Manager, Policy & Advocacy (Maternity Cover - 9 months)

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a global community of over 215 of the world’s leading businesses driving systems transformation for a better world in which 9+ billion people can live well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century. Together, we transform the systems we work in to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature, and tackle inequality.

We accelerate value chain transformation across key sectors and reshape the financial system to reward sustainable leadership and action through a lower cost of capital. Through the exchange of best practices, improving performance, accessing education, forming partnerships, and shaping the policy agenda, we drive progress in businesses and sharpen the accountability of their performance.

Job Overview

The Policy, Advocacy & Member Mobilization (PAMM) team is seeking a Manager (maternity cover) to lead delivery of key components of the Positive Policy Engagement (PPE) programme and related external partnerships.

The role will focus on stewarding member engagement, delivering high-impact convenings, maintaining strategic partnerships with trade associations and external stakeholders, and supporting WBCSD’s engagement in major multilateral moments, including COPs.

Reporting to the Senior Director within PAMM, the Manager will work closely with member companies, internal stakeholders and external institutions to strengthen credible, business-aligned policy engagement across climate and sustainability priorities.

Main Responsibilities

Positive Policy Engagement Programme Delivery & Member Mobilization

• Lead delivery of WBCSD’s Positive Policy Engagement (PPE) workstream, ensuring continuity, strategic quality and strong member value across flagship offerings, including business case development, capability-building activities, and support to members in aligning direct and indirect advocacy with sustainability and transition goals.

• Steward the Policy Officer Network as a trusted quarterly peer forum for corporate policy leaders, shaping session themes, securing senior speakers, and facilitating high-quality exchanges that strengthen members’ approach to aligning direct and trade association advocacy with sustainability and transition goals.

• Drive member engagement before and after convenings, fostering peer-to-peer connections, surfacing emerging challenges, and translating insights into internal intelligence that informs WBCSD’s broader policy positioning.

• Develop and curate practical tools, case studies and strategic insights that support companies in building the internal business case for credible and responsible policy engagement.

• Maintain strong member relationships through proactive outreach, 1:1 engagement, and strategic connection-building across the network.

Trade Association Engagement & Partnerships

• Maintain strategic coordination with external partners delivering trade association-related projects, ensuring alignment with WBCSD priorities and member needs.
• Contribute to partnership development, light-touch grant oversight, and coordination across collaborating institutions.

COPs & Multilateral Engagement

• Support PAMM’s strategic engagement in UN COPs and other key multilateral moments, contributing to event coordination, member mobilization and briefing materials as needed.
• Coordinate with partners and global initiatives to align participation and messaging across platforms.

External Representation & Stakeholder Coordination

• Represent WBCSD in selected external initiatives, taskforces and working groups relevant to positive policy engagement.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with key stakeholders across business groups, international organizations, think tanks and civil society.
• Internal Collaboration & Strategic Alignment
• Work closely with colleagues across policy workstreams to embed positive policy engagement principles across climate, nature and equity priorities.
• Contribute to internal strategy discussions and support alignment between member engagement, external representation and programmatic priorities.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in international relations, public policy, sustainability, economics, business or a related field.
• 5–7+ years of professional experience in sustainability policy, corporate advocacy or trade associations.
• Strong knowledge of corporate policy engagement dynamics, including direct and indirect (trade association) advocacy.
• Experience working with companies and senior stakeholders in international and multi-sector settings.
• Demonstrated ability to design and facilitate high-quality convenings and stakeholder dialogues.
• Strong understanding of global climate and sustainability policy processes, including familiarity with UNFCCC/COP dynamics a plus.
• Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex policy topics into clear, business-relevant insights.
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a matrixed environment.
• Confident external representative, with sound judgement and diplomatic

The position is fixed-term for 9 months starting from May 2026, and is based in London or Amsterdam with limited international travel expected (approx. 5–10%).

WBCSD is a purpose-driven organization that values diversity across gender, nationalities, and professional backgrounds. Headquartered in Geneva, with offices in Amsterdam, London, Singapore, Wuhan, Chicago, and New York.

What we offer

• Generous Time Off to Recharge: In addition to 25 annual days of paid holiday, you will have extra time off on your birthday and one cultural or religious celebration day.
• Hybrid & Flexible Work: Work from the office a few days a week and from home the rest, with flexible hours to fit personal needs.
• Mobility/Transport: We offer an annual contribution towards public transportation or other soft mobility options.
• A Pension Scheme: Our comprehensive pension scheme allows you to invest in your future.
• Learning and Development: Free access to LinkedIn Learning, and the possibility to engage in other training