Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Action Japan

• Help steer the Japanese corporate world to achieve the Paris temperature goals
• Tokyo-based CEO role for a new advocacy and research climate action non-profit
• Would suit financial/corporate/legal executive with climate/energy experience

The Organisation

Corporate Action Japan (CAJ) コーポレート・アクション・ジャパン is a new investor-facing shareholder advocacy and research organisation, leveraging the power of investment to drive climate action in the private sector and capture the opportunities of the net-zero transition. CAJ aims to increase ambition and momentum across key investment, regulatory, and legislative agendas that can redirect financial flows towards a net-zero economy in Japan. CAJ's vision is a swift transition of the Japanese economy to Paris-aligned industry and a service sector powered by sustainable clean energy.

CAJ engages with investors and listed companies to strengthen awareness of climate risks and opportunities. CAJ will initially focus on TSE listed companies to ensure the mainstream adoption and revision of robust Paris-aligned transition plans across a number of high emitting sectors. CAJ will grow rapidly over the next 2-3 years, bringing together experts with backgrounds in finance, investment, climate change, law, policy, natural sciences, and communications to achieve this vision. CAJ is supported by a coalition of Japanese civil society organisations and international philanthropic foundations and has a mandate to rapidly grow into an independent organisation.

Benefits & Culture

A rare and sought-after opportunity to work at the junction of the civil-society sector and the real economy in a brand new, Tokyo-based non-profit advocacy organisation.

Under your strategic leadership, CAJ will have system-wide influence on the Japanese corporate sector and real economy.

Native-level Japanese language skills and a work and residency permit to live and work in Japan are essential.

The Role

Initially, you will be responsible for refining the vision and strategy of CAJ and leading on post-incorporation set-up, recruitment, and brand identity. You will work closely with the corporate and financial sectors and external stakeholders such as investors, government, think tanks, and civil society organisations to accelerate Japan's energy transition.

In addition to oversight of the organisation, you will ensure high-level engagement with Japanese and international investors, listed companies, and government. You will champion CAJ's mission and values and have overall control of the organisational and programmatic strategy, finances, functional and programmatic delivery. The CEO will be accountable for shaping the core objectives of CAJ, ensuring that they are delivered on time and within budget, and driving long-term fundraising goals to build a sustainable organisation. Your other key responsibilities will include:

• Swiftly establishing and scaling up the new organisation
• Acting as a catalyst to ensure the early delivery of CAJ's plans and strategy
• Raising the profile of CAJ through public speaking, media engagements in Japan, networking
• Strategising to influence climate and environmental policies and regulatory developments
• Developing thought leadership to support CAJ's vision and mission
• Creating a vibrant and positive organisational culture and developing staff

Skills Required

The ideal candidate is passionate about addressing climate change and has a strong track record in thought leadership. Ideally, the candidate also has private-sector leadership experience in the finance, legal or corporate sector, and/or financial sector exposure (such as banking, asset management, insurance, or related professional services). The candidate is a strategic thinker with experience engaging at the executive level with internal and external stakeholders. Climate-risk, ESG analysis, and/or non-profit experience would be an asset. Additional skills and experience required include:

• Demonstrated success managing a team producing work on time and within budget
• Ability to navigate diverse internal and external stakeholder groups and build consensus
• Agile working and ability to deal with ambiguity
• Excellent written communications; native Japanese language skills, professional English
• Ability to work remotely - at least initially
• Networking and relationship building skills
• Experience in motivating, leading, and developing a team
• Willingness to travel when required; work and residency permit for Japan essential
• Familiarity with climate change/clean energy subject matter desirable, not required

Call to action
If you want to leverage your finance sector experience to help Japan achieve Paris temperature goals, and you meet the requirements above, please apply by addressing the key skills and experience required, forwarding your English cover letter and resume (plus Japanese version, optional) to: cv@ngorecruitment.com quoting reference #893833 or call Lois Freeke in confidence on +61 (0) 2 8243 0570.

Please note there is no formal closing date for this role, if you are interested we would encourage you to apply as soon as possible.