Graduate ESG Compliance Counsel or ESG Compliance Officer - Tech Sector at Canonical

• We are hiring an ESG Compliance Officer or ESG Compliance Counsel into our wider compliance team with responsibility for ESG compliance and reporting, and the opportunity to shape our ESG commitments, outlook and strategy. We are looking for a rigorous and effective lawyer, or scientifically qualified ESG officer, to drive reporting and practices associated with ESG regulatory and legal compliance process, policy and activities. In this appointment we are more focused on ability than experience, the position is open to applicants with relevant degrees but does not have a requirement for extensive experience. The successful candidate will work closely with experienced Canonical and external legal counsel in Europe and the USA, and with Canonical personnel worldwide.
• Our unusually distributed nature provides us with one obvious sustainability challenge - we fly colleagues to meet in person at large company events twice a year. Bring globally distributed also means that questions of sustainability take place against a global backdrop - we don't by and large have a particular 'local' context. Beyond that, though, we have significant opportunity to influence sustainability in tech because so much of the software stack today is open source. Our goal is to be the majority supplier of this software in the world, and so we are in position to move the needle on that entire stack.
• This is an opportunity to contribute to the strategy, positioning and processes in an important area for a dynamic technology business across multiple jurisdictions. Candidates must be able to demonstrate good commercial judgment as well as being organised, efficient, and capable to provide high quality legal and compliance outcomes. We are open to candidates who come from either a legal background, or a scientific background featuring environmental, biodiversity, sustainability or related disciplines. In both cases, we are looking for a rigorous work ethic, detailed analysis and reporting, conscientiousness to ensure correct compliance, and insights to identify opportunities to exceed the necessary. We do not see this as a defensive legal investment so much as a proactive investment in the ideas, analysis, research and driving leadership needed to be a pace-setting in our industry on carbon and other sustainability priorities.

Location: This role can be home based in Europe, Middle East or Africa time zones, or based in our London office at Tower Bridge.
What your day will look like

• Report to our global general counsel or a dedicated regulatory compliance manager
• Focus on our net-zero carbon footprint goal, but also consider broader sustainability goals and requirements
• Assess our ESG position and propose initiatives, processes or engagements to achieve goals
• Analyze and implement regulatory initiatives, draft and implement relevant policies and procedures
• Map and track changes in regulatory rules and requirements
• Document and train colleagues in regulatory matters for awareness and compliance
• Report on ESG compliance on a quarterly and annual basis
• Review and maintain existing processes and policies to ensure compliance
• Work with local counsel in many countries to seek and implement advice

What we are looking for in you

• An exceptional academic track record from both high school and university
• An undergraduate degree in ESG-related law, science or a similarly qualified profession
• Drive and a track record of going above-and-beyond expectations
• Analytical ability to model scenarios from a business and scientific perspective (for example, carbon emissions related to PC usage)
• Knowledge of corporate sustainability, corporate responsibility, or ESG best practices
• Interest in current and emerging UK and US ESG regulatory regimes, reporting frameworks, disclosure requirements and standards
• A passion for technology evidenced by personal initiatives and projects
• Professional written and spoken English with excellent drafting and presentation skills
• Confidence to respectfully speak up, exchange feedback, and share ideas without hesitation
• Appreciative of diversity, polite and effective in a multi-cultural multi-national organisation
• Excellent interpersonal skills, curiosity, flexibility, and accountability
• Thoughtfulness and self-motivation
• Result-oriented, with a personal drive to meet commitments
• Ability to travel twice a year, for company events up to two weeks long

Additional Skills We Value

• Experience in software engineering, numerical or data analytics
• Leadership and the ability to influence others to embrace new ideas or practices
• Understanding of the open source software community and values
• Understanding of the technology industry - silicon, data centers, PCs, connected devices, and software