VP - Sustainability

The shipping and maritime industries are some of the most impactful and challenging to decarbonize in order to meet society's global sustainability goals. If you're one of this industry's senior professionals with this niche experience and skillset, you may be the right fit for the VP - Sustainability with SSA Marine/Carrix, a Blackstone-owned, multi-modal transportation and logistics company.

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SSA Marine/Carrix is the largest marine-terminal operator in the Americas and Mexico and one of the largest globally. The impact to be had in this industry is huge, and Blackstone is committed to addressing the global climate crisis by creating stronger, more resilient companies and long-term value in this industry. Are you up for the challenge?

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Summary/Objective:

This role will lead the development and implementation of Carrix's ESG strategy and initiatives to reduce risk, drive value, and ensure license to operate for the company. The role will report directly to the Senior Vice President & Treasurer and have regular interaction with the CEO. Focus will be on the development and implementation of a robust decarbonization plan across company operations to achieve significant GHG emission reductions across locations. This position requires a deep understanding of ports operations, decarbonization, ESG principles, technical industry knowledge, and strong leadership capabilities. The ideal candidate should possess strong attention to detail, an ability to thrive in matrixed and fast-paced organization and have excellent organizational change management, communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.

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Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of a comprehensive ESG strategy supporting the commercial business opportunities, evolving regulatory requirements and best practices in the industry. This strategy should be focused on risk mitigation, value addition, and meeting stakeholder expectations, now and into the future.

• Develop and implement a detailed decarbonization plan with locations, projects, CapEx, ROI and emissions reduction projected. Work with Operational Specialist - Sustainability to liaise with Operations teams to ensure the plan has buy-in from the local teams and is actionable. Initial focus on the U.S. West Coast, moving to other U.S. locations and international locations after.

• Pursue grant opportunities that support decarbonization and other company objectives, supported by an internal grants team. Immediate focus will be on developing ambitious projects to seek federal funding for decarbonization projects.

• Collaborate with senior executives, including the CEO, Operations and Finance, to ensure full buy-in on all plans. Lead formal communications and governance for key ESG decisions across the organization, including developing the agendas for and presenting at the quarterly ESG Committees of the Board.

• Stay informed about industry advancements, programs and best practices (i.e., Green Marine certification for Terminals), along with emerging ESG issues to drive continuous improvement.

• Develop, oversee, and update ESG policies and procedures, ensuring they are aligned with GRESB and other international standards, regulations, and frameworks.

• Collaborate with legal and compliance teams to ensure ESG policies are integrated into the company's governance structure.

• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including customers, contractors, equipment manufacturers, regulators, port authorities, utilities, investors, NGOs, and local communities to ensure constructive relations and support of the company's sustainability plans.

• Participate in select industry forums, conferences, and working groups to share and promote the company's ESG initiatives and deepen relationships with stakeholders.

• Support the government relations team in efforts related to ESG matters and decarbonization.

• Oversee the development and implementation of KPIs aligned with GRESB, TCFD and other industry frameworks to track the company's ESG performance and progress towards targets.

• Ensure the establishment of robust data collection and management systems to ensure accurate and timely reporting of ESG metrics. With the ESG data specialist, engage and train internal staff to support necessary shifts in data management to ensure sound governance.

• Monitor industry benchmarks and peer comparisons to assess the company's ESG performance relative to its peers.

• Coordinate and oversee the development of a public-facing website, an ESG/TCFD report, and other communications, ensuring transparency, accuracy, and adherence to reporting standards.

• Prepare and present regular reports to senior management, the Board of Directors, and external stakeholders on the company's ESG performance, primarily through quarterly reports to the ESG Committee of the Board.

• Must be able to travel - up to 50% to domestic and international locations

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Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as sustainability, environmental management, business administration, or a related discipline. A master's degree is preferred.

• Extensive experience in ESG strategy, sustainability, or related roles, preferably within the port or logistics industry.

• Strong knowledge of international ESG standards, frameworks, and reporting guidelines (e.g., GRESB, SASB, TCFD) and experience implementing them.

• Familiarity with relevant environmental regulations and certifications (e.g., ISO 14001, Greenhouse Gas Protocol).

• Demonstrated leadership abilities, with the capacity to influence and drive change across the organization while managing a team of ESG staff.

• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and identify trends and opportunities.

• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.

• Strong financial analysis skills, including developing budget projections with CapEx and OpEx.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders, including presenting key updates to leadership and the Board.

• Proven track record providing strategy for successful ESG strategies and initiatives in the ports industry.

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If you are interested, please apply directly, or contact Jenny Han Simon at jenny.hansimon@acre.com for more information.