Director, Sustainability Lead

About Sodali & Co

Sodali & Co is a premier advisory firm specializing in shareholder engagement and governance consulting for corporate clients globally. With headquarters in New York, London, and Sydney, and operations in key financial hubs worldwide, the company advises over 2,000 clients across 80 countries. Their comprehensive services encompass shareholder, sustainability, and strategic communications advisory, enabling clients to tackle complex challenges, identify strategic opportunities, and achieve business success.

Practice Group Overview

The Sustainability practice focuses on assisting companies in navigating regulatory resilience, planning climate transitions, and managing digital transformation amid evolving ESG investor and stakeholder requirements.

Position Overview

As sustainability risks increasingly impact business strategy and shareholder value, multinational enterprises require expert guidance to manage regulatory complexities and diverse stakeholder demands. Sodali & Co seeks an experienced Director and APAC Sustainability Lead to develop and lead the firm’s sustainability practice in Australia. This hybrid role requires presence in the Sydney office at least three days per week for mentoring, project oversight, training, collaboration with colleagues across functions, and client engagement. Occasional travel for client projects, industry events, and leadership meetings is anticipated.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Sydney office’s Sustainability Practice, managing complex client projects involving a broad range of sustainability and climate services.
• Contribute to and spearhead thought leadership initiatives enhancing the firm’s reputation and client engagement in sustainability.
• Drive and support sustainability business development efforts both regionally and globally, including integrated service offerings.
• Deliver presentations and provide advisory counsel confidently to senior executives and corporate boards.
• Review and ensure high-quality deliverables from project teams through research and draft assessment.
• Play a central role in securing new business through leading pitches and mentoring team members in client acquisition activities.
• Develop and expand partnerships with third-party providers such as software vendors, assurance firms, legal counsel, and investors to expand capabilities and client networks.
• Lead the development and upkeep of key service lines including creation of pitch materials, delivery tools, and team training resources.
• Act as a mentor and coach to a growing team, fostering a positive culture and professional growth.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to define and execute strategic objectives for the sustainability practice.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Deep understanding of sustainability/ESG and climate accounting, management, and disclosure standards such as GRI, TCFD, ISSB IFRS S1 and S2, SASB, SBTi, EU Taxonomy, SFDR, CA SB 253 and 261, EU CSRD.
• Expertise applying leading sustainability and climate reporting standards relevant to the Australian and international contexts including ISSB-aligned frameworks, TCFD, SASB.
• Experience analyzing and advising on ESG rating assessments from providers like ISS, MSCI, Sustainalytics, CDP, EcoVadis, S&P CSA, GRESB.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively and credibly at C-level and board presentations for large publicly listed companies in Australia.
• Up-to-date knowledge of global sustainability, regulatory, and investor expectation trends influencing corporate strategies.
• Strong problem-solving skills and proficiency in PowerPoint and Excel to support data analysis, storytelling, and decision-making processes.
• Collaborates well within teams across multiple seniority levels and integrates with other firm practices.
• Leadership capability to guide teams through periods of change and growth in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement.
• At least six years of relevant professional experience in sustainability or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing direct reports is highly advantageous.
• Comfortable working in fast-moving environments with shifting priorities.
• Strategic, commercial, and innovative mindset with a proactive approach to execution.
• Ability and willingness to work outside standard business hours to coordinate with global teams in diverse time zones.
• Some travel is required, dependent on client and project demands.

Diversity and Inclusion

Sodali & Co is committed to equal opportunity employment and diversity. The firm fosters an inclusive work environment that respects all backgrounds and identities and provides reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities during recruitment.