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

This position is an exciting opportunity to join PRI’s Climate and Environment Team. The PRI places a high priority on supporting global investors to take action on climate change and wider environmental issues including nature and biodiversity, alongside emerging work on physical climate risks.

The Specialist, Environmental Policy will support PRI signatories in calling for a clear and consistent policy environment that facilitates and accelerates action by investors to protect, restore and sustainably use the world's vital natural capital and ecosystems. Key to this will be encouraging governments to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and that the investor perspective on the necessary enabling conditions for action are considered and addressed.  

The successful candidate will leverage their experience to support the development of PRI policy positions, work with PRI signatories, and support direct engagement with policymakers on both sector or thematic-specific policies and on sustainable finance. The Specialist will contribute to shaping project deliverables, research, analysis, and guidance for investors, including through links to PRI’s wider programmes on climate and environment, and will contribute to driving this emerging area of responsible investment across the industry. The specialist will work closely with colleagues across the climate and environment team and with other PRI teams, including our investment practices, stewardship and policy teams.

Core Responsibilities: 

• Define a policy engagement strategy for PRI to enable investors to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

• Define a strategy and relevant policy position papers to support investors to engage with policymakers on key nature-related issues and seek policy implementation and regulatory reform that incentivises sustainable production and sourcing. Key initial priorities include policies/ regulation addressing forest loss and land degradation.

• Work closely with PRI’s stewardship team to inform and shape PRI’s forthcoming collaborative engagement on nature

• Prepare and deliver content and communications (e.g. emails, policy briefings, consultation responses, webinars, blogs, statements) to help signatories understand and contribute to real-economy and sustainable finance policy strategies that relate to nature and biodiversity.

• Support the co-ordination and where appropriate, greater integration of the climate and nature policy agendas (promoting synergies, avoiding trade-offs) in close collaboration with the Head of Climate Policy

• Develop good working relationships with key stakeholders, including PRI signatories, policy makers, UN partners, think tanks and research institutes, NGOs and initiatives that contribute to and are aligned with PRI’s strategic objectives

• Participate in relevant specialist forums and networks including the Investors’ Policy Dialogue on Deforestation, and build relevant specialist networks

• Keep abreast of market-wide developments, building on existing career experience 

• Work collaboratively across different teams within PRI on investment practices, stewardship, policy, data and disclosure to build in-depth understanding and deliver high quality resources to signatories on environmental issues

• Support the Head of Environment in delivering against the team’s business plan and budget

Core competencies

The PRI expects all 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

We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet the full list of competencies and experience listed below.

Technical competencies and Experience

• High level of expertise on nature related policy (including issues such as deforestation, land use, food systems), with experience related to responsible investment preferred

• Good understanding of sustainable finance, investment practice, the structure and operation of the investment chain and issues relating to developments in sustainable finance

• Professional experience of engaging with investors, policymakers, and key stakeholders and developing engagement strategies

• Experience in policy analysis, formulating policy positions and conducting research, preferably including projects relevant to responsible investment.

• Outstanding communications and analytical skills demonstrated through professional experience, with professional English writing standard and editing skills

• Comfort presenting to groups, speaking in public and facilitating workshops and an ability to adapt communication style to different audiences.

• Self-starter with ability to work autonomously

• Excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to get on well as part of a team.

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

• Knowledge of or interest in nature related issues and biodiversity, and their implications for public policy, with a desire to contribute to the field of sustainable investment and the mission of the PRI

• Education in economics, public policy, finance or international affairs is 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.