Global Head of Standards

About the role

AccountAbility is a leading global standards and consulting firm that works with businesses, investors, governments, and multilateral organizations to innovate and advance the global sustainability agenda by improving the practices, performance, and impact of organizations.

Reporting to the CEO and serving on the senior leadership team, this executive sets the technical and strategic direction for the standards globally, engages directly with regulators, licensed assurance providers, and standard-setting bodies, and drives the global growth, awareness, and adoption of the AA1000 Series.

The role represents the firm publicly across geographies and convenes the international community of regulators, standard setters, assurance providers, training organizations, and adopting institutions. This is an institutional leadership role at the intersection of standards, policy, and practice.

This role is based in New York, NY and requires in-office presence four (4) days per week, with remote work flexibility on Fridays. Candidates must currently reside in the New York metropolitan area or be willing to relocate to the New York metropolitan area at their own expense prior to start. Remote and hybrid arrangements outside the New York Metropolitan area are not available.

Responsibilities

• Serve as AccountAbility’s primary ambassador and public spokesperson for the AA1000 Series, advancing brand awareness and global adoption.
• Lead sustained engagement with global regulators, licensed assurance providers, training organizations, and standard-setting bodies (e.g., ISSB, IAASB, EFRAG, IESBA, AICPA, and equivalent institutions) to promote uptake and integration of the AA1000 Series.
• Set the technical agenda for the AA1000 Series, including evolution, exposure drafts, public consultations, and due process.
• Convene international working groups, technical committees, and advisory panels supporting standards development, dissemination, and assurance practice.
• Drive the advancement and dissemination of knowledge, education, and training related to the AA1000 Series, including the exchange of insights, best practices, and thought leadership.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with new and existing partners and adopters that translate into long-term growth of the AA1000 Series.
• Oversee and manage multiple stakeholder programs and team members simultaneously to ensure high-quality, influential delivery.
• Deliver against annual adoption metrics and associated revenue targets tied to standards-related services, partnerships, and engagements.
• Expand and strengthen strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, including regulators, standard-setting bodies, assurance providers, and global institutions.
• Represent AccountAbility as a senior thought leader and ambassador through industry events, publications, and speaking engagements.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience, with the majority spent in standards-setting bodies, regulatory institutions, sustainability assurance, academic research, or policy-focused roles, with a focus on growing brand awareness and adoption of standards.
• Demonstrated experience as an external-facing ambassador or spokesperson, representing an institution to regulators, assurance providers, and senior global stakeholders.
• Excellent written skills, including technical standards development, associated communications, and presentations.
• Demonstrated experience leading a global function, institutional program, or standard setting initiative, with direct accountability for strategic and financial outcomes.
• Track record of authored or co-authored standards, frameworks, or peer-reviewed publications in sustainability, ESG, or related fields.
• Existing senior-level relationships across sustainability standard-setting bodies, accounting organizations, assurance providers, and regulatory institutions (e.g., ISSB, IAASB, IESBA, AICPA, EFRAG, GRI, IFAC).
• Excellent written skills, including technical standards drafting, associated communications and presentations.
• Excellent verbal communication skills for representing the firm through public speaking, stakeholder / work groups, and meeting facilitation at the institutional level.
• Master’s Degree, MBA, MA, MS, MPA, JD, or PhD preferred with a demonstrated record of academic excellence. BA/BS degree required in Business Management, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Accounting, Economics, Public Policy, or a related field.