Executive Director Wrap Americas

It’s WRAP’s mission to help build a thriving world where climate change is no longer a problem and we’re looking for a leader in the sustainability field to spearhead our efforts in the Americas. Few roles offer the chance to make such a difference – could this be the challenge you’re looking for?

As one of the globe’s pioneering environmental charities, WRAP works tirelessly to help government, business, citizens work together to tackle the climate crisis. We’re experts in sustainability and the circular economy – and we’re on a mission to transform the way we buy, use and dispose of products in our everyday lives. As part of our strategy to accelerate our global impact, WRAP is launching a dedicated presence in the USA from 2023, and we’re looking for a dynamic, driven Executive Director to drive forward these plans.

A true opportunity to make a real difference at an organisational and societal level the Executive Director Americas will establish and grow WRAP Americas’ subsidiary operations to ensure it delivers its strategic priorities in the USA, Canada and Latin America. You will bring an extensive background within the field of environment and sustainability, and be a well-connected figure within relevant networks. You will have experience of growing a purpose driven organization in this or a related space. Your leadership and vision will inspire the team you build as the organization grows to be among the most respected players in global environmental action.

Our funding will come from a mix of philanthropic, government and corporate sources and you should have a demonstrable track record of success in working with and growing income from any of these sectors. At WRAP, our team is driven by our mission, and you will be a key player in enabling the delivery of our work.

Core responsibilities:

• Responsible for working with partners to help deliver UN SDG goal 12.3 and SDG 12.5
• Ensue WRAP Americas is compliant with all legal, financial, commercial and governance requirements under Charity, USA and UK law.
• Identify and secure the funding to finance delivery of the impact agreed for WRAP Americas.
• Create and build strong and innovative partnerships in line with the International Strategy, in order to meet targets and to develop opportunities for business growth.
• Represent WRAP in the USA and wider Americas, engaging with partners and funders at C-Suite level.
• Set and clearly articulate the strategic direction for the teams in the USA and the UK to deliver Critical Impact Metrics for WRAP Americas.
• Responsible for the P&L (c. $1million) for WRAP Americas and ensuring effective financial management of WRAP Americas.
• Create valuable initiatives and products that deliver change for customers and partners.
• Establish and grow WRAP Americas in line with WRAP’s business strategy and plan, shaping strategic priorities for the region in line with our wider strategic and charitable objectives.
• Create and build and maintain excellent relationships with major funders across the philanthropic, government and corporate spaces.
• Grow the reputation of WRAP’s brand in the region, putting brand management at the heart of communications, and promoting WRAP’s vision to potential funders and key stakeholders.
• Undertake critical negotiations with key customers and funders to win commitment.
• Recruit, create and develop an agile, high performing and innovative team, focused on customers and targets and focused on delivering business growth and impact; seeking to break new ground.

What we’re looking for

This is an incredibly important appointment in which you’ll join a leadership team with a transformational agenda. We’re looking for evidenced success in building and running an organisation in the sustainability or environmental arena, with responsibility for income generation and sound financial performance. You will demonstrate exceptional knowledge of your market, complemented with the ability to create and engage others with an aspirational strategic vision. You will also be comfortable operating with an organisation that is effectively in start-up mode, skilled to harness wider organisational resources, whilst also appreciating the short-term operational requirements of the role.

You’ll be able to demonstrate:

• Strong relationship management experience, with proven ability to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to drive change, secure commitment and aid collaborative working.
• Evidence of developing and implementing successful strategies.
• Excellent connections across the USA, in particular, with key players in the sustainability and environment space, including in government, corporates and philanthropic organizations.
• Evidence of developing own and other’s leadership capabilities.
• Evidence of success in securing income from streams including philanthropic, corporate or government sources.[TG4] [TG5] [DR6]
• A track record of building successful partnerships and managing multiple customers to deliver business objectives.
• Experience of building and running a successful organization, leading expert team[TG1] [TG2] [DR3] s, and being responsible for income and expenditure.
• Strong evidence of successful business management– commercial mindset, income generation, customer retention, product creation, risk management, cost management and KPI monitoring.

Closing date for applications is 11.00pm on 6th August 2023, but we may begin initial conversations prior to that date.

Please feel free to contact our Tom Godber in our Talent Acquisition team, if you would like to arrange an initial discreet conversation before applying.

We have a registered presence in Delaware and a partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) in Washington, but this role can operate on a largely remote basis. You would be required to undertake significant travel within the role, both within the US (notably to Washington & New York) and occasionally internationally .

About WRAP

The way we live today is damaging our planet. It’s a fact.

The world currently uses 1.7 planets’ worth of resources every year. We’ve seen rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biodiversity loss, and pollution of our planet. Some of the changes are already irreversible.

But it’s not too late to help make a difference to save the world, which is exactly what we do at WRAP.

We are a charity designed to deliver change. We work with governments, businesses and people all around the globe in our bid to create a world where resources are used sustainably.

From the food we eat, the clothes we wear and the products we buy. Every single day we are all using the planets resources - often without thought or consequence.

If you join us at WRAP – and we think you should – you'll help us to re-invent, re-think and re-define what is possible from production to consumption and beyond. Whether that’s tackling sustainable product design, reducing waste, encouraging re-use or advocating recycling across the food and drink, plastic packaging, clothing and textiles and the collections and recycling sectors.

You can help us all to do better.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

We believe that diversity is to be celebrated, that equality is our mindset and inclusion is the norm.

We’re on a journey to become an organisation where the richness of different opinions, lived experiences and capabilities are nurtured. An organisation that looks beyond its own boundaries and thrives outside of its comfort zone.

Our people are what make WRAP unique. So, if you decide to join us in saving the planet, we commit to:

value difference and create an inclusive environment where everybody feels a sense of belonging, where everybody feels comfortable being themselves.

consider equality, diversity and inclusion in everything we do that relates to you, including our recruitment, selection and attraction practices. Should you join WRAP, this follows through to pay and reward, development opportunities and career progression.