Chief Sustainability Officer

Wells Fargo is seeking a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) in Charlotte, NC, to lead the company's climate and sustainability initiatives. Reporting to the Head of Public Affairs, the CSO will advise executive leadership on sustainability strategies, ensuring alignment with business goals and regulatory requirements. Key responsibilities include managing sustainability programs, overseeing a team of 25, developing communication strategies, and fostering a culture of sustainable practices within the organization. The role emphasizes collaboration with external stakeholders and compliance with environmental regulations.
About the position

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets and proudly serves one in three U.S. households and more than 10% of all middle market companies in the U.S. We provide a diversified set of banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through our four reportable operating segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Corporate and Investment Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth and Investment Management. In the communities we serve, the company focuses its social impact on building a sustainable, inclusive future for all by supporting housing affordability, small business growth, financial health, and a low carbon economy. The Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is part of the Public Affairs function and reports to the Head of Public Affairs. The role is responsible for leading progress towards the company's climate and sustainability initiatives and driving enterprise Sustainability programs, while serving as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor to the executive leadership team. The CSO works closely with executive leadership across multiple lines of business to integrate strategy with considerations to investing, human rights, social justice, and equity. In this role, you will utilize a deep understanding of the sustainability landscape and the financial services industry to provide advice and thought leadership to executive leadership on sustainability-related matters. You will present key information to support strategic decision making to the Operating Committee, Board of Directors, and other executive stakeholders. You will lead Wells Fargo on key sustainability topics with external stakeholders, including NGOs, shareholders, and trade associations. Additionally, you will steer and supervise strategies that support environmental and social impacts and ensure alignment of sustainability strategy with the industry regulatory environment. You will ensure sustainability-projects align with the company's priorities and are strategically managed to ensure cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives. Coordination with key business units on relevant opportunities and challenges will also be part of your responsibilities. You will develop and lead Wells Fargo's sustainability communications strategy, including content and narratives for relevant corporate disclosures, the Institute for Sustainable Finance website, and other channels. Furthermore, you will ensure sustainability program processes and operations are compliant with environmental, governmental, and industrial regulations, manage corporate sustainability risk assessments, including climate risk assessments, and champion sustainability education and skill development across the entire organization. You will supervise the bank's Sustainability transparency and disclosure initiatives, manage a team of approximately 25 employees, manage the budget related to sustainability initiatives, and manage the allocation of people and financial resources for Strategy and Planning. Lastly, you will foster an internal organizational culture based on sustainable business practices and ethics while empowering employees with a positive social corporate climate.

Responsibilities
• Utilize a deep understanding of the sustainability landscape and the financial services industry to provide advice and thought leadership to executive leadership on sustainability-related matters
,
• Present key information to support strategic decision making to the Operating Committee, Board of Directors, and other executive stakeholders
,
• Lead Wells Fargo on key sustainability topics with external stakeholders, including NGOs, shareholders, and trade associations
,
• Steer and supervise strategies that support environmental and social impacts and ensure alignment of sustainability strategy with the industry regulatory environment
,
• Ensure sustainability-projects align with the company's priorities and are strategically managed to ensure cost effectiveness, technical feasibility, and integration with other initiatives
,
• Coordinate with key business units on relevant opportunities and challenges
,
• Develop and lead Wells Fargo's sustainability communications strategy, including content and narratives for relevant corporate disclosures, the Institute for Sustainable Finance website, and other channels
,
• Ensure sustainability program processes and operations are compliant with environmental, governmental, and industrial regulations
,
• Manage corporate sustainability risk assessments, including climate risk assessments
,
• Champion sustainability education and skill development across the entire organization
,
• Supervise the bank's Sustainability transparency and disclosure initiatives
,
• Manage a team of approximately 25 employees
,
• Manage budget related to sustainability initiatives
,
• Manage allocation of people and financial resources for Strategy and Planning
,
• Foster an internal organizational culture based on sustainable business practices and ethics while empowering employees with a positive social corporate climate

Requirements
• 10+ years of Community Impact or Sustainability experience, demonstrated through one or a combination of the following: work experience, training, military experience, education
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• 5+ years of Management experience
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• 5+ years of experience leading an ESG or Sustainability organization

Nice-to-haves
• Experience working in Financial Services or another heavily regulated environment
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• Proven success leading a large Sustainability organization or practice
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• Inspiring leadership skills to guide and motivate the team and enterprise towards a shared vision
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• Strategic thinker and ability to execute on a robust sustainability strategy aligned with Wells Fargo's broader goals
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• Ability to engage and influence key stakeholders, including employees, customers, investors, community partners and government regulators
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• Technical understanding of environmental and sustainability issues, regulatory, and industry trends
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• Expertise with risk management to identify and mitigate environmental and sustainability risks

Benefits
• Health benefits
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• 401(k) Plan
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• Paid time off
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• Disability benefits
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• Life insurance, critical illness insurance, and accident insurance
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• Parental leave
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• Critical caregiving leave
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• Discounts and savings
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• Commuter benefits
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• Tuition reimbursement
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• Scholarships for dependent children
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• Adoption reimbursement