Location: Flexible (London, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam)

Basis: Fixed Term (12 months, with possibility of extension)

Level: Senior Specialist

Salary: £60,000-£70,000 p.a. depending on experience

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 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

We are looking for an individual to manage workstreams focussed on sustainability outcomes. The objective of the role is to promote and support investors on how they can contribute toward achievement of sustainability outcomes, with a particular focus on data and metrics, the sustainability outcomes relevant for key / systemic ESG issues, and the implications for investment practices / decision-making. To this end, you will be responsible for keeping abreast of global practices, connecting to relevant networks and partners, supporting the development of internal and external tools, and practical guidance. The role will report to the Director of ESG and SDGs.

Core Responsibilities:

■       Contribute to and help to shape the next phase of PRI’s work on investing with SDG outcomes

■       Deliver quality resources to signatories on how they can shape sustainability outcomes, with a particular focus on investment practices / decision-making

■       Foster deep subject matter expertise on sustainability outcomes across the PRI organisation and signatory base

■       Work collaboratively across different teams within PRI and build in-depth understanding of the interplay between investment practices, engagement, policy and disclosure

■       Professionally manage specific PRI’s investor initiatives relevant to sustainability outcomes, including managing PRI working groups / communities of practice where relevant

■       Identify and build good relationships with key industry players and in other relevant organisations working on sustainability outcomes / impact

■       Proactively collaborate with PRI colleagues to ensure alignment with PRI’s other initiatives and overarching strategies

■       Act as a PRI’s spokesperson on the role of investors in sustainability outcomes, participating and speaking at PRI and external events

■       Successfully support work with PRI’s Reporting and Assessment team to implement reporting on sustainability outcomes

■       Provide coaching and mentoring to more junior members of the team, including sharing technical knowledge and expertise where appropriate

■       Support the Director of ESG and SDGs in delivering against the team’s business plan and budget

■       Provide regular reporting to the Director of ESG and SDGs and Chief Responsible Investment Officer as required

Core Competencies:

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

Analytical

•Looks for opportunities to add value by sharing specialist knowledge and insights

•Broadens the view to consider all possible options even if they initially seem unlikely solutions

•Can effectively capture and structure ill-defined or vague problems and is comfortable handling uncertainty (in own work and that of team members)

Considers examples outside of the PRI in offering alternative solutions or guidance

Business Awareness

•Demonstrates an understanding of the business, including its finances, mission and its culture

•Identifies and utilises key relationships (both internal and external) for successful execution of project or piece of work

•Knows when and how to challenge senior managers

•Applies industry knowledge and understanding of external influences, coupled with an appreciation of PRI mission and strategy to inform decisions

Collaborative

•Demonstrates ability to build good working relationships at all levels

•Drives collaboration within projects or work programmes to deliver high quality outputs

•Aligns expectations with senior managers to reach agreement

•Promotes knowledge sharing across the organisation

•Flexes style and approach based on colleagues’ level of understanding and preferences

Communicative

•Independently delivers well-structured, logical outputs that deliver maximum impact with minimum editing

•Presents advice or recommendations within the context of the recipient’s area of focus to gain buy-in

•Improves the knowledge of senior managers by making complex specialist principles easy to understand

•Appreciates the impact of their communication on others, modifying behaviour and communication style to work in different situations

Developmental

•Shares specialist knowledge openly with others, creating opportunities for others to learn, grow and succeed

•Builds an environment within the PRI which values forward thinking, creative solutions and innovation

•Is active in specialist networks as a means of furthering own knowledge and applying at the PRI

•Uses good questioning skills in a way that causes others to think about their approach

Structured

•Prioritises where contributes own time based on the value it would deliver

•Uses project management and oversight of individual work processes to improve organisational performance

•Continuously monitors external developments to incorporate into own work activities

•Translates project objectives into own work plans

 Technical Competencies & Experience:

■       Significant and substantive subject matter expertise in sustainability outcomes and impact

■       Strong understanding the role of investment practices in shaping real-world outcomes

■       High degree of familiarity with corporate sustainability reporting and / or impact reporting frameworks (including SASB and GRI)

■       Knowledge of the key players in sustainability outcomes / impact (service providers, government agencies, trade associations, standard setters etc)

■       Strong networks at key industry organisations and ability to influence and forge long-term relationships with industry leaders and decision makers

■       Strong analytical and problem solving

■       Very good programme management skills, with experience in delivering successfully, including directing others that may not be your direct reports

■       Experience of synthesising large amounts of complex information clearly

■       Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills

■       A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others

■       As this is a global role, international travel may be required.

■       Must be eligible to work in UK or EU.

Desirable:

■       Masters degree, PhD or equivalent qualification in a relevant field, ideally including studies in finance