Director, Sustainability & Climate Risk

Are you passionate about enhancing an organization’s resilience to climate-related risks and championing sustainability initiatives that align with global best practices? Are you an experienced sustainability and climate risk professional with a solid background in climate risk modeling and diligence, US and European environmental regulations, ESG reporting, climate targets, and climate change mitigation? If so, we want to hear from you! Job Summary: The Director of Sustainability and Climate Risk will work closely with the AVP, Sustainability to help enhance the organization's resilience to climate-related risks while championing sustainability initiatives that align with global best practices.
This position will be responsible for managing climate risk modeling and diligence, overseeing European environmental regulations, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting, shaping climate targets, driving climate change mitigation, and fostering robust stakeholder engagement.
This is a hybrid position that offers flexibility to work from home Monday and Friday, and collaborate in the San Diego or Phoenix office Tuesday – Thursday.
Job Responsibilities: Climate Risk Modeling and Diligence: Manage and enhance climate risk models to assess the vulnerability of the organization's real estate portfolio to climate-related risks.
Collaborate with senior leaders and department heads to integrate climate risk considerations into acquisitions underwriting and business processes.
Utilize quantitative modeling and scenario analysis to evaluate the financial implications of climate risks and potential mitigations.
Provide recommendations informed by long-term climate change projections.
Stay updated on evolving climate risk modeling methodologies and industry standards.
European Environmental Regulations and Portfolio Exposure: Lead the development of an internal system to monitor European environmental regulations affecting the organization's European real estate portfolio.
Assess portfolio exposure to environmental risks in European operating regions, considering regulatory changes and extreme weather events.
Collaborate with external partners and experts to ensure compliance with local environmental regulations.
Implement strategies to enhance climate resilience within the European real estate portfolio.
ESG Reporting: Contribute to organization’s preparation for US and international climate-related reporting requirements.
Collaborate with the sustainability team to ensure the organization's alignment with recognized ESG reporting frameworks and standards, such as GRI, TCFD, SASB, and regional ESG guidelines.
Assist in the development and preparation of ESG reports and rating and ranker submissions, such as GRESB, CDP, CSA, ensuring the accurate and transparent disclosure of the organization's performance in environmental, social, and governance areas.
Engage with internal teams to gather data and information required for ESG reporting, working closely with departments to enhance data accuracy and completeness.
Climate Targets and Climate Change Mitigation: Coordinate with departments across the organization to assess the opportunity to set climate targets and sustainability goals, aligned with Realty Income’s operating model and industry standards.
Provide recommendations and data-driven insights to set carbon mitigation strategies and initiatives to decrease portfolio emissions.
Develop and implement comprehensive climate change mitigation strategies in alignment with the organization's sustainability goals.
Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with internal stakeholders to raise awareness of climate risk, sustainability goals, and climate regulation.
Communicate with external stakeholders, including investors, clients, regulatory bodies, industry peers, and the wider community, to share the organization's sustainability initiatives and opportunities in the net-lease space.
Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in environmental science, environmental management, sustainability, or related field.
8+ years of experience in an Environmental, Sustainability, or ESG role.
Experience in guiding and adhering to carbon emissions standards and reporting frameworks, including but not limited to the Science-Based Targets initiative, GHG Protocol, IFRS, life cycle assessments, and sustainable building certification standards.
Excellent data analytical capabilities and strong Excel skills and modeling experience.
Ability to lead projects and adhere to strict deadlines.
Proven capability in interfacing directly with senior leadership and efficiently collaborating with individuals from diverse geographic locations, cultures, functional areas, and various seniority levels.
Aptitude for self-direct work, driving solutions, prioritizing tasks, handling multiple responsibilities, and consistently delivering high-caliber work within challenging time constraints.
Extensive expertise in the realm of sustainability within a corporate setting, with a demonstrated history of conceiving and guiding strategic endeavors on a global scale.
This includes the establishment and execution of new corporate sustainability objectives.
A track record of successful engagement with external research organizations and universities to propel industry-wide and multi-stakeholder initiatives relating to sustainability and ESG matters.
Broad experience with Green Building certifications.
Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree in environmental science, environmental management, sustainability, or related field.
Sustainability, ESG, or Climate Risk Certification.
Industry experience in real estate or finance.
What you will get in return: The base salary for this role is in the range of $141,276 - $187,349.
You may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus and an annual discretionary stock award, (dependent on date of hire) to be discussed during the initial phone interview.
Base salary and total compensation package are determined by the candidate's experience, knowledge, education, skills, performance, and abilities, as well as internal equity, company performance, and alignment with market data.
Most US-based full-time and part-time roles come with flexible schedules.
We offer a best-in-class benefits package that includes healthcare, dental, and vision insurance for employees and eligible dependents.
Our 401(k)-retirement plan has a company match of 50% up to 6% of eligible compensation.
Realty Income also offers other wellness, financial, and work/lifestyle-specific benefits, along with 12 PTO hours every month; in addition to 12 paid holidays, and paid volunteer time.
Realty Income’s purpose is to build enduring relationships and brighter financial futures, and this starts with you! Realty Income, The Monthly Dividend Company®, is an S&P 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index®.
Our purpose is to build enduring relationships and brighter financial futures.
For more than five decades, we have invested in people and places to deliver dependable monthly dividends that increase over time.
The company is structured as a REIT, and its monthly dividends are supported by the cash flow from over 13,000 real estate properties owned under long-term net lease agreements with commercial clients.
To date, the company has declared 634 consecutive common stock monthly dividends throughout its 54-year operating history and increased the dividend 120 times since Realty Income's public listing in 1994 (NYSE: O).
Our company attracts individuals who value integrity, perseverance, and teamwork.
If you appreciate working in a professional environment that rewards employees based on merit and values a work-life balance, make sure to apply today!