partnership with the VP of Innovation & Evaluation and other program leads across the organization. Participate in high-level external relationship building and public speaking events in order to enhance Ceres influence, thought leadership, visibility and partnerships in this space. Contribute to fundraising goals for the center, including cultivating and managing relationships with current and prospective individual donors and foundation funders. Hire, guide and mentor an initial team of two to three staff members. Serve as external spokesperson for the center and represent its work to a range of external audiences, from the media, investor, business and NGO partners, to critical sustainability audiences and capital markets actors, funders and donors. Other duties as they arise.  Qualifications 15 years of relevant work experience in roles of progressive responsibility.  Experience in private sector, particularly working with and/or in the investment and finance communities. Prior role focused on addressing environmental, social, and governance issues within a company. Experience as a senior leader and manager in a fast-paced and growing enterprise.  Demonstrated record of supervising senior staff to achieve programmatic and fundraising goals. Proven track record of results-driven strategic program management is required,  Experience cultivating effective supervisory relationships (across gender identity, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic background) with direct reports and managing senior level staff and teams, supporting an inclusive workplace, where everyone has an opportunity for advancement. Broad understanding of how to build effective collaborations across other program areas, departments, and different levels of staff both internal and external to the organization. Experience and appreciation for a matrix management environment. Strong relationship management skills with external partners and funders is necessary for success in this position. Entrepreneurial attitude Ability to both build strong, stable programs and to innovate and take advantage of strategic opportunities. Demonstrated success in both halves of the resource equation—cultivating and closing income prospects, and managing and deploying staff and budgets Superior communication skills, both oral and written is critical to the success in this role Ability to travel to support programmatic and fundraising goals. How to Apply   We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying:  www.ceres.org .  If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references, as well as complete the additional information as instructed.  Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.  

Senior Manager, Water and Agriculture Organization Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through our powerful networks and advocacy, we tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses. For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site ( www.ceres.org ).  Description & Responsibilities   Ceres’ Water Program seeks to protect freshwater resources by changing the way the world’s largest economic actors value and manage water. Ceres accelerates private sector leadership on water protection through cutting-edge research, investor mobilization, corporate engagement and advocacy. We are hiring a Senior Manager to lead Ceres’ efforts to influence the largest food sector companies to mitigate the water impacts and increase the resiliency of their agricultural supply chains.  In this role, the Senior Manager will lead a team working with investors and food companies to advance the adoption of agricultural practices that protect freshwater. This is a full-time position, based in Boston, MA, that will report to the Water Program Director and partners with a number of program teams at Ceres.  Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following: Overall responsibility for success of this initiative, including strategy development, execution and fundraising. Develop and oversee strategies for mobilizing investors to engage companies in high water impact sectors, with an initial focus on the food and agriculture sector. Engage directly with food sector companies, including Ceres Company Network members, on opportunities for improving their management of water risk. Manage the production, release and distribution of research reports and related blog posts and articles. Supervise and mentor staff that contribute to this initiative, including current full-time staff and relevant consultants and interns. Serve as an internal resource and external spokesperson for Ceres’ water and agriculture related work, representing Ceres as a speaker at conferences and events, on webinars and dialogue meetings with companies, investors and stakeholders. Work in partnership with the Water Program Director and the Development team to draft and edit fundraising proposals and reports and to manage relationships with current and prospective funders. Manage the budget for this initiative and oversee all expenditures. Work across Ceres teams, with a particular focus on the Food & Forests, Investor Network, and Company Network programs, as well as non-programmatic teams. Manage planning related to this initiative for the Ceres annual conference program and other events to educate stakeholders on water. Support the implementation and development of program management systems including developing goals, tracking KPIs and evaluating the results and progress of the program. Assure that programmatic strategies maximize the impacts of our work through a lens of social and racial equity.   Qualifications Minimum of seven years of work experience. Substantial experience working with or within private sector institutions on environmental sustainability/sustainable agriculture. Substantial expertise on environmental sustainability issues, with a preference for expertise in freshwater sustainability, soil health and sustainable agriculture. An understanding of the following entities; corporations, large-scale agricultural operations, investment firms, financial institutions, or institutional investors. Strong writing and research skills. Effective presentation style and excellent oral and written communication skills. Strong project management skills and attention to detail. Experience managing within budgets and making trade-off decisions. Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative and motivation. Experience cultivating effective supervisory relationships (across gender identify, race ethnicity, and socio-economic background) with direct reports. Desire to work in a not-for-profit, advocacy-focused organization. Willingness to travel as needed to accomplish duties noted above.  Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications. How to Apply  We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying:  www.ceres.org .  If you are interested in applying for this position, please submit a resume, cover letter, and a list of three references, as well as complete the additional information as instructed.  Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.   

