Executive Director, Greenhouse Gas Protocol

World Resources Institute•Washington, DC

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol provides the world’s most widely used standards for measuring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. 97% of disclosing S&P 500 companies report their GHG inventories using the GHG Protocol. For more than two decades, the Protocol has served as the global framework for business, government, and organizational climate action—enabling the transition to a low carbon economy through consistent, transparent, and credible GHG accounting and reporting methods. The GHG Protocol’s mission is to develop the most credible, accessible, and widely used greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standards and to proactively facilitate their global adoption and implementation. Co-hosted by World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol is focused on carbon accounting standards that meet rapidly evolving expectations in the market. The GHG Protocol recently updated its governance and organizational structure to meet the evolving demands of the GHG accounting ecosystem and stakeholders. It started by creating a Steering Committee and an Independent Standards Board in 2024. It followed by entering into an MOU with the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) in 2024 and a strategic partnership with the International Standards Organization (ISO) in 2025. As a next step, the GHG Protocol is seeking an Executive Director to lead the organization into its next era, one defined by institutional growth, increased global profile, and rapidly expanding market demands. This new Executive Director position will oversee the GHG Protocol’s existing seasoned leadership team, drive the organization to deliver on its mission at the scale and pace the market needs, and fulfill its post Belém COP mandate on global carbon accounting harmonization. This position will be responsible for the GHG Protocol’s strategic positioning and plan, governance, culture, operations, funding, and stakeholder engagement. This position will be responsible for ensuring that the GHG Protocol's standards drive decarbonization and are market adoptable. The Executive Director shall be guided by the GHG Protocol’s vision: that all private and public entities account for their GHG emissions, enabling an acceleration in reductions in line with the global warming limits required by climate science. This is a unique opportunity to lead the world’s most widely adopted carbon accounting system at a pivotal moment for global climate action. The Executive Director will both represent and advance the GHG Protocol on the global stage, and be responsible for all GHG Protocol operations, while maintaining absolute respect for the independent nature of the standards-setting process. Success requires the ability to deliver timely outcomes with a close ear to addressing both market needs and blind spots, while honoring multi-stakeholder legitimacy—balancing speed with inclusion, viability with mission integrity, and bold action with transparent governance.

Requirements

Advanced degree in environmental science, public policy, business, or a related field preferred.
Senior leadership experience in an international or multi-stakeholder organization, preferably in climate, sustainability, or standard setting.
Deep domain expertise in greenhouse gas accounting, corporate sustainability, and climate policy frameworks.
Stellar reputation and extensive global network in climate policy and standards.
Relevant leadership background in both business and government or not-for-profit sector.
Experience in successfully building and maintaining productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including in the interaction with multi-stakeholder governance bodies.
Track record of building high-velocity teams that deliver measurable outcomes—not just strategic plans.
Strong financial acumen and experience in managing complex budgets and funding relationships.
Scale-up leadership experience strongly preferred.
Experience in leading through complexity and successfully operating with dual mandates (e.g., quality + time to market, standards + implementation).
Exceptional leadership skills: Ability to set and engage a team for a clear mission-driven direction for the organization, and to understand and leverage the team’s competencies, while supporting individual and team development.
Strategist and implementor: Can cut through complexity and shape a strategy that leads to fulfillment of GHG Protocol’s mission, then translate the strategy into actions.
Entrepreneurial drive with builder mentality: Ability to instill a sense of pace and urgency in the organization with a bias toward results over perfection. Energized by creating new things (products, platforms, partnerships) not just maintaining existing ones.
Intellectual humility, constructive alignment, decisional conviction: Seeks input widely, listens generously, and showcases where positions align. Then decides with clarity, owns the outcome and makes trade-offs explicit.
Mission zealot, process pragmatist: Uncompromising on climate impact and scientific integrity; flexible and innovative on how best to achieve it. Challenges "we've always done it this way."
Transparent and convincing communicator: Excellent communication skills and ability to be GHG Protocol’s lead ambassador. Has an open and winning communication style internally and externally. Explains the why behind decisions not just the what.
Cross-cultural and cross-sector fluency: Navigates between corporate boardrooms, NGO advocates, and government regulators from around the world with equal credibility.
Thick skin with warm heart: Ability to withstand criticism and political pressure while maintaining empathy and relationships. Ability to disagree without being disagreeable.
Reputation for integrity: Track record of ethical decision-making under pressure. Known for doing what's right over what's popular or profitable

