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’s three distinct capabilities relate to the core elements of the PRI’s approach to achieving a sustainable financial system.

• Translate RI (Responsible Investment) thought leadership into insights and practical support that is tailored to what signatories need to progress their RI practice

• Convene our vast network to create opportunities for collaborative action

• Harness our global scale to influence policymakers and regulators to effect system change

Job Description

The Director of Responsible Investment is responsible for setting strategy, leading and managing the PRI’s RI ecosystems team and activities across the Asia Pacific region. Primary responsibilities include convening signatories and stakeholders in individual markets, supporting signatory progression through outreach and advice, and supporting meaningful policy outreach within those markets. The role reports to the Chief Responsible Investment Ecosystems Officer.

As part of RI Ecosystems Leadership team, the Director, Asia Pacific will collaborate closely with the other regional RI Ecosystem Directors to contribute to the strategic direction of RI Ecosystems and the ‘ways of working’ across the whole organisation.

The Director will manage a regional policy head and regional responsible investment heads, providing coaching direction and support for PRI colleagues as well as oversight of regional budgets.

Core Responsibilities

• Overall accountability and oversight for ensuring the team meets agreed signatory growth and retention, signatory progression, market- and regional-level performance goals, acting as a point of escalation for team performance and quality issues.

• Line management of policy and regional Heads.

• Provide regular reporting on Asia Pacific ecosystems activities to the Chief RI Ecosystems Officer, the Executive Team and Board as required.

• Lead, co-lead or contribute to strategic discussions and decisions and/or operational internal solutions that improve signatory engagement and experience within and across regions/ecosystems.

• Be an active member of the RI Ecosystems Leadership team, working in collaboration with the other regional directors to help the organisation deliver a global signatory value proposition that ensures a consistent yet appropriately differentiated touch and feel to all signatories globally.

• Ensure the development and execution of key avenues for signatory engagement and feedback into the organization, including in-person, virtual, and hybrid convenings led by PRI and/or in partnership with key stakeholders and market actors, both in-market and across markets globally.

• Provide oversight and leadership of the team, supporting their development and managing their performance effectively to help the team fulfill their potential.

• Manage the team’s business planning and budgeting – ensuring the team has the appropriate resources and funds in place to deliver against commitments.

Person Specification

• Significant and substantive subject matter expertise in sustainable finance and responsible investment (ESG and sustainability disclosure and data, reporting standards, corporate governance, etc.)

• A deep understanding of country- and market-level nuances within the Asia Pacific region, as well as key regional factors driving sustainable finance and responsible investment, including the way key market actors – including current and prospective PRI signatories – interact with each other and the broader market ecosystem.

• Well-developed people management skills and experience of leading

• Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills

• A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others & committed to fostering an inclusive environment 

• Demonstrates a commitment to developing others and a growth mindset, actively pursuing continuous profession and personal development

• Excellent networking, relationship management and interpersonal skills and experience of building strong and productive relationships at a senior level

• Strong public speaking skills with ability to engage with senior stakeholders credibly, and with gravitas

• Strong IT/Digital skills (Microsoft Office, CRM, social media, etc.)

• Full professional proficiency in at least one major regional business language (Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, etc.) in addition to English required; additional language skills desirable.

• As this is a regional role in a global organization, international travel will be required, including periodic travel to individual markets within the Asia Pacific region as well as occasional travel to countries outside of the region, consistent with business need. 

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.

The PRI is committed to offering flexibility to our employees, both formal (e.g. part-time work) and informal (e.g. a shift in hours to accommodate caring responsibilities). Please talk to us about how we could make this role flexible for you.

N.B. We reserve the right to close a vacancy before the closing date in the event of an overwhelming response or a change in business priorities.