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

PRI’s regional policy colleagues develop research, analysis, and insight on how to create and improve an enabling policy environment for responsible investment and deliver these findings and recommendations to key stakeholders through various forms of engagement. PRI’s policy engagement aims to pursue and deliver real-world sustainability outcomes consistent with the implementation of PRI’s Mission and the Six Principles. More information on the PRI’s policy approach can be found on our website.

Regional policy colleagues work within PRI’s Responsible Investment Ecosystems (RIE) teams. This enables them to work alongside local relationship managers to engage closely with signatories and external stakeholders in understanding views and perspectives on what policy developments are desired and/or necessary. They also work closely with colleagues across PRI’s global teams to understand PRI’s global positions to ensure alignment in regional policy work and access PRI’s expertise to inform and guide local engagements.

The successful candidate will focus on the Japan and broader APAC markets to further develop PRI’s policy engagement on broad sustainable finance policies in the country and region.

Core Responsibilities

• Monitor, research and analyse key developments: Keep up to date on sustainable finance policy news relevant to our signatories in Japan and where relevant broader APAC markets. Embed findings into engagement with signatories, as well as written outputs (such as reports and articles) and policymaker engagements. Relevant policy topics include sustainable finance policy (such as corporate and investor disclosures, investor duties, taxonomies and stewardship) and real economy policy (such as industry-facing policies on social issues and human rights).

• Develop and deliver policy positions: Where PRI has an opportunity to make policy recommendations, conduct evidence-based research and analysis to draft PRI’s policy positions (consultations, letters, sign on statements, and policy reports). Collaborate and consult with signatories to develop PRI’s draft policy positions. Submit and present these policy positions to relevant national policymakers, government ministries, agencies, and standard setters.

• Build PRI’s local network and collaborate: Develop relationships with and proactively engage with Government and relevant officials consistent with the PRI’s policy approach. In a similar manner, maintain good working relationships with key stakeholders (e.g. other membership bodies and NGOs/NPOs working on sustainable finance policy) to foster joint engagement. This will also involve hosting events and participating in external events to create platforms to discuss key policy developments in the market.

• Inform global colleagues on local developments: Prepare briefing notes, key messages, and presentations for global colleagues on PRI’s policy activities in Japan. Internal communication is especially key for PRI’s subject matter experts leading on global and multilateral projects. This will also include the CEO, other executives, and directors where they require local information.

• Reporting: Provide regular reporting to the Head of APAC Policy, as well as Director of APAC RI Ecosystems and Chief of APAC RI Ecosystems as required.

Person Specification

Subject matter expertise and experience

• An understanding of globally common responsible investment-related policies and frameworks (e.g., sustainability-related disclosure frameworks, sustainable taxonomies, product labelling schemes, stewardship codes, etc.) and how the Japanese Government, particularly the Financial Services Agency, is approaching these policies is required. Regional APAC knowledge beyond Japan is a plus.

• An understanding of how institutional investors approach responsible investment, including key approaches taken by institutional investors and how policies are influencing these approaches is required.

• A more detailed understanding of ESG themes in the context of responsible investment practice and sustainable finance policy is a plus, particularly with regards to social issues and human rights.

• Professional experience engaging with institutional investors and policymakers on responsible investment policy is desirable – e.g. consulting, civil service, NGO/NPO, trade associations, etc.

• Education in sustainability, economics, law, public policy, finance, international affairs, or similar is desirable.

Core competencies

• Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills is required. Business-level capability in Japanese and English is required, preferably with native fluency in both. Other APAC languages is a plus.

• Self-starting quality with an ability to work autonomously is required. Candidates should be comfortable with remote working systems and practices, as well as a part of a small office.

• A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others and commitment to fostering an inclusive environment is required.

• A commitment to developing others and a growth mindset, with demonstration of actively pursuing continuous professional and personal development is required.

• Excellent networking, relationship management, and interpersonal skills, as well as strong experience of building beneficial and productive relationships is required.

• Very good project management skills, with demonstrable experience in delivering complex projects successfully, including working in a team alongside colleagues and consultants is required.

• Must be eligible to work in Japan and able to commute to our Tokyo office as 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.

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.