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 flexible working policies, PRI is a highly engaging place to work on truly transformative issues.

Job description

This position will work on an emerging PRI global initiative, helping to develop a new area of stewardship practice and support investors to directly engage with Canadian governments and related entities on climate change.

The successful candidate will establish and coordinate the Canadian activities within the PRI Collaborative Sovereign Engagement on Climate Change, with support from the PRI’s Global Policy, Sustainable Systems and Regional Ecosystem Teams. As part of these responsibilities the successful candidate may also assist participating investors with engagement of multilateral processes in North America such as New York Climate Week and Spring Meetings where it furthers the initiative’s overall aims.

This role has strong public policy and climate change components. It sits in the PRI’s Stewardship Initiatives Team, which is part of the broader Investor Initiatives & Collaboration Team. The Stewardship Initiatives Team is responsible for coordinating and facilitating collaborative stewardship initiatives (such as the initiative covered by this role) on environmental, social and governance issues.

Participating investors are engaging as sovereign bond holders and through other portfolio exposure, and are seeking to assist Canadian governments to take all possible steps to mitigate climate change in line with the Paris Agreement in line with investors’ fiduciary duty to mitigate financial risk and maximise long-term value of assets. This will be the second full market engagement under the initiative following the commencement of a pilot in Australia in mid-2022, now involving 27 participating investors from Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America and responsible for USD$9.5 trillion in assets under management.

PRI is establishing a global multi-market sovereign engagement initiative on climate change of which the Canadian engagement will be a part, alongside other markets to be progressively added. This role reports to the Head of Stewardship, Sovereign Engagement, based in Sydney.

Core Responsibilities

• Coordinate the Canadian engagement of the Collaborative Sovereign Engagement on Climate Change.

• In collaboration with relevant PRI colleagues and the initiative’s Canadian Advisory Committee and Investor Working Group, develop and facilitate the implementation of a robust engagement strategy, including annual goals and workplans.

• Assist the Head of Stewardship, Sovereign Engagement and Director, Stewardship in evaluating the progress and impact of engagement activities and identifying improvements to sovereign engagement practice to support the global program.

• Convene and facilitate regular Canadian Advisory Committee, Technical Advisory Group and Investor Working Group meetings to track the progress of engagements, discuss issues, share information and agree on next steps.

• Conduct and/or disseminate relevant research, guidance, and other analysis for investors to use in sovereign engagements both within and beyond the Canadian engagement.

• Regularly report and meet compliance requirements for the initiative’s activities under relevant Canadian and provincial public registries for lobbying or other relevant transparency codes.

• Build relationships with investors to maintain and expand expertise of engagement best practice and needs.

• In partnership with participating investors and relevant teams at PRI, assist with investor engagement in relevant multilateral processes such as the UNFCCC negotiations and G20 work streams.

• Work closely with the other members of the PRI Stewardship Initiatives Team to ensure that the ambition of the Active Ownership 2.0 strategy is implemented throughout all work.

• Build and maintain relationships with stakeholders in the Canadian financial system and climate policy spaces to inform investors’ expectations and create channels of communication between the investor group and relevant stakeholders.

• Speak at events, both digital and in person, on the PRI Canadian sovereign engagement on climate, on stewardship and the PRI’s work more generally.

• Maintain excellent overall knowledge on stewardship, sovereign engagement, climate and nature issues, and public policy on climate change, nature and economics.

• As this role works with global stakeholders and across the breadth of the Canadian market, occasional international travel (approx. 1-2 times per year) and domestic travel (approx. 2-3 times per year) may be required as well as frequent (approx. 1-2 days per week) calls/meetings outside of normal working hours.

Candidates must have:

• A demonstrated knowledge of Canadian national and provincial climate change policy, and the relationship with investor interests and practice.

• Experience working for or with institutional investors on climate change, ESG, policy engagement, and/or stewardship, or experience working for or with governments on climate change and stakeholder management.

• A relevant higher education qualification in public policy, climate change, environmental issues, finance, sustainable investor and/or economics, or comparable experience.

• A track record of developing and delivering against a strategy to achieve or influence a macro-level outcome.

• Excellent networking, relationship management, and interpersonal skills and experience in building strong and productive relationships.

• Experience coordinating diverse groups working towards a common activity and aim.

• Excellent written and spoken English language skills.

• Legal working rights in Canada.

It is desirable candidates have:

• Knowledge and experience with sovereign debt and fixed-income asset classes.

• Knowledge and experience with UNFCCC negotiations and annual Conference of the Parties meetings.

• Experience with developing and reporting against project impact and other metrics.

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

• A growth mindset, actively pursuing continuous professional and personal development.

• Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills.

• Excellent written and spoken French language skills.

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., The PRI reserves the right to close a vacancy before the closing date in the event of an overwhelming response or a change in business priorities.

This role is likely to extend for another 12 months, this depends and is subject to funding confirmation