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership (35%): Develop and execute a bold, forward-looking strategy to advance GHG Protocol's mission and expand GHG Protocol standards’ uptake and impact. This will involve advancing and deepening the GHG Protocol’s partnerships with ISSB and ISO as well as providing strategic leadership for the COP30 Champions’ Action Acceleration Plan for Global Carbon Accounting Harmonization, as the co-host initiative Principal alongside ISO. Ensure the organization's standards are both scientifically rigorous and practically implementable, through transparently engaging stakeholders on areas of divergence and on the rationale for final outcomes. Balance the plurality of global expectations through matching the primacy of climate science with carbon accounting integrity. Create a high-performance culture where all staff and stakeholders are valued, all opinions are heard, but decisions are ultimately made by those with accountability. Reward initiative, experimentation, and learning from failure—not just success. Make reversible decisions quickly; make irreversible decisions carefully. Distinguish between Type 1 decisions (hard to reverse, require stakeholder buy-in) and Type 2 decisions (easily reversed, can be made unilaterally). Optimize organizational velocity by empowering staff to make Type 2 decisions autonomously. Take a global viewpoint, recognizing and being sensitive to different national and regional challenges and opportunities, whilst maintaining common principles of integrity and impact orientation. Navigate challenges with decisiveness. Be ready to make time-sensitive decisions, even when incomplete information or imperfect consensus exists. Communicate decisions transparently, maintain flexibility when new information arises, and accept responsibility for outcomes. Seek partnerships that amplify impact (e.g., ISO collaboration). Utilize a partnership approach to advance the GHG Protocol’s mission. Be willing to constructively challenge partners when necessary. Ensure controls maintain integrity, focusing on advancing the global public good, avoiding undue influence, and supporting governance processes. Anticipate and respond to both emerging climate science and the market needs of business and investors, track closely scientific developments, business and investor viewpoints (from around the world), policy developments, corporate disclosure trends, and technology trends. Encourage GHG Protocol to utilize leading-edge AI technology to enable efficient and effective GHG accounting, assurance, disclosure, and utilization of climate data.
Organizational Development & Governance (15%): Build and lead a high-performing, mission-driven, merit-based organizational culture rooted in excellence, achievement, integrity, and collaboration. Directly oversee GHG Protocol’s senior leadership team and ensure effective recruitment, development, and performance of all staff. Establish and attain ambitious goals (financial and operational). Develop and assure controls to provide standards in the public interest, supported by clear safeguards that reinforce independence and balanced representation. Work closely with the Steering Committee to ensure effective governance, risk management, and accountability.
Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships (25%): Cultivate strong relationships with key stakeholders, including governments, corporations, civil society, and international organizations. Represent GHG Protocol on the global stage and global climate forums. Serve as its principal spokesperson and advocate. Strengthen its role as a trusted global standard setter and facilitate adoption of GHG Protocol standards. Engage with partners (e.g., donors, standard-adopters) to ensure sustainable financial and institutional support.
Operational & Financial Stewardship (25%): Develop a diversified funding strategy to ensure fulfillment of the GHG Protocol strategic plan and provide long-term financial stability and sustainability. This includes private philanthropic foundations, government agencies, corporate foundations, and possible earned revenue models. Develop a successful philanthropic fundraising program, working with donors that are aligned with GHG Protocol’s mission. Ensure conditions of all grants are well understood, reasonable, and aligned with GHG Protocol’s mission and strategy. Provide timely feedback to funders on fulfilment of grant requirements. Create a sustaining earned revenue business model that funds standards excellence while building infrastructure that makes standards actionable at scale. Explore commercial revenue (e.g., technology platforms, implementation services, certification). Target financial independence within 5 years, providing adequate resources for standards development without compromising the integrity of the standards process. Ensure good operational systems, policies, and financial controls are in place and being followed.

Benefits

Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours
Generous leave days that increase with tenure
Medical Coverage
Dental Coverage
Vision Coverage
retirement plan access and employer contribution