Director, Strategic Initiatives, ESG Reporting & Engagement

Bentonville, AR

Walmart seeks to lead on Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) practices, disclosures, and outcomes, building a stronger and more resilient business, creating shared value, and fostering trust. The Director Strategic Initiatives - Corporate Affairs - ESG Reporting & Engagement is responsible for leading all aspects of Walmart's ESG reporting, disclosure, and external engagement. This includes creating reporting and engagement strategies; leading the process of preparing compelling, reliable, and decision-useful disclosures for investors and other stakeholders; building corresponding institutional capability across the enterprise; and helping to advance the field of ESG externally with respect to ESG reporting and disclosures.


Top candidates will be familiar with ESG and non-financial reporting frameworks, including ISSB, SASB, TCFD, TNFD, and GRI; have engaged with major ESG/sustainability surveys, raters, and benchmarking organizations including MSCI, Sustainalytics, ISS, CDP, S&P, etc.; and have experience engaging with institutional investors and stakeholders on ESG issues.


Key Responsibilities

  • Strengthening Walmart's standing with investors and other stakeholders by developing and leading Walmart's ESG reporting and engagement strategy. Elevate Walmart's shared value leadership on relevant ESG topics through strong disclosure and engagement. Create reporting and engagement strategies accounting for Walmart's ESG thesis; investor expectations; disclosure standards/frameworks; and key ESG ratings, surveys, and benchmarks. This includes annual & long-range reporting and external disclosure strategy-what to report, to whom, and through what channels-partnering with Investor Relations, Legal, Communications, and ESG issue leads.
  • Improving Walmart's performance on priority external ESG assessments. Set priorities for engaging in external ESG assessments; understand Walmart's current performance on priority assessments; identify opportunities to improve performance with respect to company practices, policies, and disclosure. Understand trends in ESG disclosures and implications for Walmart ESG disclosures.
  • Coordinating enterprise-wide ESG reporting and disclosures, ensuring corporate-level reporting (e.g., SEC and state-level reporting) and market-level reporting are consistent. Partner with segment and international market ESG, sustainability, controllership, legal, compliance, and other teams to develop a seamless approach.
  • Shaping Walmart's ESG communications to improve investor and other stakeholder understanding of Walmart's ESG policies, practices, and performance. Oversee development of annual ESG reporting, ESG issue briefs, priority ESG surveys, ratings responses, investor ESG inquiries, investor-focused publications/materials (annual investor meeting, shareholders meeting, earnings releases) regarding priority ESG issues, and Walmart shared value narratives. This includes proactive & responsive strategy and leadership in investor, survey/benchmark, rater, and ESG stakeholder engagement, partnering with Investor Relations.
  • Helping advance the ESG disclosure and assessment sector, including advocating for ESG frameworks, standards, and assessments that foster long-termism, creation of shared value ("stakeholder capitalism"), and the transformation of societal systems for social and environmental sustainability. Monitor regulatory landscape and standard-setting (e.g., ISSB) processes and shape frameworks, standards, ratings, and regulation on ESG performance and disclosure. Identify and speak at external ESG events to highlight Walmart's shared value strategy as well as share perspectives on best-practice ESG measurement.
  • Managing multiple large, complex projects, processes, and programs that include dependencies across multiple groups, including internal and external stakeholders to identify goals, success criteria assumptions, and risks; forecasting internal and external resources (for example, legal, finance, partners) based on projects and strategic goals; anticipating and ensuring resolution of complex and critical issues; monitoring progress as compared to plan; tracking expenditures and budgets; overseeing development of implementation materials; and ensuring alignment with similar company-wide initiatives to leverage or report out on. This includes overall process oversight for major disclosure projects (e.g., ESG reporting, CDP).
  • Driving the execution of multiple business plans and projects by providing overall direction through analyzing business objectives and customer needs; developing, communicating, building support for, and implementing business strategies, plans, and practices; analyzing costs and forecasts and incorporating them into business plans; determining and supporting resource requirements; evaluating operational processes; measuring outcomes to ensure desired results; identifying and capitalizing on improvement opportunities; promoting a customer environment; and demonstrating adaptability and sponsoring continuous learning.
  • Developing and implementing strategies to attract and maintain a highly skilled and engaged workforce by diagnosing capability gaps; recruiting, selecting, and developing talent; supporting mentorship, workforce development, and succession planning; and leveraging capabilities of new and existing talent.
  • Cultivating an environment where associates respect and adhere to company standards of integrity and ethics by integrating these values into all programs and practices; developing consequences for violations or non-compliance; and supporting the Open Door Policy.
  • Developing and leveraging internal and external partnerships and networks to maximize the achievement of business goals by sponsoring and leading key community outreach and involvement initiatives; engaging key stakeholders in the development, execution, and evaluation of appropriate business plans and initiatives; and supporting associate efforts in these areas.
  • Serving as corporate spokesperson for strategic initiatives by developing and delivering messaging; participating in interviews with national and local media outlets; and presenting at conferences and speaking events.
  • Overseeing and driving the development of innovative global strategic initiatives by engaging senior leadership to build support and policy for desired outcomes (for example, financial, social, environmental).
  • Overseeing the implementation of Walmart's strategic initiatives by directing collaboration between company business owners, suppliers, and external influencers; and ensuring Walmart's reputation and advocacy goals are enhanced and fulfilled through company strategic initiatives efforts.
  • Ensuring the integration of strategic initiatives into cross-functional business plans, objectives, and overall business strategy by educating stakeholders on the long-term benefits of the initiatives; and ensuring alignment between corporate and business unit goals.


The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed in the role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. The full Job Description can be made available as part of the hiring process.


Benefits & Perks

Beyond a great compensation package, you can receive incentive awards for your performance. Other great perks include 401(k) match, stock purchase plan, paid maternity and parental leave, PTO, multiple health plans, and much more.


Who We Are

At Walmart, we help people save money so they can live better. This mission serves as the foundation for every decision we make, from responsible sourcing to sustainability-and everything in between. As a Walmart associate, you will play an integral role in shaping the future of retail, tech, merchandising, finance and hundreds of other industries-all while affecting the lives of millions of customers all over the world. Here, your work makes an impact every day. What are you waiting for?


At Walmart, we offer competitive pay as well as performance-based bonus awards and other great benefits for a happier mind, body, and wallet. Health benefits include medical, vision and dental coverage. Financial benefits include 401(k), stock purchase and company-paid life insurance. Paid time off benefits include PTO (including sick leave), parental leave, family care leave, bereavement, jury duty, and voting. Other benefits include short-term and long-term disability, company discounts, Military Leave Pay, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, and more.

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