VP of ESG Research

ACPWB is seeking a VP of ESG Research to strengthen our capabilities in compensation risk management and mitigation at a moment when corporate America is under unprecedented scrutiny. You will be embedded in the ESG Strategy team, contributing to research products, advisory engagements, and proprietary data infrastructure that elevates our analysts' expertise. The team currently numbers 9 and is expected to grow. This is a growth hire, not a backfill—ambiguity, opportunity, and process improvement are part of the role.

About the role

This is a high-impact individual contributor role for a VP of ESG Research who wants to shape ACPWB's approach to compensation risk management and mitigation. The ESG Strategy team works closely with clients ranging from startup-stage employers benchmarking their first compensation philosophy to public company boards navigating activist scrutiny. Your work will directly influence client decisions and firm-wide strategy.

Responsibilities

• Serve as internal subject matter expert on compensation risk management and mitigation across the firm
• Manage the full lifecycle of market pricing analysis engagements from discovery through final presentation
• Participate in client onboarding and discovery processes, including intake interviews
• Synthesize findings across multiple engagements to identify cross-client insights and firm-wide themes
• Monitor regulatory, legislative, and market developments affecting compensation risk management and mitigation
• Coordinate with legal and compliance teams to ensure market pricing analysis work meets applicable disclosure standards

Requirements

• Demonstrated understanding of executive compensation structures, including equity, incentives, and perquisites
• Demonstrated proficiency in data visualization and graphical presentation of analytical findings
• Strong business acumen and understanding of how compensation decisions affect organizational performance
• Strong Excel modeling skills including the ability to build audit-ready analytical models independently

Qualifications

Preferred:

• Demonstrated ability to produce client-ready analytical work with minimal editorial revision required
• Background in actuarial science or insurance with application to benefits program design
• Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation
• Prior involvement in compensation-related legislative or regulatory comment processes

Benefits

ACPWB has maintained a consistent culture since its founding in 2006, with long-tenured employees across multiple eras of the firm’s growth. Based in Milwaukee, the firm serves clients from early-stage employers to Fortune 50 enterprises while remaining committed to its original mission: helping working Americans understand and advocate for the compensation they deserve.

What Success Looks Like In Year One

• Become the team's internal reference point for at least one specific technical domain or methodology area
• Complete ACPWB's structured onboarding program and gain working fluency in our core analytical methodologies
• Lead or co-lead at least two client engagements from kickoff through final delivery
• Contribute to one thought leadership publication, conference presentation, or external speaking opportunity

Interview process: Three conversations (talent screen, cross-functional panel, and hiring manager deep-dive with compensation case exercise). Offers typically extended within ten business days of the final interview.