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Location: Frankfurt, Germany or Montreal, Canada
Duration: 2 Years Fixed Term Contract
Salary: Competitive, plus benefits
Hours: 35 hours per week

About the role

Job purpose: International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) Technical Staff, focusing on Nature and Biodiversity, support research, standard-setting and the development of educational materials on risks and opportunities related to biodiversity, ecosystems and ecosystem services. This includes work on the ISSB’s ongoing research project on biodiversity, ecosystems, and ecosystem services—covering research on investor interest, effects on a company’s cashflows, access to finance and cost of capital, existing standards and frameworks and the current state of disclosure.

This position sits within the ISSB Technical Staff, the team that supports the ISSB’s work to develop—in the public interest—IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards that will result in a high-quality, comprehensive global baseline of sustainability disclosures focused on the needs of investors and the financial markets.

Principal responsibilities

  • Evidence-based research—Undertake research on:
    • business risks and opportunities associated with sustainability issues; and
    • metrics used to understand performance on such risks and opportunities.
  • Stakeholder consultation—Act as a credible and authoritative representative of the ISSB by engaging with a wide range of external stakeholders, from industry and investment regulatory and standard-setting communities, to ascertain their views and to share information.
  • Staff analysis and recommendations—Conduct analyses and develop technical proposals for consideration by the ISSB and its advisory committees, and facilitate their decision-making.
  • Project management—Coordinate a range of activities to support the delivery of technical projects and coordinate across other project work plans.
  • Technical papers—Draft due process documents, including research papers, discussion papers, requests for information, exposure drafts, ballot drafts and standards.
  • Initiate and lead discussions with ISSB members, advisory committees and working groups.
  • Work with International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) Technical Staff, when relevant, to ensure connectivity and compatibility between the work of the IASB and the ISSB in developing IFRS Accounting and Sustainability Disclosure Standards.
  • Contribute to the development of other staff.

Required skills and experience

Technical knowledge and thinking abilities

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the sustainability and financial reporting landscape, including relevant standards, frameworks and regulations. This includes, for example, experience with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), GRI 101 Biodiversity Standard and European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).
  • Demonstrate practical knowledge of capital markets and the links between sustainability-related risks and opportunities—with a particular focus on nature and biodiversity-related risks and opportunities—and value creation.
  • Show rigour, consistency and attention to detail in work.
  • Identify, understand and analyse issues.
  • Synthesise information and propose well-reasoned recommendations, drawing out implications including cost-benefit analysis.
  • Display impartiality, balance and openness in developing, defending and accepting alternative views.
  • Develop feasible solutions.
  • Understand the standard-setting process, including the roles of various parties.

Project management and strategic thinking

  • Demonstrate a strong understanding of the ISSB’s strategy, including how projects and deliverables support the strategy.
  • Support the development of the strategy for nature-related disclosures.
  • Display strong project managements skills, including the development, implementation and monitoring of project plans, and effectively navigating changes to project plans.
  • Delegate work effectively and appropriately.
  • Conduct effective reviews of colleagues' work to achieve high-quality and timely deliverables in line with objectives, and to support the development of staff.

Managing self and relationships

  • Enthusiastic, proactive and motivated. Works effectively under pressure and remains positive when faced with challenges.
  • Self-aware, seeks and learns from feedback and seeks to grow and continuously improve.
  • Demonstrates professionalism and respect for others.
  • Capable of working in a multi-location organisation and demonstrates awareness of cultural and behavioural differences across geographies.
  • Encourages and supports colleagues in a collaborative team environment.
  • Stays focused on the team’s contributions over individual contributions.
  • Understands the roles and limitations of collective group responsibility.
  • Constructively addresses disagreements and conflicts in a timely manner.
  • Shares knowledge and information.
  • Flexible and open to change.

Planning and delivering work

  • Delegates work effectively and appropriately.
  • Organises and manages their own time and work across competing priorities.
  • Respects others' time (for example, provides adequate time for review and escalation and is aware of time zones).
  • Thinks ahead to identify what is needed to progress the work.
  • Sets and adheres to realistic timelines within the span of control.
  • Takes ownership and responsibility for the quality of the work output, regularly communicating progress and escalating issues appropriately.
  • Promptly communicates reasons for changes to plans, as necessary.
  • Strives for continuous improvement within resources, priorities and deadlines.

Effective communications

  • Communicates in a concise, clear and well-structured way, appropriately tailored to the audience.
  • Presents issues, evidence, analysis and recommendations in a neutral manner. Persuades based on evidence and balanced analysis.
  • Drafts and reviews Board papers and due process documents with robust analyses of alternative views. Provides defensible support of recommendation and clear, simple, logical and consistent articulation.
  • Uses innovative design to enhance clarity and visual appeal to best convey the big picture.
  • Presents effectively to internal and external audiences and competently manages questions and comments.

To apply

Please send a detailed CV/résumé to recruitment@ifrs.org. Please include the following information or your application may not be considered:

  • the job title/position you are interested in (in the subject line of your email); and 
  • covering email/letter detailing how you meet the specified role requirements and your salary expectations.

Closing date: Ongoing

Interviews are held via video conference as part of our standard international recruitment process.

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