About the PRI

The PRI is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. It works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions. The PRI acts in the long-term interests of its signatories, of the financial markets and economies in which they operate and ultimately of the environment and society as a whole. The PRI is truly independent. It encourages investors to use responsible investment to enhance returns and better manage risks but does not operate for its own profit; it engages with global policymakers but is not associated with any government; it is supported by, but not part of, the United Nations.

Working at the PRI provides an opportunity to engage with highly motivated, culturally diverse professionals on a wide range of cutting-edge issues, such as income inequality, climate change and diversity, equity & inclusion, through the lens of sustainable finance. The PRI provides scope for development at all levels with opportunities for project leadership and management working alongside some of the most influential signatories and leaders across financial markets and economies.  In combination with a supportive culture that encourages continuous learning and flexible working policies, PRI is a highly engaging place to work on truly transformative issues.

Job Description

The Specialist, Asset Owner (AO) Empowerment role is a family leave cover. It will assist with developing and driving the end-to-end AO empowerment programme. They will do so by representing the AO perspective internally in the PRI. This will include engaging with various teams across the business, with a strong focus on Implementing the overall strategy for supporting and engaging the various AO segments given the significance of this signatory type for the PRI.

The successful candidate’s main role will be to oversee and drive the implementation of an overarching organisational Asset Owner effort of existing and new initiatives that leverages on the whole organisation, spanning all seniority levels and functions.

Programme co-ordination will require partnering with the Signatory Relations team and the AO segment working groups to identify key asset owner needs to fulfil the Empowering Asset Owner programme. This will enable the programme to identify a high level strategy to help PRI and its signatory base meet the empowering asset owner 3-year strategy and 10y blueprint. Working across all seniority levels and functions, the Specialist, AO Empowerment will then need to analyse and review PRI’s offering, identifying where gaps can be effectively filled by PRI and where initiatives need further co-ordination. PRI is currently examining its high-level strategy and operating model, therefore in the early stages, amplifying and merging this programme where appropriate will be key to success. 

Core Responsibilities:

• Be the “go-to” person on Asset Owner Empowerment programme.

• Implement the Asset Owner Empowerment Programme, leveraging on the successful activities already being run and identifying new and more impactful initiatives.

• Build a strong and cohesive relationship with the Investment Practices and other Content teams to ensure the technical tools help asset owners implement the principles.

• Institutionalise the appropriate operational governance around the PRI asset owner work.

• Improve the co-ordination and dissemination of asset owner programmes across the signatory base and signatory relations team.

• Contribute to the design of the asset owner servicing model

• Facilitating and improving content delivery and design:

• Coordinate with the Content team on the development, delivery and dissemination of PRI’s guides and tools for asset owners including on-going technical programmes on policy, mandate design, selection, appointment and monitoring and passive strategies.

• Help ensure research across PRI’s Content team is relevant for asset owners by improving internal comms around AO programmes and initiatives.

• Help to keep the content team abreast of market-wide developments relevant to asset owners.

• Provide regular reporting to the Line Manager, the Leadership Team and Board as required

Core Competencies:

PRI expects roles at a ‘Specialist level’ within the organisation to demonstrate skills across the following core competencies:

Analytical

• Proactively offers impartial specialist knowledge, insights or input

• Uses business/ specialist knowledge and analysis to identify issues, applying fact-based insight to develop and evaluate solutions or solve issues

• Maintains a professional and impartial stance in assessing all information which feeds into decision making

• Balances rigour with pragmatism in conducting analyses that are fit for purpose

• Effectively reviews and quality-checks all analyses

Business Awareness

• Focuses on maximising Signatory or operational value and driving PRI outcomes

• Actively keeps up to date with developments both within the organisation and within area of specialism

• Balances the internal needs of the PRI and that of Signatory Organisations to deliver outputs

• Understands how own area of specialism drives value to the PRI and meets its mission

• Uses market insights and knowledge to suggest and drive strategic initiatives which will enhance signatory servicing.

Collaborative

• Builds consensus and trust with all that engage with

• Is responsive to feedback, proactively following up to ensure any issues are resolved

• Engages with colleagues to gain a broader understanding of issues and seeks to respond to or resolve them

• Provides specialist knowledge and insights to colleagues where requested

Communicative

• Translates specialist information or provides technical expertise in a clear and understandable format

• Clarifies matters by absorbing and understanding relevant information and feeding them back in concise terms

• Uses effective listening and questioning to enhance understanding of complex issues

• Engages the recipient using their language, tailoring communication style for the audience

Developmental

• Actively seeks opportunities to enhance specialist knowledge/ experience

• Constantly reviews own work with the aim of improving outputs

• Applies knowledge or experience to question practices and suggest alternatives

• Actively seeks and shares feedback wherever possible, as a means of improvement

• Uses best practice identified through external networks or evolutions in the field of specialism

Structured

• Has a strong sense of execution and delivery, working to agreed deadlines, involving relevant colleagues and allowing enough time for review and quality assurance

• Regularly monitors and reports on progress of work, providing regular updates as appropriate

• Takes a methodical approach to how specialist or technical knowledge is acquired and, distributed (where necessary)

• Captures knowledge at the end of each project/ process/activity, to use and share

Technical Competencies & Experience:

• Investment experience either at an Asset Owner, Investment Manager or Investment Consultant is essential. This could be in investing assets directly, via managers (manager selection and monitoring, or advising Asset Owners in their investment activities.

• Understanding of the diverse Asset Owner universe, including understanding of the Responsible Investment challenges they face.

• Results oriented and strategic thinking are required for success in this role.

• Strong influencing and relationship building skills are needed for this cross-organisational role

• Adaptable communication style to a variety of audiences including, but not limited to, senior investment professionals, investment service providers and internal stakeholders across different teams

• Strong project management skills: able to manage a varied workload and deliver to deadlines

• Experience in internal and external stakeholder engagement

• Ideally educated to degree level or equivalent qualification; Master’s degree in relevant fields is preferable.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others, with the ability to foster an inclusive working environment.

• Strong attention to detail.

• IT skills (primarily Excel, Word, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Salesforce or other CRM system)

• Fluency in spoken and written English is essential along with strong and professional communication skills. Other languages are desirable.

• Must be eligible to work in the UK.

We particularly welcome candidates from under-represented groups, including Black, Asian, and other people of colour, those with visible or non-visible disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates and those who are neurodivergent.