Executive Director, Food & Fibre

About us

Pollination is a specialist climate change investment and advisory firm, accelerating the transition to a net zero, nature positive future. Our people are the key to unlocking change. Brought together from across industries, we are global leaders in finance, investment, technology, business, law and policy.

We combine our diverse expertise to connect dots and see around corners where others can’t. With strong relationships at the highest levels of government and the private sector, we shift barriers and catalyse transformative partnerships.

Our clients span governments, businesses and public and private capital. Using our broad experience, we help navigate the climate transition, and design and invest in breakthrough ideas that deliver financial returns.

The culture at Pollination is driven by our values: intellectual rigor, catalytic collaboration, courageous creativity, relentless tenacity and thoughtful transformation.

The opportunity

We are looking for an Executive Director to support our Food & Fibre Corporate Advisory team in Australia. This is a 12 month fixed contract for a maternity leave contract, however a permanent role may be considered longer term if there is availability in the team. While the team is based in Sydney and our preference would be to hire locally, we will also consider strong applicants from Melbourne or Brisbane.

In this role, you will be responsible for advising clients from across the food and fashion sectors in closing the implementation gap between their sustainability targets and ambitions and the delivery of on-the-ground outcomes across their agricultural supply chains. This will involve leading some of the programs of work that we are delivering to unlock value chain financing for insetting across different commodity supply chains. There will also be broader support for the team in leading our advisory support for corporate, financial institutions and governments in driving climate and nature outcomes in agricultural supply chains. Project management and consulting skills are critical, as well as technical expertise in relevant sustainability and agricultural-adjacent roles.

Why Join us

Work at the forefront of climate finance and nature-positive investment globally

Collaborate with leaders across law, finance, government, science and technology

Contribute to a firm with genuine, measurable impact on the climate transition

A flexible and hybrid, high-trust culture with a real commitment to work-life harmony

Key Responsibilities

In this role, your core responsibilities will include:

Designing and managing the delivery of multiple insetting programs, assisting funders in achieving specific climate and sustainability outcomes through investments across agricultural supply chains.

Leading stakeholder engagement and coordination, across funders, implementation partners and farmers across multiple programs

Managing cashflows and timelines across various programs in order to minimise delivery risks and maximise outcomes across various programs

Business development including the development and management of a pipeline of projects, from initial client contact and engagement through project design and delivery.

Providing team leadership and managing the development of staff across various programs and fostering an inclusive and collaborative team culture.

Developing problem solving strategies and assets across client groups or sectors, including developing Pollination IP and thought leadership.

Representing Pollination in external public facing settings to showcase work and foster industry relationships

What You Bring

We are looking for someone who has:

Essential

5+ years working on climate or sustainability, with 8-10+ years general professional experience

Professional experience in consulting, food or fashion in-house roles, or agricultural roles

An understanding of food and fashion supply chains, and of agricultural decarbonisation pathways and their implementation

Experience in program coordination, service contracting and stakeholder management

Experience managing projects or client engagements

Experience leading a team and managing staff in a collaborative and inclusive style

Experience managing cashflow budgets, with strong financial management and planning skills

Exceptional analytical and interpersonal skills

A drive to find strategic solutions that help our clients deliver net zero and build climate resilience

Desirable

An understanding of carbon markets, ideally including the Australian carbon credit scheme

The successful candidate is likely to have advanced university qualifications in economics, finance, business, agriculture, science, technology, engineering or a closely related field, and relevant experience in both sustainability and agriculture.

You’ll love this role if…

You thrive in a fast-moving, fluid environment and have exceptional attention to detail. You are adaptable and proactive, calm under pressure and a great communicator – able to prioritise and effectively manage the needs of diverse stakeholders. You have a ferocious curiosity, an appetite for solving complex problems and are comfortable with ambiguity. You are excited to work in a purpose-driven organisation and share our ambition and commitment to tackle the climate crisis.

How to apply

Please submit your CV (maximum 2 pages) and, optionally, a cover letter addressing the above criteria (maximum 1 page). Applicants must have valid and unrestricted working rights in Australian, sponsorship is not available for this role.

Applying with Pollination

Pollination is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute their best in line with our values. We welcome applicants from all walks of life; including backgrounds, identities and experiences. Our commitment to inclusion drives innovation, strengthen our culture and ensure our people can thrive, grow and belong. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application. We will then connect with you to support and accommodate anything you may need through the recruitment and selection process.

You must hold the right to work in Australia.