Senior Project and Engagement Officer (Asset Owner Networks)

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

Position

This role is part of a small team that forms the secretariat for two vibrant, dynamic networks of mission-driven asset owners: the Charities Responsible Investment Network (CRIN) and the Responsible Investment Network – Universities (RINU). We support members to align their investments with their social and environmental missions and values through a tailored programme of networking, advocacy and educational activities. The networks are unique spaces, enabling members to collaborate, share best practice and be leaders at the cutting edge of thinking around what it means to be a responsible investor.

You will make a significant contribution to our team by supporting the design and delivery of our annual workplan for CRIN and RINU and engaging members to participate in network activities. You will be key to ensuring the smooth running of the secretariat, including monitoring and evaluation to ensure that our work is as impactful as possible.

The secretariat sits in ShareAction’s Investor Engagement team, which engages with a range of actors to develop and drive up standards of responsible investment. You will work closely with the Senior Engagement Manager (Asset Owner Networks), who manages the work of the networks, and with the Senior Research Manager (Investors), who supports members to leverage research and analysis, and engage with their financial service providers, such as asset managers and consultants.

In this fast-paced role, on a day-to-day basis, you might be:

• Designing new projects (such as an educational workshop or advocacy initiative) for our annual workplan of activities.
• Responding to enquiries from and holding meetings with members or prospective members (foundations, trusts, operational charities, universities and colleges).
• Organising quarterly member meetings, as well as other workshops on topics such as participatory decision-making in investment, artificial intelligence and responsible investment, or divestment and the arms trade (scheduling, agenda drafting, note taking, facilitating discussions and coordinating follow-up actions).
• Writing case studies or articles to showcase the cutting-edge work of members.
• Conducting small research tasks and drafting discussion papers to inform members of responsible investment approaches and best practice.
• Sending emails to members informing them of relevant events, news and research.
• Designing and sending surveys to collect data on members and their impacts.
• Updating records, including information on members and their investments, their participation in network activities, and their payment of invoices.

If this role sounds like something that would build on your current skill set and engage you, we’d love to hear from you!

This is a fixed-term role for 12 months where you will work full-time, or we would consider part-time hours of 0.4 FTE (4 days per week).

What you’ll bring to the team

We’re looking for someone with excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills. You’ll be confident in managing projects and events and comfortable in a fast-paced work environment, working across multiple different projects. You’ll be enthusiastic about movement building and working collaboratively as part of a network and able to develop good relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. You’ll have a proven ability to communicate well with a variety of different audiences.

While we hope we’ll find someone with the majority of the skills and experience on the person specification, we’re really keen to hear from you even if you don’t have them all. This is a varied role, and we’re looking for someone willing to get stuck in and learn: you’ll have the opportunity to develop and hone skills in network building, relationship management, project management and research.

We’re not looking for someone from a specific sector: you may have some experience in the charity or university sector, in environmental and/or social justice campaigning, or working on corporate or financial sector standards. You may be at an early stage in your career or someone with more experience who is looking for a change. Most importantly, you’ll have a real passion to make a positive difference for people and planet and be excited to shape the work of two networks at the cutting edge of thinking around what it means to be a responsible investor.

We are currently formalising our hybrid working policy; however, there is an expectation that you will be able to attend the London office or meetings at least four times a month. This role will require close collaboration with colleagues and network members, so it is important that the successful candidate can join us in person when required.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide the right environment for our colleagues to thrive, and we are committed to improving our employee offer where possible.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• The opportunity to help make a difference: we tackle some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges. We offer opportunities for you to develop your skills and experience in a friendly, flexible and supportive working environment.
• Unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• 8% non-contributory pension: invested with NEST and their green funds.
• Healthcare cash plan with Westfield that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
• Employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes 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 we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9 am on Monday 7th October 2024.
First-round interviews: Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th October 2024 (online).
Second-round interviews: Tuesday 22nd October 2024 (in person at our London office). 

Our hiring process is anonymised; we won’t ask for a cover letter, and we don’t look at CVs until the interview stage. We do this so that we reduce the opportunity for unconscious biases to affect our decision-making, and so we prioritise skills and expertise over how well you can write a CV.

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Please be aware that when shortlisting we are really keen to get a sense of your unique voice and individual experience, especially if you are using generative AI tools as part of your drafting process.