Engagement Manager (Banks, Climate)

The global investment system has an oversized impact on many of the existential challenges we face today. Investors, as holders of capital and owners of the companies they invest in, have an influence on corporate practice. They influence which companies find it easier or harder to access finance and can influence the companies they’re invested in. Through their investment decisions and company engagement, investors can support a transition to a more sustainable, healthier way of living - this is known as responsible investment.

ShareAction’s vision is a world where the financial system better serves our planet and its people. Our mission is to define the highest standards of responsible investment and to drive change until these standards are adopted worldwide. We work towards our mission by:

• Building networks and coalitions of allies to drive change from within and outside the financial system
• Advocating for change in the investment industry using our research and rankings
• Campaigning with allies to strengthen investor stewardship and improve corporate practice
• Pushing for public policy reform to transform the financial system

Position

You will be joining us at an exciting time, when there is rising interest in how banks are addressing climate change risks and fostering the transition to a fairer, cleaner, and safer world. This is a rapidly evolving field, and we are looking for someone with excellent relationship skills, a good understanding of the banking sector, and a passion to make a difference to join our team.

You will be responsible for supporting ShareAction’s banking work with high-quality engagement with banks and other stakeholders (such as investors), and contributing to the raising of standards in the banking industry on climate change and biodiversity.

What you’ll do

• You will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with junior and senior contacts at banks and new asset owner and manager contacts, ensuring quality records are kept of interactions (meetings, calls and email) through our CRM system;
• You will expand the network of investors that the banking team actively works with, convincing them to support relevant engagement opportunities;
• You will work with our Networks team to help mobilise and support mission-driven asset owners and other key influencers across the UK finance value chain on their engagements with banks on climate change;
• You will organise meetings with and present the findings of ShareAction’s biennual surveys and leading practice reports to the banks surveyed. See for example the 2020 Banking on Climate Change survey we published in April 2020 and the Leading Practice report we published in September 2021;
• You will present the findings of our other research pieces to banks and investors, with the help of others in the team whenever appropriate;
• You will represent the team at internal meetings such as our monthly company engagement meeting and ensure smooth coordination with other teams;
• You will support team activities such as filing shareholder resolutions and drafting AGM questions;
• You will organise events aimed at presenting our research reports to banks and other important stakeholders, together with others in the team, as well as represent ShareAction in appropriate external forums to amplify impact.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and the role might change slightly from time to time.

Requirements

What you’ll bring to the team

Essential

• A clear understanding of how banks work and/or of sustainable banking, gained through work experience in or with the banking sector for example.
• Strong planning, co-ordination and organisational skills including note taking, meeting planning, coordinating collaborative engagement and record keeping;
• Persuasive communication skills (verbal and written) and desire to seek out speaking and networking opportunities;
• Excellent analytical skills – the ability to quickly get to grips with new and complex subject areas, assimilate information, pull out the relevant points and communicate them to internal and external audiences, even when you have not undertaken the research yourself;
• Good presentation skills and confidence speaking to a variety of different audiences;
• Great team player, who is happy to take advice and direction from colleagues working in other work programmes, such as supporter network/grassroots organising, and support team activities when needed;
• Excellent organisational, project and time management skills with the ability to work under pressure, plan and prioritise work effectively and meet deadlines;
• Knowledge and interest of climate change and how it relates to the financial system;
  

Desirable

• Knowledge of banks’ financing of the fossil fuel industry and/or how to interpret banks’ coal and/or fossil fuel policies;
• Experience of working with CRM systems, ideally Salesforce.
• Fluent in Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian and/or Spanish. Other languages are also a plus;
• Knowledge and interest in biodiversity;
• Experience of managing stakeholder relationships across diverse groups, for example banks, investors, partner organisations, high-net worth individuals, and/or funders.
  

Other information

Hours: Full-time, but with some flexibility possible

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: Up to £40,488 + 8% pension (non-contributory) and benefits including a healthcare scheme

Deadline for applications: 9am on Monday 4 April 2022 (first round interviews will take place in the week starting 11 April 2022)

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcome applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities and so if you are not 100 per cent sure that you meet all the requirements but believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply and use the application questions to tell us about your experience and what you hope to bring to this role.

We also actively encourage staff to work in ways that best suit their needs and our flexible working policy outlines many of the options available- such as part-time and term-time working, job sharing, home working and working compressed hours. Please talk to us at the interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

ShareAction’s London office is based in vibrant Bermondsey and a short walk from London Bridge underground and national rail. Remote working will remain the norm for many ShareAction staff as we continue to face the Covid-19 pandemic, with office space available in London for those who wish to use it.

Please note that to be considered for this post you must be legally eligible to work in the UK. Due to current restrictions we are unable to hire anyone that isn’t already living in the UK. Due to our size we are unable to sponsor visas.

Apply here.