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 Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Markets is responsible for setting strategy, leading and managing the PRI’s RI Markets activities across EMEA. This incorporates convening signatories and stakeholders in individual markets, supporting signatory progression through outreach and advice, and supporting meaningful policy outreach within those markets. Reports to Chief Markets Officer.

As part of the Markets Leadership team, the Director will collaborate closely with the Chief Markets Officer and the other regional Directors to contribute to the strategic direction of the Markets team and the ‘ways of working’ across the whole organisation.

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

Core Responsibilities:

• Overall accountability and oversight for ensuring the team meets agreed signatory retention (signatory experience), signatory growth, signatory progression, and eco-system performance goals, acting as a point of escalation for team performance and quality issues.

• Facilitate the effective delivery PRI’s value proposition to signatories via a signatory engagement model that both serves the signatory base and drives change.

• Contribute to building the culture, processes and resourcing needed in the region to ensure that signatories can progress as responsible investors through direct outreach and support in individual markets.

• Line management of regional heads.

• Intervene in a country or region to address temporary challenges, for example in the event of a resignation, family leave, or other ad hoc scenarios where additional support is required. Provide regular reporting on Europe, Middle East and Africa Markets activities to the Chief Markets Officer, the Executive Team and Board as required.

• Lead, co-lead or contribute to global strategic and/or operational external solutions that improve the signatory journey and progression experience. For example, these solutions could include the design of digital strategies or planning consultations and signatory engagements on specific PRI strategic plans or initiatives.

• Lead, co-lead or contribute to strategic discussions and decisions and/or operational internal solutions that improve signatory progression and Markets function and bring to life the signatory voice.

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

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

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

Person Specification

• Leadership skills (including role-modelling positive behaviours, being genuine and vulnerable, driving change and making things happen) and the ability to think strategically and systemically and act for the long-term benefit of the organisation. 

• Well-developed people management skills (including providing feedback & challenge, coaching and developing individuals) and the ability to build and lead high performing hybrid teams. 

• Excellent networking, influencing and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong and productive relationships.  Demonstrate credibility at a senior level as a trusted partner in different circumstances (remote/in-person or internal/external) with a clear understanding of what drives people and how to achieve optimal outcomes. 

• Strong facilitation skills. Diplomacy, tact, and ability to build consensus. 

• Strong public speaking skills with ability to give presentations and lead meetings with senior stakeholders. 

• Significant and substantive subject matter expertise in financial markets broadly (including the regulatory and policy landscapes) including a strong understanding of the EMEA sustainable finance agendas and responsible investment issues (ESG disclosure and data, reporting standards, corporate governance etc.). 

• As this is a regional role, international travel will be required.

• Language skills, other than English, are desirable.

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.