Sustainability

Scaling a Global Mission for Climate Action

A leading international climate initiative stands as one of the most impactful organisations in the fight against climate change, empowering companies and financial institutions to align with the latest climate science. In 2022, the organisation approached Climate17 during a period of significant growth, seeking support to establish new structures and scale its workforce globally. What began as a single senior-level search evolved into a long-term exclusive partnership, where we delivered a bespoke talent solution designed to meet the needs of a rapidly expanding global standard setter.

About the Organisation

The initiative empowers businesses to set ambitious emissions reduction targets in line with the latest climate science. As a collaboration between several global environmental and development bodies, it has become a cornerstone of corporate climate accountability. Operating across regions including Europe, North America, and Latin America, the organisation’s mission is to drive climate action at scale by enabling companies and financial institutions to play their part in halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.

Partnership Initiation

Our partnership began in 2022, when the organisation sought to recruit a Head of Research within their Climate Action team. At that time, the initiative was experiencing major growth and restructuring to accommodate expanding global operations and heightened stakeholder engagement. Recognising the need for a specialist recruitment partner with a deep understanding of sustainability talent and global markets, they turned to us for support. Our Director of Energy & Sustainability, Kris Kobi, took the lead on the assignment and has managed the relationship since initial contact.

Following the success of this first appointment, we went on to assist with three additional vacancies. The effectiveness of our collaboration led to introductions across multiple departments, enabling us to support a diverse range of hiring managers and regional teams. By 2023, our partnership had evolved into a long-term exclusive relationship, positioning Climate17 as the initiative’s embedded recruitment partner internationally.

We have since helped build out teams across England, Germany, the United States, Mexico, and other regions, strengthening the organisation’s global capacity and technical depth.

Challenges and Our Consultative Solutions

The initiative’s rapid expansion brought with it a series of complex recruitment challenges. The organisation required highly specialised professionals capable of bridging technical expertise with strategic leadership, often within newly created roles that demanded a rare blend of scientific understanding and stakeholder engagement.

To meet these challenges, we developed and delivered a bespoke Recruitment Process Outsourcing (we could use the new Talent Engine branding here) solution, tailored to the unique structure and mission of a global NGO. This approach provided flexibility, scalability, and precision in talent delivery across varied geographical and functional areas.

Our work involved headhunting across multiple levels and specialisations, including Board Directors, Validation Council members, Regional Leads, Deputy Directors, Heads of Technical Operations, Sector Leads, Marketing professionals, and Research specialists. We also supported the build-out of fundraising and nature-focused teams, such as the AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) division, which required targeted searches in highly technical and niche markets, often using our expertise to engage with passive candidates.

Consultative Delivery and Value-Add Services
 

Throughout the partnership, we operated as a trusted strategic advisor rather than a traditional recruitment supplier. Our support extended beyond candidate delivery, providing the organisation with the data and insight required to shape internal processes and long-term hiring strategy.

Our services included:

• Market mapping to identify relevant global talent pools across technical, policy, and communications disciplines
• Salary guidelines
• Strategic consulting on recruitment process

We also provided regular insights into market conditions, talent availability, and salary trends across international sustainability markets, enabling the initiative to make informed hiring decisions at speed.

 

Results and Outcomes

Since the start of our collaboration, we have played an integral role in expanding the organisation’s global workforce and leadership capacity. Our Talent Engine solution has supported the initiative, ensuring the right talent is in place to deliver on its mission.

Our partnership has resulted in:

These placements have strengthened the initiative’s operational delivery, scientific research, communications capability, and strategic leadership, enabling it to continue setting standards for the global effort towards climate accountability and net zero transformation.

 

Current Partnership

 

Today, we continue to act as the organisation’s long-term exclusive recruitment partner. Our team works closely with stakeholders across departments to support ongoing hiring needs, deliver strategic insight, and ensure the initiative remains equipped with the talent required to meet its global climate objectives.

Through shared values and a commitment to impact, Climate17 and the initiative continue to collaborate in driving meaningful progress toward a sustainable and science-aligned future.

Sustainability

Advancing ESG and Sustainability Growth for a Global Real Estate Company

About The Client

Our client is a global leader in real estate services, employing over 40,000 professionals across more than 700 offices worldwide. Headquartered in London and listed on the FTSE 250, they provides expert advice to corporate, institutional, and private clients, assisting them in acquiring, leasing, developing, or maximising the value of residential and commercial property in key global markets.

