Transamerica

Head of Sustainability

Transamerica • $350K — $380K *
Finance & Insurance
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in business, communications, public policy, finance, environmental science, sustainability, or related field.
  • 15+ years of experience in sustainability, corporate strategy, corporate affairs, or related field.
  • 3+ years in financial services, insurance, asset management, or a regulated industry.
  • Experience leading global sustainability programs, adapting EU-centric requirements to a U.S. context.
  • Strong understanding of sustainability regulations and standards.
  • Relevant sustainability, climate, responsible investment, or reporting certification.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the global sustainability strategy and establish 2030 priorities in collaboration with relevant teams.
  • Manage sustainability governance and ensure clear reporting to the Board of Directors.
  • Align the sustainability agenda with the Group's broader global strategy and regulatory expectations.
  • Ensure compliance with U.S. and European sustainability reporting requirements.
  • Oversee sustainability data governance and coordinate external assurance activities.
  • Measure and report on greenhouse gas emissions across various scopes.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership, enhancing internal commitment and stakeholder credibility.

Benefits

  • Competitive Pay
  • Bonus for Eligible Employees
  • Pension Plan
  • 401k Match
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Disability Insurance
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
  • Employee Discounts
  • Career Training & Development Opportunities
  • Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually
  • Ten paid holidays per year
  • Holistic wellness program including Wellness Coaching
  • Fifteen days of paid parental leave
  • Adoption Assistance and Employee Assistance Programs
  • Volunteer Hours PTO and Employee Matching Gifts Program
  • Inclusion & Diversity Programs and Employee Recognition Program
Full Job Description
Job Family
Corporate Development, Strategy and Sustainability

Job Description Summary
This role leads the global Corporate Sustainability function and reports into the Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer. The role advises Executive Committee, Board, and business unit leaders. It defines the sustainability strategy, strengthens governance, and builds credibility with investors, regulators, customers, nongovernmental organizations, and other stakeholders.

The role evaluates the current sustainability framework and defines the future agenda, including sustainability commitments, climate strategy, responsible investment priorities, regulatory compliance, and evolving stakeholder expectations.

Job Description

Head of Sustainability

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead the global sustainability strategy and three-year strategy cycle, including establishing the company's 2030 sustainability priorities in partnership with relevant functions and conducting an annual review of the global sustainability landscape and regulatory developments.
  • Lead sustainability governance and oversight, including the Group wide sustainability oversight body, and provide clear reporting to the Board of Directors.
  • Align the sustainability agenda with the Group's global strategy, including climate related commitments, responsible investment ambitions, and evolving regulatory expectations in the United States and European Union.
  • Ensure ongoing compliance with applicable United States regulations and the European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, including the double materiality assessment, the sustainability statement, required disclosures, and related limited assurance from the external auditor.
  • Oversee annual reporting and disclosure activities under relevant frameworks, including European Sustainability Reporting Standards, National Association of Insurance Commissioners Climate Risk Disclosure, Securities and Exchange Commission requirements, Carbon Disclosure Project climate disclosures, and other applicable standards.
  • Maintain sustainability data governance, internal controls, audit readiness, and assurance processes for nonfinancial sustainability metrics, including coordination of external assurance activities.
  • Oversee measurement, validation, and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions, including Scope 1, Scope 2, operational Scope 3, and financed emissions data where applicable.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor and thought partner to the Board of Directors, Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer, Executive Committee, and business unit chief executive officers, building internal commitment and external credibility.
  • Ensure the global Environmental and Responsible Investment policies reflect emerging leading practices and regulatory expectations. Partner with Investments and Investor Relations to maintain responsible investment guidelines, screening approaches, engagement practices, and exclusion policies.
  • Monitor emerging sustainability regulation, voluntary standards, climate commitments, and reporting frameworks across United States federal and state contexts while maintaining
  • appropriate awareness of relevant global standard setters.
  • Oversee sustainability memberships and signatory commitments, including the United Nations Global Compact, Principles for Sustainable Insurance, Principles for Responsible Investment, and Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance.
  • Oversee the completeness and quality of submissions to sustainability benchmarks and rating agencies, including MSCI, Sustainalytics, Institutional Shareholder Services, S&P Global, and Carbon Disclosure Project.
  • Strengthen internal engagement on sustainability and prepare for investor meetings and nongovernmental organization engagements. Serve as a senior spokesperson with investors, regulators, suppliers, clients, and other key stakeholder groups.
  • Collaborate across Finance, Investments, business operations, Risk, Legal, Compliance, Corporate Affairs, and Government and Policy Affairs to support execution, policy alignment, climate risk integration, and public statements.
  • Oversee sustainability data management tools, reporting process improvements, benchmark submissions, rating agency responses, and related governance processes.


Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in business, communications, public policy, finance, environmental science, sustainability, or related field.
  • 15+ years of experience in sustainability, corporate strategy, corporate affairs, or related field.
  • 3+ years of experience in financial services, insurance, asset management, or related regulated industry.
  • Experience operating in a global organization and leading, cross-border sustainability programs, with demonstrated ability to adapt global and EU-centric requirements into a U.S. business, regulatory, and stakeholder context.
  • Proven ability to balance global sustainability priorities with U.S. regulatory, commercial, governance, and reputational requirements.
  • Strong understanding of sustainability regulation and standards.
  • Relevant sustainability, climate, responsible investment, or reporting certification.


Preferred Qualifications
  • Advanced degree in business, public policy, environmental science, finance, sustainability, or related field.
  • Experience with sustainability benchmarks, rating agencies, and submissions such as Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), Sustainalytics, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), S&P Global, and Carbon Disclosure Project.
  • Experience managing sustainability memberships and signatory commitments, including the United Nations Global Compact, Principles for Sustainable Insurance, Principles for Responsible Investment, and Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance.


Key Competencies
  • Executive presence and organizational savvy, with experience engaging with boards of directors, senior executives, investors, regulators, suppliers, clients, nongovernmental organizations, and other external stakeholders.
  • Ability to translate sustainability, regulatory, climate, and financial data into clear narratives, executive materials, and actionable business strategies.
  • Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
  • Proficiency with sustainability reporting systems, data management tools, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
  • Self-starter with a proactive, results-oriented approach and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.


Working Environment

Location: New York City, New York (Office)
  • Work outside of regular business hours may be required to support board meetings, annual general meetings, governance calendars, filings, and other time sensitive requirements.
  • Working Conditions are designated at the job level; however, the company reserves the right to adjust working conditions on an individual employee basis as needed to support business requirements.
  • Travel Requirements Estimate: Occasional
  • Travel to support board meetings & annual general meetings as needed.


Compensation

The Salary for this position generally ranges between $350,000 and $380,000 annually. Please note that the salary range is a good faith estimate for this position and actual starting pay is determined by several factors including qualifications, experience, geography, work location and operational needs. Salary may vary above and below the stated amounts, as permitted by applicable law.

Additionally, this position is typically eligible for an Annual Bonus based on the Company Bonus Plan/Individual Performance and is at the Company's discretion.

What We Offer

For eligible employees, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support both the personal and financial well-being of our employees.

Compensation Benefits
  • Competitive Pay
  • Bonus for Eligible Employees


Benefits Package
  • Pension Plan
  • 401k Match
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Disability Insurance
  • Medical Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • Employee Discounts
  • Career Training & Development Opportunities


Health and Work/Life Balance Benefits
  • Paid Time Off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.
  • Ten (10) paid holidays per year (typically mirroring the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) holidays).
  • Be Well Company holistic wellness program, which includes Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars
  • Parental Leave - fifteen (15) days of paid parental leave per calendar year to eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth, placement of an adopted child, or placement of a foster care child.
  • Adoption Assistance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Back-Up Care Program
  • PTO for Volunteer Hours
  • Employee Matching Gifts Program
  • Employee Resource Groups
  • Inclusion and Diversity Programs
  • Employee Recognition Program
  • Referral Bonus Programs

About Transamerica

The Transamerica Corporation is an American holding company for various life insurance companies and investment firms operating primarily in the United States, offering life and supplemental health insurance, investments, and retirement services. The company has major offices located in Baltimore, Maryland; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Denver, Colorado; Norwood, Massachusetts; Exton, Pennsylvania; Harrison, New York; Johns Creek, Georgia; Plano, Texas; and St. Petersburg, Florida. Additional affiliated offices are located throughout the United States. In 1999, it became a subsidiary of Aegon, a European financial services company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. Transamerica funds the Transamerica Institute, a nonprofit foundation which comprises the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies and the Transamerica Center for Health Studies.
Learn more about Transamerica
Industry
Founded
1904

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Transamerica

More Finance & Insurance Jobs

Find similar Head of Sustainability jobs: