Manager, Food and Forests, Climate and Food

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies, and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future.

For more information about Ceres, please visit our web site (www.ceres.org).

Here at Ceres, we value integrity, equity, belonging, compassion, and respect. We demonstrate those values through how we communicate and collaborate with our colleagues and external partners; and embody them in our decision making and advocacy efforts to create a more just and sustainable future.

About the Food & Forests Team

The Ceres Food and Forests team works with influential investors and companies to decouple business growth from the destruction of land-based ecosystems. We work across economic sectors with the largest impacts on nature to protect and restore forests and other natural ecosystems and improve the management of agricultural lands—all in a way that advances justice and equity for vulnerable communities.

About the Role

The Manager will manage programmatic work on the Food and Forests team to improve the sustainability performance of companies in the food sector and lead on research and content development to support Ceres' Food Emissions 50 campaign. The Food Emissions 50 campaign is an investor-led initiative to engage 50 of the highest-emitting public food companies in North America to improve greenhouse gas emissions disclosures, set ambitious emission reduction targets, and implement climate transition plans in line with the Paris Agreement. This role would serve as a primary technical focal point on GHG emissions and transition plans on the Food and Forests team.

This is a full-time position reporting to the Director, Food and Forests, Research, and the individual may work remotely or in either Ceres’ Boston, MA office or San Francisco, CA office. Candidates must be flexible to work with employees in all US time zones, and with network colleagues in international time zones when necessary.

Specific duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Oversee the development and publication of thought leadership including investor-company engagement materials for Food Emissions 50 initiative.
• Oversee production, maintenance, and distribution of corporate benchmark of food company climate commitments and transition plans; ensure data integrity.
• Lead technical issue expertise on GHG emissions and climate transition action plans.
• Manage consultants to conduct research and deliver data and written materials.
• Stay current on scientific and market developments related to climate transition action plans, corporate supply chains in the food sector, and the climate-nature nexus.
• Build and maintain partnerships and collaborations with external organizations.
• Plan and execute educational events for investors and companies related to GHG emissions and transition plans.
• Support the development and execution of programmatic strategy for Ceres’ Food and Forests team work on GHG emissions, including work planning, output delivery and progress evaluation.
• Coordinate with other Ceres program teams (e.g. Investor Network, Company Network, Communications, Development, Operations) as needed to accomplish organizational objectives.
• Assist the Program Director and Director in production of funding proposals with the Ceres Development team, providing support for funder meetings and outreach to potential new funders.
• Assure that programmatic strategies maximize the impacts of our work through a lens of social and racial equity.
• Train and supervise other Food and Forests team staff or interns as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of full-time related work experience required; experience on corporate sustainability issues and/or working within a consumer goods company on sustainability issues is a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of supply chain dynamics and corporate sustainable sourcing best practices through academic coursework or direct work experience.
• In-depth understanding climate change and agriculture issues through academic coursework or direct work experience.
• Experience and comfort with networking, relationship-building and/or maintaining partnerships and collaborations with external organizations.
• Excellent writing and editing skills to produce high-quality reports and presentations. Ability to translate complex, technical science into information that can be used effectively by financial decision-makers.
• Effective presentation style and excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience managing and executing research projects.
• Sound judgment, experience working with diverse constituencies, excellent interpersonal skills, strong initiative and motivation.
• Proficient with word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and e-mail computer applications.
• Interest in being part of a diverse workforce and willingness to support Ceres’ Commitment to Inclusion and Equity.
• Desire to work in a not-for-profit, advocacy-focused organization.

Compensation and Benefits

The hiring salary is $72,100 - $86,100 (Pay Grade 15). Ceres offers fantastic benefits including opportunities for hybrid and remote work; 82% or 85% (depending on your coverage election) employer paid health insurance and 90% employer paid dental insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan with a generous match that starts on day one; generous allowances for commuter and work from home expenses; flexible spending accounts to set aside money on a pre-tax basis for eligible expenses; 10 holidays, generous vacation, and additional paid time off including a week-long winter break, summer Fridays, and sick, personal, and parental leave.

Ceres Culture

Everyone has a role to play in the movement towards a more just and sustainable world.

At Ceres, we are committed to intentionally and carefully curating, engaging, and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. We endeavor to create a supportive environment that sparks innovation, fosters respect, and allows Ceres employees, in all roles at all levels, to come together equally to be fulfilled, successful, and to thrive.

Ceres is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified candidates, and we do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, age, religion, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military or veteran status, disability, or any factors prohibited by applicable law.

If you have questions related to the above statement or need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact our ADA Coordinator at ADArequest@ceres.org. Please note, this email address is for ADA inquiries only.

To Apply

We encourage all applicants to review our website to familiarize themselves with Ceres before applying: www.ceres.org. Please submit a resume and cover letter through our online application. Professional references may be requested during the selection process. Existing work authorization is required at the time of application submission as Ceres is unable to sponsor any visa work sponsorship for this position.