Open position: Member of the Supervisory Board

About the organisation

Our mission is to measure how businesses impact people and planet, so that together we can hold companies accountable for contributing to sustainable development.

To do so, WBA develops free and publicly available assessments of the world’s 2000 most influential companies. Between them, they account for 48% of global GDP, generate $53 trillion in annual revenues, are headquartered in 82 countries, are responsible for 55% of global energy-related emissions, and employ 107 million people directly, and over 500 million people through their supply chains.

Our new assessment framework – the Integrated Transition Assessment (ITA) - is in its final stages of development following a global consultation. The methodology will be launched on the 18th of November. ITA assessments will replace our separate benchmarks with a single methodology incorporating climate, nature, and social dimensions, including the impact of AI.

These assessments will be the basis for the insights we develop and use in our engagement with companies and their key stakeholders. WBA does this by following three impact pathways: learning, pressure and norm setting. This involves working directly with companies to facilitate learning, working with investors, civil society and media to ensure there is pressure to changes and working with standards, policy makers and regulators to ensure perusing and integrated transition will become the norm for companies to follow.

This requires us to work with and through a wide array of different stakeholders across sectors, many of which are included in WBA's Alliance. The alliance now comprises over 430 global, regional, and local organisations. Our Allies come from civil society, business and industry platforms, reporting frameworks and standards-setters, multilateral organisations, research and academic institutions, sustainability consultancies, and financial institutions, including investors representing $15 trillion in assets under management.

As we are rolling out this new strategy, we are seeking new Board members for our Supervisory Board who can provide strategic leadership and, together with the Executive Board, help elevate WBA’s international influence, while ensuring strong governance and guidance to the Executive Board. Ideal candidates will bring experience leading complex, multi-stakeholder organisations; a strong commitment to transparency and accountability; and expertise in areas such as corporate sustainability, sustainable development, communication, fundraising and technology and digitisation.

The role of supervisory board members

WBA’s effectiveness depends on its ability to draw on a broad range of perspectives, experiences, and cultural insights. Building a Board that reflects geographical, professional, and personal diversity is essential to form a strong, united voice capable of advancing corporate accountability worldwide. The appointment of new Supervisory Board members therefore represents not only a governance decision, but a strategic opportunity to strengthen WBA’s leadership through inclusive and balanced representation. The Supervisory Board oversees the strategy, governance, financial resilience and performance of WBA and holds the Executive Board accountable for the organisation’s leadership and management. The Supervisory Board operates on a non-executive basis and does not participate in WBA’s day-to-day management.

Duties and responsibilities

Provide guidance for WBA's strategy and plans.
Ensure that the WBA’s Executive Board is appropriately staffed and resourced to deliver WBA’s strategy, vision and mission, and operates in accordance with its values.
Join one or more of the Board Committees which conduct in-depth reviews of key issues and opportunities and, in an advisory and supervisory capacity, make recommendations to the Supervisory Board for decision.
Oversee governance (including structure and composition) for WBA.
Raise the international profile of WBA as the ‘go-to’ institution for corporate accountability.
Provide guidance and / or advice on external relations and fundraising and funding opportunities.
Oversight of the credibility, transparency and independence of its benchmarking methodologies

Experience and skills sought

Leadership experience with a strong sense of accountability and responsibility, as evidenced by career experience with complex, highly matrixed teams and organisations in a multi-stakeholder environment.
Innovative ways of thinking about and guiding organisations, including those that span a global presence.
Demonstrated understanding of the politics and inter-relational components of the sustainability world as it relates to corporate reporting, measurement, benchmarking, and accountability along with a deep network which brings an ability to open doors in the private sector and investor communities on issues around ESG, sustainable finance, responsible investing, and the linkages with the SDGs and WBA.
Experience of understanding, managing and participating effectively in board meetings, decision-making processes, performance review, and exceptional resource stewardship.
Ability to promote WBA and act as an ambassador at external, global or regional forums.
The time and capacity to actively participate in the Supervisory Board and its Committees.
Specific experience in the following areas will be particularly relevant for this round of Supervisory Board appointments:
- Organisational transformation and financial markets leader: organisational revamp advisory, stewardship and access to asset-owner or asset-manager networks.
- Technology and data leader: digital platforms, AI, data governance, cybersecurity and responsible use of corporate sustainability data.
- Non-profit and international organisation leader: Strong understanding of international public-interest governance, organisational accountability, institutional independence and organisational resilience.
- Strategic fundraising and financial sustainability leader: Proven ability to mobilise international philanthropy and other funding sources, diversify revenue streams and manage donor concentration risks.

Location, time commitment & remuneration

The anticipated time commitment for Supervisory Board members is approximately 2 days per month. This is to account for the different facets of the role, including preparing for and attending the Board meeting four times a year (one being in person and three virtual), as well as virtual Committee meetings at least four times a year.
This role is not remunerated in accordance with the Dutch Code of Conduct for non-profit organisations (Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling, ANBI). Travel costs and expenses related to travel will be reimbursed.

To express interest and apply:

We appreciate all expressions of interest, referrals, or nominations for this role.
Please email a CV along with a cover letter, briefly outlining your responses to the following questions to our Governance Lead Rachel Perkins:

What do you believe the value of WBA's mission to be in this rapidly evolving world?
In this context, what would you hope to contribute to WBA, both to its external profile, as well as to the development and stability of the organisation?
What relevant board member, governance or broader organisational leadership experience would you bring?

Apply here

The deadline for applications is midnight CET Sunday, 31 January 2027. Please send any questions regarding your application to the Governance Lead, Rachel Perkins. The process is fully confidential, and your information will be shared with the Supervisory and Executive Boards of WBA, as well as the Governance Lead, who will support the process:

We will make a shortlist of the candidates to interview and get in touch with you within a week or so of the deadline.
The first interview will be conducted with two members of the current supervisory board before the end of April.
For candidates, who best fit the current and needs of the Supervisory Board, there will be a second interview with the Chair or the Deputy Chair of the Supervisory Board, and the Executive Director the following week.
Successful candidates will be informed in the first half of May, with an induction and first Supervisory Board meeting on the 18th of June.

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