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. 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 hybrid working arrangements, PRI is a highly engaging place to work on truly transformative issues.

This is an opportunity to lead a growing and dynamic signatory relationship management and growth team. By taking on this role you will be driving the Continental Europe servicing efforts with existing and potential signatories, ensuring they have the right tools and are driving the implementation of the Principles.  In addition, you will be contributing to global signatory engagement design and solutions. You will work in a small size organisation, driven by a global, collaborative and change driven staff exposed to all levels of responsible investment implementation.  This is a great opportunity for anyone keen to drive change in Continental Europe and beyond.

Job Description

The Director will lead and manage a growing team of 4 local or regional market heads and 4 other relationship managers (of Signatory Relations), providing coaching, direction and support, as well as oversight of budgets.

In addition, as part of the PRI Signatory Relation (SR) Leadership team, the Director of Continental Europe will contribute to the strategic direction and operational solutions of the whole organisation.

Core Responsibilities:

The Director of Continental Europe role will have two main responsibilities

Line management of the Continental Europe Signatory Relations team

• Overall accountability and oversight for ensuring the team meets agreed relationship management, growth and Responsible Investment initiative adoption goals, acting as a point of escalation for team performance and quality issues.

• Intervene in a country or region to address temporary challenges, for example in the event of a resignation, maternal/paternal leave, or other ad hoc scenarios where additional support is required.

• 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.

• Provide regular reporting on the Continental European activities to the CSRO, the Executive Leadership team and Board as required.       

Strategic project lead and/or contributions

• Lead, co-lead or contribute to global strategic and/or operational external solutions that improve the signatory journey and experience. For example, these solutions could include the design of digital strategies, planning consultations and signatory engagements on specific PRI strategic plans or initiatives or tailoring of asset owner experiences to subgroups (e.g., endowments, insurance providers, pension funds, etc.).

• Lead, co-lead or contribute to strategic discussions and decisions and/or operational internal solutions that improve the end-to-end content and distribution process and bring to life the signatory voice. 

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

Generally

• 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.

• Overall accountability for ensuring the team meets agreed deadlines, acting as a point of escalation for team performance and quality issues.

• Provide regular reporting to the Leadership Team and Board as required

Technical Competencies & Experience:

Over and above the core competencies expected of roles at a ‘Director’ level and above the following role specific and technical competencies are required:

• Proven people management and leadership skills and experience

• Proven experience in developing and managing strategy, business plans and resourcing requirements.

• Proven track record of programme and stakeholder management, with an in-depth understanding of the key Continental European markets PRI operates in.

• Specialist knowledge in one or more aspects of investment practice, e.g., responsible investment, mainstream, themed or SRI-focused investment management, investment analysis, corporate governance, or asset consulting.

• Experience in responsible investment implementation and the integration of environmental, social and governance issues into investment research and decision-making is preferred. 

• A good understanding of future trends and the challenges and opportunities around the implementation of responsible investment within asset owner and/or investment manager organisations.

• Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills

• IT/system skills (Microsoft Office, , CRM systems, e.g. Salesforce, social media, webcasts, etc.)

• Strong programme management skills, with experience in designing projects and delivering successfully through others by providing timely and constructive advice to teams on their objectives and performance.

• A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others, able to take ownership of challenges or complaints and see them through to resolution, the ability to foster an inclusive working environment.

• Excellent networking, relationship management and interpersonal skills. Ability to forge long-term relationships with industry leaders and drive decision-making in diverse, multi-stakeholder groups.

• Travel within Continental Europe may potentially be required and, as this is a global role, there will also be the occasional requirement for international travel.

• Language skills, other than English, are desirable especially French, German and Spanish.

Core Competencies:

PRI expects roles at ‘Director level’ within the organisation to demonstrate leadership skills across the following core competencies:

Analytical 

• Proposes and develops strategies with the Leadership Team which meet future needs based on a rigorous analysis of available data 

• Ensures that project scope, timeframe, budget and resources remain on track whilst also ensuring analytical rigour 

• Constructively challenges people and projects with the aim of improving them  

• Offers high-value, innovative ideas to the Leadership Team 

Business Awareness 

• Reflects broader financial and commercial implications in decision making  

• Adopts a holistic approach to activities ensuring team focus on strategic priorities and budgetary constraints 

• Gives unequivocal guidance to team members in managing Signatories, or other external or internal stakeholders 

• Maintains an understanding of PRI challenges and ambitions and uses this to identify new opportunities 

• Thinks and encourages others to think holistically about the business 

Collaborative 

• Establishes a culture of collaboration, continuous learning and respect 

• Highly attuned to the expectations of the Leadership Team and optimal ways to engage with them 

• Develops and maintains strong partnerships across the organisation to leverage skills and experience within the organisation to deliver key objectives 

• A trusted advisor with the ability to deliver long term value through partnerships 

Communicative 

• Influences and negotiates at all levels 

• Articulates the implications of all decisions in an engaging way that gets buy-in 

• Inspires and energises others around the vision and strategy in an emotionally engaging way that others can relate to and endorse 

• Provides impactful, value-added advice and coaching to the team  

• Promotes a positive corporate image to team and cascades decision-making appropriately with strong management  

Developmental 

• Instils and maintains a culture of learning, growth, feedback and improvement across the team 

• Acts as an agent for change by proactively identifying and initiating change, communicating the benefits 

• Acts as a coach and/or mentor to more junior members of staff and encourages others to do the same  

• Acts as a leader who drives performance, constructively challenges the status quo, seeks improvements and encourages others to do the same 

Structured  

• Ensures organisational and Signatory priorities are reflected in project/work plans  

• Continually monitors projects and activities and effectively intervenes when needed   

• Drives accountability by focussing on delivery of work plans and adoption of effective project management  

• Intervenes with pragmatic recommendations for improvement where 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.