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. 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 ‘Head of Africa, Signatory Relations’ will be responsible for enhancing Responsible Investment awareness and providing investors with the tools to implement it in their investment process in the markets in Africa. The role involves the management of PRI’s recruitment and signatory coverage, as well as the coordination of PRI’s other activities in Africa (today most of PRI signatories in the region are in South Africa). In non-pandemic times, the role offers scope for regular domestic and occasional international travel primarily for signatory meetings, industry events and internal meetings. 

The role presents an opportunity to join this international mission-driven organisation and to support the achievement of the blueprint vision across the African continent. A chance to be at the forefront of international best practice in responsible investment, translating global trends for local markets and inputting into the PRI’s strategy for emerging market support.

Core Responsibilities:

■ Raise awareness on Responsible Investment among regional asset owners, investment managers, service providers, and other PRI stakeholders

■ Signatory relationships: servicing African signatories through successful one on one meetings with signatories, including new signatory on-boarding, signatory review meetings, reporting and assessment sessions and other PRI-supported events. Engaging African signatories to adopt PRI led practical implementation initiatives

■ Outreach: Target for 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 (e.g., by joining local working groups and advisory committees, including the ASISA RI Standing Committee, the CRIS Committee, the South African National Treasury’s Climate Risk Forum and the Corporate Reporting Users Forum).

■ Collaboration with other PRI teams:  assist on strategic and/or ad hoc projects developed and enhance understanding of key African markets’ issues and players amongst colleagues

■ Contribute to the PRI’s strategy and initiatives with respect to Emerging Markets (EM), including being an active member of the EM working group.

■ Events: Represent PRI at relevant events to help raise the organisation’s profile in the region.

■ Collaborate with other Relationship Managers in Signatory Relations

■ Collaborate with the person in charge of PRI’s Francophone Programme

■ Provide regular reporting to the Director of Northern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Chief Signatory Relations Officer as required

Core Competencies:

PRI expects roles at a ‘Senior Specialist level’ within the organisation to demonstrate the following core competencies:

Analytical

•Looks for opportunities to add value by sharing specialist knowledge and insights

•Broadens the view to consider all possible options even if they initially seem unlikely solutions

•Can effectively capture and structure ill-defined or vague problems and is comfortable handling uncertainty (in own work and that of team members)

Considers examples outside of the PRI in offering alternative solutions or guidance.

Business Awareness

•Demonstrates an understanding of the business, including its finances, mission, and its culture

•Identifies and utilises key relationships (both internal and external) for successful execution of project or piece of work

•Knows when and how to challenge senior managers

•Applies industry knowledge and understanding of external influences, coupled with an appreciation of PRI mission and strategy to inform decisions

Collaborative

•Demonstrates ability to build good working relationships at all levels

•Drives collaboration within projects or work programmes to deliver high quality outputs

•Aligns expectations with senior managers to reach agreement

•Promotes knowledge sharing across the organisation

•Flexes style and approach based on colleagues’ level of understanding and preferences

Communicative

•Independently delivers well-structured, logical outputs that deliver maximum impact with minimum editing

•Presents advice or recommendations within the context of the recipient’s area of focus to gain buy-in

•Improves the knowledge of senior managers by making complex specialist principles easy to understand

•Appreciates the impact of their communication on others, modifying behaviour and communication style to work in different situations

Developmental

•Shares specialist knowledge openly with others, creating opportunities for others to learn, grow and succeed

•Builds an environment within the PRI which values forward thinking, creative solutions and innovation

•Is active in specialist networks as a means of furthering own knowledge and applying at the PRI

•Uses good questioning skills in a way that causes others to think about their approach

Structured

•Prioritises where contributes own time based on the value it would deliver

•Uses project management and oversight of individual work processes to improve organisational performance

•Continuously monitors external developments to incorporate into own work activities

•Translates project objectives into own work plans

Technical Competencies & Experience:

■ Significant past experience in the asset management and/or financial sector.

■ Advantageous knowledge and experience would include understanding of the institutional investment space in Africa and globally.

■ Strong interest in responsible investment, sustainability, environmental, social and governance issues, and their overall impact on 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. 

■ Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; demonstrable experience in public speaking, giving presentations and leading meetings with investment executives at all levels and their trustees/Boards. French language skills are a plus.

■ 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; 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.

■ Well-developed people management skills and experience

■ Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills

■ A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others, the ability to foster an incluisve working enviroment

■ Excellent networking, relationship management and interpersonal skills

■ IT/system skills - Microsoft Office, CRM (PRI uses Salesforce), social media, webinars, etc.

■ As this is a global role, international travel may be required.

PRI is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to encourage and support responsible investment. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. PRI is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates.