Director, Sustainability Regulatory Advisory

BDO USA•Chicago, IL

10d

About The Position

The Sustainability Regulatory Advisory Director leads the growth and delivery of sustainability regulatory advisory services. The role combines business development, subject matter expertise, hands-on project execution, and thought leadership across evolving ESG regulatory requirements, including CSRD, ESRS, EUDR, California SB 253 and SB 261, and EPR regulations. The Director generates new business opportunities, develops client relationships, leads complex advisory engagements, and delivers regulatory compliance solutions. The position develops and executes market growth strategies, pursues consulting opportunities across priority industries, leads proposals and contract negotiations, builds executive-level client relationships, and meets individual revenue and utilization targets. It also partners with internal account teams on cross-selling, represents the firm at industry events, and develops regulatory insights and thought leadership materials. The Director leads and executes client engagements, including designing and implementing governance structures, operating models, internal controls, compliance monitoring, reporting programs, and ESG software selection and implementation. Engagement work may include regulatory applicability, compliance gap, readiness, maturity, materiality, and double-materiality assessments, as well as ESG software transformation and implementation. The role monitors emerging regulations and provides clients with actionable insights. The Director establishes direction for the Sustainability Risk Advisory Practice, supervises and reviews the work of RAS Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates, supports their training on relevant software, and mentors team members. The role requires travel of 25% to 50% as needed. Salary range is $200,000–$230,000 nationally, in Maryland, and in NYC/Long Island/Westchester; individual offers depend on factors including qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Sustainability, Accounting, and/or Economics.
Ten years of experience in sustainability consulting, assessing ESG regulatory requirements and disclosure obligations, developing climate risk assessments and GHG accounting, and performing ESG internal control assessments.
Seven years of supervisory experience.
Strong understanding of international and domestic sustainability reporting frameworks, climate disclosure requirements, GHG emissions accounting, and decarbonization strategy development.
Deep knowledge and demonstrated experience with CSRD; ESRS; ISSB requirements; TCFD, GRI, SASB, and related sustainability reporting frameworks; California SB 253 and SB 261; GHG Protocol and reporting standards; SBTi; EUDR; EPR regulations; supply chain due diligence legislation; human rights and responsible sourcing compliance programs; supplier risk management and traceability frameworks; Australian Sustainability Regulatory Standards; and circular economy reporting and compliance frameworks.
Experience coordinating global and regional project teams.
Experience in client marketing and successfully participating in multiple client pursuits and proposal efforts.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Ability to adapt communication style and messaging for professionals at all levels within client organizations and the firm.
Ability to multitask while working independently and within a group environment.
Ability to collaborate with Principals, Managing Directors, and Directors in other service lines and industries, as well as RAS leaders.
Superior analytical and diagnostic skills, including the ability to break down complex issues and implement appropriate resolutions.
Ability to work in a demanding, deadline-driven environment with attention to detail and accuracy.
Exceptional project management skills.

Nice To Haves

MBA or other relevant advanced degree.
Experience in a public accounting environment.
Experience using assurance applications and research tools appropriate for this level.
CIA, CPA, CFE, CISA, or equivalent certification.
GRI, ESRS, SBTi, or equivalent certification.
Experience with Power BI.
Knowledge of other European languages, such as Italian, Spanish, or French.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute market growth strategies for ESG, sustainability, ESG assurance, and regulatory compliance services.
Identify, qualify, and pursue consulting opportunities across priority industries, including manufacturing, consumer products, retail, industrials, energy, and technology.
Lead proposal development, RFP responses, statements of work, pricing strategies, and contract negotiations.
Build and maintain executive-level relationships with sustainability, risk, compliance, finance, legal, procurement, and supply chain leaders.
Develop an annual sales pipeline and achieve individual revenue and utilization targets.
Partner with internal account teams to identify cross-selling opportunities across risk advisory, internal audit, supply chain, digital transformation, and sustainability services.
Represent the firm at industry events, conferences, webinars, and client roundtables.
Develop regulatory insights, whitepapers, and thought leadership materials to support market positioning and demand generation.
Lead and execute sustainability regulatory client engagements.
Design and implement governance structures, operating models, internal controls, compliance monitoring, and reporting programs, including ESG software selection and implementation.
Conduct regulatory applicability assessments, compliance gap analyses, readiness assessments, maturity evaluations, materiality and double-materiality assessments, and ESG software transformation and implementation.
Monitor emerging regulations and provide clients with actionable insights regarding regulatory changes, enforcement trends, and compliance expectations.
Establish a vision and direction for growth and delivery of the Sustainability Risk Advisory Practice.
Supervise the workload of RAS Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates on assigned engagements and review work product as needed.
Ensure select RAS Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates are trained on relevant software.
Mentor RAS Managers, Senior Associates, and Associates as appropriate.
Act as a leader and project a professional, positive attitude toward client and firm personnel.
Perform other duties as required.
Travel 25% to 50% of the time, as needed.