Location: London or Brussels preferred, other locations in continental Europe will be considered.

Basis: 24 months Fixed Term Contract

Level: Head of Team

Salary: £60,000-65,000 p.a. depending on experience

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 Policy team provides tools and insight to international standard setters, signatories and policy makers to advance progress towards a regulatory and investment environment consistent with the implementation of PRI’s Mission Statement and the Six Principles.

The Head of Policy, EU & UK is responsible for the PRI’s policy programme at EU level, in France, Germany and the UK.

Core Responsibilities:

This role is responsible for the team that develops and delivers the PRI’s policy engagement programme in Europe (at EU level, in France and Germany) and the UK. The team consists of the Head of Team and three Senior Policy Analysts, based in Paris, Berlin and London. The team’s responsibilities are:

■      Monitoring and interpreting policy developments in key markets and providing briefings to PRI Signatories and internal colleagues. 

■      Developing reasoned, evidence-based policy positions, consistent with the implementation of PRI’s Mission Statement and the Six Principles.

■      Developing engagement strategies and making policy representations to governments and regulators, including through the PRI’s contribution to policy working groups.

■      Developing relationships with PRI Signatories and other key stakeholders to deepen the impact of the PRI’s work.

■      Managing the design and delivery of the research necessary to support the strategy.

■      Working with the various teams across the PRI including the Implementation Support, Communications and Clearinghouse teams to ensure that the outputs of all work are appropriately disseminated, as well as building from research outputs from the PRI Academic Network.

Core Competencies:

PRI expects roles at a “Head level” within the organisation to demonstrate skills across the following core competencies:

Analytical

• Ensures decision makers have all relevant and available information in a timely manner before decisions are made​

• Evaluates risks, issues and opportunities assessing probability and consequences on both short- and long-term basis​

• Simplifies issues and actions down to key factors and components for ease of use in decision making​

• Can effectively capture and structure ill-defined or vague problems and is comfortable handling uncertainty​

Business Awareness

• Reflects broader understanding of the PRI’s financial, legal and people frameworks in decision making ​

• Understands (and utilises) how the different teams within the PRI contribute to the PRI mission and Signatory value ​

• Understands where the key decision points and points of influence are, advising team members how to act accordingly​

• Prioritises the delivery of PRI objectives within the team ​

• Identifies any conflicts in PRI priorities taking appropriate action where required

Collaborative

• Develops collaborative working relationships breaking down silos and promoting collaborative working by team members​

• Identifies and leads initiatives for building team profile internally and promotes links with other teams ​

• Recognises and acts on non-verbal communication, understanding what is and what is not said in a conversation​

• Proactively develops partnerships that do not currently exist in areas of mutual benefit

Communicative

• Takes a creative and inclusive approach to problem solving that broadens the teams thinking​

• Uses the most effective influencing style to challenge or build consensus (across teams, within teams or upwards)​

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

• Translates complex data that is potentially challenging for the audience and presents it in a way that enables understanding​

Developmental

• Role models continuous, balanced and honest feedback to others​

• Builds a collaborative team environment which values the sharing of forward thinking, creative solutions and innovation​

• Delegates responsibility to more junior team members to develop their capabilities​

• Coaches less experienced team members/ colleagues to help them to be more successful​

• Creates opportunities to develop and train the team to improve their skills and knowledge​

Structured

• Translates project objectives into team work plans​

• Judges how to balance team capacity and where to prioritise effort​

• Embeds project management processes in team, leading by example and clearly defining team roles, responsibilities and expectations​

• Regularly monitors progress within the team, addressing and resolving issues as they arise​

Technical Competencies & Experience:

For this role, the PRI expects the following technical competencies/experience:

■      A strong track record of delivering policy change. 

■      A deep practical understanding of either EU or UK policy-making processes around sustainability and/or finance. Experience across both markets would be highly desirable.

■      Strong understanding of investment practice, the structure and operation of the investment chain, and of the issues relating to sustainable financial markets and the incorporation of ESG factors into investments.

■      Outstanding analytical and research skills. 

■      Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to write clear, concise and engaging content and present to senior audiences.

■      Experience of managing complex projects and programmes.

■      Line management experience, particularly the ability to coach and support experienced team members.  

■      A philosophical commitment to the mission and Principles of the PRI.

■      Legally able to work in the EU or UK (depending on location of role).

Desirable:

■      Education in economics, public policy, finance, natural sciences or international affairs.

■      Experience of working internationally.

■      Additional languages beyond English.