Chief Executive Officer
About the Blue Bond Accelerator
Blue Bond Accelerator (BBA) is an independent non-profit dedicated to building a high-integrity blue bond market and catalysing US $70 billion in blue bond investments by 2030. BBA is dedicated to driving investment into sustainable and regenerative blue economies. Incubated within ORRAA's Sea Change Impact Financing Facility (SCIFF) and supported by 2 large family offices and foundations, BBA operates at the intersection of capital markets, ocean science, and international development. BBA serves as market builder, technical advisor, and convener for issuers, investors, policymakers, and NGOs worldwide.
With a high-calibre Advisory Board spanning UNEP FI, Fidelity International, T. Rowe Price, BNP Paribas, TNC, and DLA Piper, BBA is uniquely positioned to unlock the scale of ocean finance the planet urgently needs.
The Opportunity
BBA is seeking a founding CEO to lead the organisation through its next phase of growth. This is a rare opportunity to shape the architecture of an emerging global market with the potential to mobilise billions of dollars into the Sustainable Regenerative Blue Economy, with particular focus on low- and middle-income countries and Small Island Development States.
The CEO will work closely with the Executive Chair and Directors to translate BBA's mission into strategic action, build institutional credibility, grow a high-performing team, and establish BBA as the definitive thought leader and market catalyst for blue bonds globally.
The BBA team is a small, highly qualified team of experts, based across Asia and Europe. This is a fully remote position, working across multiple timezones. As this is a small and growing organisation, this is a hands-on role, with an expectation of 20–50% of global travel.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Leadership
- Define and execute BBA's strategic roadmap in partnership with the board, advisory board and senior leadership team.
- Lead organisational development as BBA scales: building capacity, culture, financial and operational resilience.
- Represent BBA externally as its primary spokesperson and ambassador at senior levels across the domains of finance, policy, and sustainability.
Market Development
- Drive BBA's market-building agenda, including the promotion of blue bonds as a mainstream fixed-income instrument.
- Oversee technical advisory services to issuers and support the development of a credible, high-quality pipeline of blue bond transactions.
- Advance standards and frameworks that ensure the environmental integrity and investor credibility of the blue bond market.
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and deepen strategic relationships with multilateral development banks, sovereign issuers, institutional investors, ratings agencies, regulators, NGOs and more.
- Work with ORRAA and SCIFF to ensure BBA's activities align with and amplify the broader $70 billion mobilisation goal by 2030.
- Engage governments and international institutions to advance enabling policy environments for blue finance.
Fundraising & Financial Stewardship
- Drive philanthropic and institutional fundraising efforts to secure BBA's long-term financial sustainability.
- Oversee budgeting, financial management, and reporting to funders and the board.
- Explore and develop commercial financing models to support BBA's own operational model and financial stability.
Governance
- Report to the Executive Chair and work constructively with the Advisory Board.
- Ensure strong governance practices and accountability across the organisation.
Candidate Profile
Essential
- Proven leadership experience in sustainable finance policy engagement, capital markets and blue economy.
- Deep understanding of fixed-income markets and/or blue/green bond structures.
- Track record of building institutions, partnerships, or markets from an early stage.
- Outstanding relationship-building skills across diverse stakeholder groups, from sovereign governments to institutional investors and civil society.
- Entrepreneurial mindset with the operational discipline to manage a lean, mission-driven organisation.
- Strong communicator and public advocate, able to represent BBA credibly at the highest levels.
- Genuine commitment to ocean health, climate resilience, and sustainable development.
Desirable
- Experience working in or with low- and middle-income country contexts, particularly coastal and small island developing states.
- Familiarity with nature-based finance, blue economy policy, or sustainable ocean investment frameworks.
- Existing network within relevant institutions (MDBs, DFIs, UNEP FI, OECD, sovereign debt markets).
- Experience managing or scaling a not-for-profit or hybrid-structure organisation.
- Experience leading a fully remote, global team.
- Considering BBA's focus on the Global South, a candidate based in, native to, or with significant experience in the Global South is preferred.
What We Offer
- The chance to lead a genuinely pioneering initiative at a critical moment for ocean finance.
- A high-profile platform with access to world-class advisors and partners.
- A values-driven, collaborative culture with a global, remote-first team.
- Flexibility to work from any location that you have permission to work from (preferred in Asia / African / European timezones).
- 32–40 hours per week.
- Competitive not-for-profit compensation, commensurate with experience.
How to Apply
Please reach out to info@bluebondaccelerator.org with the subject line “CEO Application” for any questions, recommendations or suggestions.
The Blue Bond Accelerator is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, geographies, and lived experiences.