The Partnership

Our partnership was initiated by one of our most experienced consultants, David Ward, in September 2021. David has played a pivotal role in delivering tailored recruitment solutions to support their sustainability and ESG growth, utilising his deep expertise in navigating the complexities of this evolving field. Since the partnership's inception in September 2021, he has closely collaborated with the client to provide strategic recruitment support for key sustainability and ESG roles, helping them achieve ambitious goals in a highly competitive, rapidly evolving market.

Over the past three years, this collaboration has evolved into a trusted and enduring relationship. Most recently, the real estate corporation re-engaged with us to assist with two critical hires: Associate Director - ESG Reporting, and Principal Consultant - ESG Built Environment.

These roles were vital to our clients efforts to meet their growing sustainability goals and ensure the success of key projects. Having previously benefited from our strong candidate network and market expertise, Our client relied on this partnership to deliver high-quality results in a short timeframe.

Challenges and Solutions

The ESG Reporting, Associate Director role presented an interesting challenge. Originally designed as a fixed-term contract to cover maternity leave, the role required a candidate capable of quickly adapting to a dynamic and technical position. Our in-depth understanding of their needs enabled us to identify a variety of strong candidates who exceeded expectations. This hire impressed the client to the extent that the position was converted into a full-time role rather than FTC, showcasing both the candidate’s capabilities and the strategic foresight of our approach.

For the Principal Consultant - ESG Built Environment role, a recruiting hiatus had left our client with little time to fill the position. Given the strong candidate pool for the ESG Reporting role, another position was opened. However, the tight deadline and specific requirements added complexity to the process. We utilised our extensive candidate network to identify and redeploy a candidate initially considered for the ESG Reporting role. This proactive approach ensured that the client secured a highly capable professional without any delay, highlighting our ability to deliver under pressure.

Both roles carried high expectations for technical expertise and alignment with our clients values. Our experience in the sustainability sector enabled us to identify candidates who not only met these criteria but also adopted a forward-thinking approach in their roles.

Over the course of the partnership, we have consistently gone beyond recruitment to provide value-added services tailored to the clients needs:

• Salary guidance: We collaborated with the client to refine salary bands, ensuring competitive offers within budget constraints.
• Market insights: We provided regular updates on hiring trends, candidate availability, and skill demand to support informed decision-making.
• Project-specific advice: We helped the client identify key skills to align hiring strategies with ongoing and future sustainability projects.

 

By delivering these consultative services alongside recruitment, we helped the client strengthen its talent acquisition strategy and establish a foundation for long-term success in sustainability.

The successful placements and ongoing collaboration have deepened our relationship, resulting in an increased scope of work for 2025 and reinforcing our role as a trusted partner in helping the client achieve its sustainability and ESG aspirations.

The Outcomes

We submitted five candidates, two interviewed, with two successful placements. Filling both roles quickly and effectively ensured our client maintained momentum in its sustainability initiatives without compromising quality.

Candidates:
"I've always found David to be extremely efficient. He takes time to get to know you and only focuses on companies and roles that are most suited to your requirements. He has great contacts in the industry and can make things happen quickly. He’s also happy to explore leftfield options if agreed. I’d definitely recommend David if you’re looking for your next role or have a role to fill."

“David is a highly professional and efficient recruitment professional, with an excellent understanding of the sustainability industry. David was responsible for helping me find my latest employment, providing unparalleled support and communication throughout the application and interview process. I found his knowledge and experience to be invaluable, especially in this increasingly competitive market”.

Client:
“David has assisted us to hire multiple roles over the last few years, bringing good quality candidates and acting as an effective conduit between us and the candidates. Sustainability is a broad skill set, and David has an eye for candidates that meet our specific requirements, particularly for senior positions. He makes the process as simple as possible.”

Our partnership with the client continues to thrive. The successful placements and ongoing support have led the client to increase its terms, reflecting the trust and value built over three years. This adjustment will facilitate additional roles in 2025, further solidifying our role as a key partner in helping them achieve their sustainability and ESG objectives.

Interested in collaborating? Let’s work together to make a difference. Reach out to David at dward@climate.17.com or on +44 (0)7761 800201.

Otherwise, our UK Sustainability page might provide you with the insights and information you are seeking regarding our presence and expertise in this dynamic market. We look forward to working together!