Manager, Corporate Governance  Organization Ceres is a not-for-profit organization that partners with institutional investors, large companies, environmental organizations and other public interest groups, with the goal of mobilizing investor and business leadership to build a thriving, sustainable global economy.  Ceres plays a unique role in the sustainability movement by bringing the perspective and power of investors to environmental and social issues, and specifically to the performance, practices and policies of corporations. Through its Investor Network on Climate Risk, Ceres has been able to mobilize over 115 institutional investors representing more than $14 trillion in assets to better understand and properly value climate and water-related risks and opportunities.  Ceres works to foster corporate leadership on sustainability issues and mobilize private sector actors in support of public policies for long-term sustainability. Ceres works with over 65 major companies to integrate environmental and social issues into core business practices. Additionally, Ceres mobilizes a powerful network of leading companies (Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy) to advocate for national and state climate, energy and water policies.  For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site ( www.ceres.org ).  Description & Responsibilities The Manager, Corporate Governance position will lead projects and support Ceres’ efforts to drive climate change and ESG integration into corporate governance systems, with a focus on the role of boards of directors.  Projects the position will lead or support include managing and supporting Ceres’ newly launched climate lobbying initiative, developing ESG curriculum for boards of directors, and leading/ supporting engagements with corporate boards and corporate counsel.  This is a full-time role, reporting to the Senior Program Director, Capital Market Systems (CMS) and will be based in our Boston office. Specific duties include, but are not limited to the following: Manage Ceres’ partnerships with academic and governance groups in developing ESG training for the corporate director community. This will include serving as a project manager to ensure curriculum is developed, and then events are organized to provide this training.  Duties will involve working with CMS team members to coordinate with key partners and consultants on the project. Support Ceres’ newly launched two-year Responsible Policy Lobbying initiative. Duties will include working with CMS team members to drive key workstreams as a part of this initiative, coordinate with teams across Ceres, manage consultants and conduct research and produce written materials.  Partner with the Senior Program Director, CMS in driving engagements with corporate boards, corporate directors and governance teams within companies.  This will include writing proposals or producing other written materials for other Ceres staff or external partners. Coordinate with the Ceres Company Network, including providing support on the newly launched effort to engage Investor Relations staff within companies. Support the development of new projects on board ESG oversight, including developing the legal case for director fiduciary duty for climate change oversight, clarifying the role of the board in driving linkages between executive compensation and ESG factors, Develop media messaging and communications materials, including op-eds, press releases and blogs. Partner with the Senior Program Director in production of funding proposals with the Ceres Development team. Partner with the Senior Program Director in funder meetings and outreach to potential new funders, with the Ceres Development Team. Supervise and mentor interns to include hiring, onboarding, training and evaluation duties. Train and support other team members in managing vendors, staff travel, lodging, vendor exhibits, and supplies Assist with planning for the Ceres annual conference and program events, to further corporate governance programmatic work. Represent Ceres at conferences, seminars, press conferences and meetings as spokesperson for project or program work.  Travel as necessary.  Qualifications 5 years of experience where they have progressive responsibilities in their positions. 3 years of experience working on corporate sustainability issues in the corporate, investor or non-profit sectors. In depth knowledge of corporate sustainability issues, an understanding of the corporate context and the socially responsible investor community. Background in corporate governance is a plus. Demonstrated experience in relationship management, particularly engaging leaders in the corporate or investor community. Ability to make strong connections between governance issues and articulate the impacts and implications for corporate actions. Demonstrated strong project management, business planning skills and attention to detail. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, in a fast-paced environment. Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative and motivation. Effective presentation style and excellent oral and written communication skills. Experience with communications and fundraising preferred. Prior experience supervising or training staff, a plus. Team player that likes working in a collaborative and fast paced environment. Proven ability to manage multiple projects from concept to completion on own momentum and with limited guidance. Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail software. Willingness to travel as needed to accomplish duties noted.  Desire to work in a not-for-profit, advocacy-focused organization. How to Apply  We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying:  www.ceres.org . If you are interested in applying, please submit a cover letter, resume, two writing samples, and a list of three references, as well as complete the additional information as instructed.    Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.  

