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

The Relationship Manager for Switzerland Signatory Relations will be responsible for enhancing Responsible Investment awareness in the Swiss market and for providing investors with the tools to implement it in their investment process. The role involves the management of the PRI’s recruitment of new signatories and the coverage of our existing signatory base in the region as well as the coordination and local implementation of global PRI initiatives to drive progressive signatory action. It offers scope for regular domestic and occasional international travel primarily for signatory meetings, industry events and internal meetings. The successful candidate will report into the Head of Switzerland who also has responsibility for Liechtenstein.

Core Responsibilities:

• The Relationship Manager for Switzerland will have the following core responsibilities;

• Raise awareness of Responsible Investment amongst regional asset owners, investment managers, service providers and other PRI stakeholders

• Signatory relationships: develop engagement with Swiss signatories through successful new signatory on-boarding, signatory review meetings, reporting and assessment sessions and other PRI-supported events

• Outreach: Target the recruitment of new signatories amongst public and corporate pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, insurers, endowments/foundations as well as key investment managers and consultants

• Strengthen relationships with key targeted stakeholders in the region to support the development of responsible investment locally

• Aid in overall team effectiveness by contributing to team meetings and by collaborating with other relationship managers and country heads

• Collaborate and develop strong working relationships with PRI’s other teams on Swiss market-related issues, especially Reporting & Assessment, Investment Practices and Policy & Research.

• Events: Represent PRI at relevant events to help raise the organisation’s profile in the region and help showcase relevant recent research, initiatives and guides.

• Assist on strategic and/or ad hoc projects to develop and enhance the understanding of key Swiss market issues and players amongst colleagues

• Provide regular reporting to the Head of Switzerland as required

• Support the Head of Switzerland and Director of EMEA Signatory Relations in delivering against the team’s business plan and budget

Core Competencies:

PRI expects 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

Technical Competencies & Experience:

Over and above the core competencies expected of roles at a ‘Specialist’ level, the following role specific technical competencies and experience are preferred;

• Experience working in the asset management and/or the financial sector, preferably within the Asset Owner or Investment Management community.

• Ideally with knowledge and experience of the Institutional investment space/players in the Swiss markets

• Demonstrates a strong interest in responsible investment, sustainability, environmental, social and governance issues and their overall impact on the long term investment outcomes and society

• Proven business development and relationship management skills, preferably within the financial sector or within other service-based industries such as management consulting

• Language Skills: professional command and excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and German are a pre-requisite; in addition, French would also be advantageous.

• Demonstrable experience in giving presentations and leading meetings with investment executives at all levels and their trustees/Boards

• Excellent networking, relationship management and interpersonal skills, extensive network in Responsible Investment and/or ESG related fields

• A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others, working closely with London-based colleagues to deliver mutually agreed solutions supporting PRI’s agenda

• Good team player, with experience working internationally with a strong partnership ethos.  Committed to fostering an inclusive environment

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification; Master’s degree in one or more relevant fields and/or a recognised investment qualification desirable

• At least intermediate knowledge of relevant IT/system skills - Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and CRM systems (PRI uses Salesforce), social media, webinars, etc.)

• International travel may be required.

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.