Job Description

About Accenture Research

Accenture Research creates thought leadership about the most pressing business issues organizations face. Combining innovative research techniques, such as data science led analysis, with a deep understanding of industry and technology, our team of 300 researchers in 20 countries publish hundreds of reports, articles and points of view every year. Our thought-provoking research developed with world leading organizations helps our clients embrace change, create value, and deliver on the power of technology and human ingenuity.

About the role

We are opening a new position for a Thought Leadership Sustainability Manager. This role is based in Melbourne or Sydney and will report to a Thought Leadership Managing Director.

You will join an inter-disciplinary team of professional thought leaders and expert researchers responsible for shaping influential ideas targeted at the C-suite and boardrooms across the following regions: Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and South Africa. In collaboration with the regional business sponsors, and global sustainability thought leadership team, your focus in this role will be on developing insight-driven, differentiated perspectives on sustainability topics, such as:

• Business opportunities in future green economy markets
• Net Zero transitions
• Sustainable technology
• Sustainable value chains
• Sustainability measurement, analytics and performance
• Sustainable leadership and organization
• Sustainable customer experience and brand.

You will manage thought leadership initiatives end-to-end (from idea-generation, hypotheses formulation and testing, to insight development, and curation of publishable content). Empirical inquiry will see you carry out primary and secondary research activities, involving innovative business research techniques that will leverage our experts in economic modeling, AI, crowdsourcing, qualitative interviews, surveys, data visualization, and open research with Tier 1 academic and business partners.

You will with closely with our in-house editorial team, and marketing & communications to turn thought leadership content into marketable formats (external reports, positioning papers, by-line articles, blogs etc.). You will communicate new ideas with persuasion and impact, to internal senior stakeholders, Accenture’s clients, and at relevant external events (e.g., C-suite roundtables; industry conferences).

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Design and execute thought leadership studies that result in differentiated, provocative content, and valuable Intellectual Property for Accenture (e.g., a new proprietary index that can be used in client engagements). This involves the full thought leadership content creation lifecycle:
  • The original problem definition and hypothesis development.
  • Research approach definition and design (including detailed resourcing and budget plan).
  • Synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of research findings.
  • Curation of content in compelling, contemporary formats.
  • Ongoing team and stakeholder management.

• Articulate and communicate new ideas to both Accenture clients, partners, and the external executive business community. For instance, represent Accenture Research in business development activities; client meetings / workshops; local and regional conferences.

• Write and co-author thought leadership reports, white papers, research notes, and articles that can elevate Accenture's brand image as a thought leader in the regional and global marketplace.

Your Skills:

• Intellectual curiosity and ability to articulate new ideas, spanning multiple disciplines (e.g., business, technology, sustainability, economics).
• Strong heuristic acumen and problem-solving skills (initiating issue-based research efforts).
• Strong idea-framing and concept-formation acumen (moving from insights to a “big idea”).
• Proven ability to conduct empirical research and utilize multiple forms of data (e.g., ESG data; high frequency market data; financial data; qualitative / behavioral data; economic data).
• Proven ability to manage a diverse team of people (multi-geography, multi-cultural, multi-time zone environment), in an inclusive, outcome-centric, and learning-oriented manner.
• Strong executive presence, and communication skills (including high proficiency in English).

Your Experience:

• 7+ years of relevant experience in a large consulting firm, a boutique consulting firm focused on sustainability, or a prominent “think tank” / research organization.
• Subject matter expertise in themes such as decarbonization, circular economy, climate-tech, emerging green / sustainable markets, future green jobs, environmental regeneration etc.
• Track record in developing marketable content on topics of sustainability, in the local / regional / global context. Evidence of publishing in relevant journals would also be a plus.

Your Qualifications:

Master’s Degree or a PhD in Business & Economics, Environmental Science & Technology,

Environmental Management, or Environmental Economics, plus 7+ years of relevant experience.

Qualifications

About Accenture

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services and Accenture Song—all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 710,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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