Manager, Events & Sponsorship  Organization Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization leading the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through powerful networks and advocacy, Ceres tackle the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses.  For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site ( www.ceres.org ).  Description & Responsibilities The Ceres Events & Sponsorship team is responsible for planning, organizing and executing the annual Ceres Conference (a signature event), the biennial Investors Summit, anniversary special events and other day/half-day events throughout the year.  The team coordinates sponsorship for these events through research, internal/external outreach and follow-up, and by tracking all sponsorship on an organization-wide basis.  The Events & Sponsorship team engages with all Ceres program teams on these efforts and works closely with the Development, Operations, and Communications and Marketing teams. The Manager will report to the Director, Events & Sponsorship to manage the Ceres sponsorship program, lead various aspects of the conference program and support other organization-wide events. This job offers an opportunity for a professional, highly organized, detail oriented, self-motivated and energetic individual to engage with staff in all program areas of Ceres, interact with external constituents and assume a supervisory role. Responsibilities include but are not limited to:  Oversee and manage outreach, timeline and revenue related to sponsorship including but not limited to: Develop and/or update sponsorship materials Develop and prioritize a strategic sponsor prospect list for over 150 network members in collaboration with the Ceres relationship managers Create and propose sponsorship packages that are appropriate and attractive for the company/investor while optimizing revenue and aligning with Ceres mission and work. Draft and coordinate invitation letters and outreach e-mail messages for sponsors Coordinate with Company Network, Investor Network, and Policy Network teams on outreach following a pre-determined timeline Manage all engagement with sponsors including participation in events Draft and organize follow-up acknowledgements to sponsors post-events such as thank you letters Conduct post-event surveys/feedback from sponsors Coordinate with Company Network to secure carbon offset sponsor and follow up post-event Lead several discrete projects related to content and speakers for the annual conference, such as World Ceres Talks and the Bavaria Award Manage relationships with hotels and other external vendors and oversee logistics, audio/visual needs, and menu selection for events. Oversee onsite logistical activities for the Ceres Conference, Investor Summit, and other special events as needed. Supervise and mentor interns to include hiring, onboarding, training and evaluation duties. Train and support other team members in managing vendors, staff travel, lodging, vendor exhibits, and supplies Provide training to other team members to meet the obligations of the team.  Perform administrative duties as needed. Continue to refine knowledge of Ceres overall work, goals and program objectives. Qualifications Five years or more of direct experience planning and managing large scale, complex, multi-day events. Knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues, a plus. Self-starter focused on execution, with ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines. Ability to make strong connections between sustainability issues and articulate the impacts and implications for corporate and investor audiences. Demonstrated ability to bring an advocacy perspective to corporate dialogues will be viewed as beneficial.  Demonstrated strong project management, planning skills and attention to detail are required. Strong speaking and written communication skills for external and internal audiences. Effective presentation style as well Sound judgment, sensitivity to diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative and motivation. Prior experience supervising or training staff, a plus. Successful record of organizing multiple projects, engaging with senior-level professionals, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Ability to work as part of a team and take a collaborative approach to working across the organization. Planning and prioritization skills with the ability to make adjustments and still deliver projects on deadline and within time and resource budgets. Willingness to travel as needed to accomplish duties noted above. Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications. How to Apply We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying:  www.ceres.org . If you are interested in applying, please submit a cover letter, resume, and a list of three references, as well as complete the additional information as instructed.    Ceres is an Equal Opportunity Employer and will not discriminate against any individual based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.