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.

About the PRI Academy

The PRI Academy (a subsidiary of the Principles for Responsible Investment) was developed to provide industry-leading training for financial services, investors and other professionals needing to understand how environmental, social and governance issues (ESG) are impacting company performance, shareholder value and investment decision making. The training is completely web-based with a global curriculum designed to upskill teams and professionals across investment and capital markets. The Academy is the global leader in responsible investment training having enrolled over 7,000 professionals from over 65 countries.

Working at the PRI Academy provides an opportunity to engage with highly motivated, culturally diverse professionals in a highly successful social enterprise. The PRI Academy has hit a milestone and is counted among the 8-10% of all social enterprises that has thrived after 5 years in operation. The Associate will have the rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor and scale up a proven small business into a globally recognized organisation.

Job description

The PRI Academy associate will support both the operations and sales team. In a sales capacity, the associate will be responsible for inside sales activities through lead generation and sales support for senior staff. In an operations capacity, the associate will be the first point of customer service contact externally and internally will support reporting, invoicing and collateral production. This is a high growth role where the new associate will develop a well-rounded skillset applicable to any successful social enterprise or and/or start-up.

Core Responsibilities:

■ Provide the highest levels of customer satisfaction through excellent sales service, assessing customers’ needs and provide assistance and information on product features

■ Undertake sales support activities, including, maintaining commercial details and reports on clients or potential clients, developing business opportunities and researching and analysing sales options

■ Responsible for individual and small group sales

■ Undertake direct and indirect sales outreach

■ Maintain professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks, and benchmarking

■ Produce PRI Academy collateral and marketing materials, including, proofreading and copy-editing communications

■ Provide research for business and strategy planning to include topics such as pricing analysis, competitor analysis, business model research, board papers, etc.

■ Oversee the automation of the customer journey from registration through to issuing certificates, KPI tracking on a monthly, quarterly and yearly basis, maintaining

■ Responsible for Academy administration, including, managing the PRI Academy inbox, invoices and sales contracts, customer reminders, financial reporting

■ Responsible for maintaining the CRM

■ Liaise with the PRI communications team regarding events, courses and announcements

Core Competencies:

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

Analytical

• Incorporates the fullest range of information available into analysis and decision making​

• Uses appropriate technical processes/systems to develop and evaluate options in an effective and time-efficient manner ​

• Assimilates data to draws out relevant insights and findings from analyses​

• Identifies opportunities and risks to feed into decision making ​

• Presents analyses in an appropriate format providing clear and concise recommendations

Business Awareness

• Understands, and always works towards, the mission and the aims of the PRI​

• Is curious about what is happening in other parts of the PRI​

• Is Signatory centric – seeks to understand, listen and respond to Signatory needs​

• Understands own teams’ objectives and seeks to internalise them in own activities ​

• Understands who does what at the PRI and uses the knowledge to complete activities

Collaborative

• Approachable, credible and willing whenever engaging with colleagues​

• Actively and appropriately seeks input from others ​

• Focuses on interacting with colleagues in an positive and open manner​

• Listens to what colleagues are saying, considers from different perspectives and tailor’s responses accordingly

Communicative

• Writes succinctly and clearly tailoring level of detail to the requirements of the end user​

• Communicates clearly and precisely and able to convey thinking comprehensively​

• Provides regular, clear and concise communications to manager, colleagues or other relevant people to keep updated on activities​

• Structures and prepares well-written, logical outputs with limited guidance and editing​

Developmental

• Demonstrates self-awareness: actively seeks feedback from others and acts upon it​

• Explores new ideas with an inquisitive mind ​

• Questions the status quo and suggests new ideas ​

• Seeks out opportunities to drive continuous improvements in ways of working​

• Open-minded attitude which welcomes change and new ideas​

Structured

• Prioritises and organises time effectively, focussing on the key organisational priorities​

• Develops ways of working and processes to execute and improve efficiency across the PRI​

• Methodically tackles problems, working with colleagues where necessary​

• Takes account of the needs of other colleagues and/or Signatories when considering how to execute a piece of work​

• Promotes and utilises effective project management skills

Technical Competencies & Experience:

■ Educated to at least degree level

■ Experience working in a professional and international environment; e.g. the financial services industry or similar

■ Experience in a sales environment with initial stage sales or inside sales is desirable, as is an understanding of responsible investment / sustainable finance

■ Financial administration including production metrics and reports

■ Knowledge of producing high detail marketing materials

■ At least intermediate knowledge of relevant IT (e.g. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and ideally Salesforce or other CRM system)

■ A confident and professional manner in dealing with senior business professionals

■ Strong attention to detail

■ Self-starter and ability to learn quickly

■ Diplomacy, tact, and ability to work well in teams

■ Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills

■ A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others

■ Good project management skills

■ Language skills, other than English, are an advantage