Manager of Stewardship and Sustainable Investments

Chicago, IL

Full Time

Manager/Supervisor

JOB OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Position Title: Manager of Stewardship and Sustainable Investments
Division: Investments
Classification: Exempt
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Salary: $75,00-$85,000

Position Summary:
This position is responsible for assisting in the Office’s investment stewardship duties, which include, but are not limited to, (1) corporate engagement, proxy voting, and advocacy responsibilities, (2) conducting sustainable investment and equity, diversity, and inclusion due diligence of public markets focused asset managers and other stakeholders; (3) assisting the investment division’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion program, which is focused on increasing and reporting business with minority, women, veteran, and disabled-owned (MWVD) investment and financial service providers; and (4) executing activities to maximize business with investment and financial service providers based in Illinois; Attendance is an essential function of this position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Assists in the management of the investment stewardship activities on behalf of the Office, which further the Office’s compliance with the Illinois Sustainable Investing Act (PA 101-473) and support the Office’s core investment objectives to maximize anticipated financial returns, minimize projected risk, and effectuate the Office’s fiduciary duty.
Assists the Office’s corporate engagement activities, which entails identifying sustainability risks and opportunities in the office’s investment portfolio, developing strategies to address said risks and opportunities, leading engagements with corporate decision-makers, building coalitions and coordinating activities with other institutional investors, advocating for the Treasurer’s position on corporate practices and shareholder initiatives, and reporting on the progress of said activities.
Assists the Office’s leadership and membership responsibilities in various investor coalitions and organizations that contribute to the Office’s investment objectives. This includes, but is not limited to managing the Office’s leadership of the Midwest Investors Diversity Initiative, which is 15-member coalition of institutional investors focused on increasing racial, ethnic, and gender diversity on corporate boards of companies. This also includes managing the Office’s participation in other organizations such as the Council of Institutional Investors, Human Capital Management Coalition, Climate Action 100+, and Ceres, among others.
Assists the management of Office’s proxy voting activities, which entails development of the Office’s Proxy Voting Guidelines, implementation of the Office’s proxy voting policies, management, oversight and coordination with the Office’s Corporate Governance Consultant, management of reporting duties on the Office’s proxy voting activities, and advocacy activities to protect and expand the Office’s proxy voting rights.
Supports the administration of the Office’s annual Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, as well as Sustainability Integration surveys of asset managers and financial institutions that the Office conducts business with. Assists with the annual scoring of the public markets’ investment managers on equity, diversity, and inclusion as well as sustainability integration. Aggregates and analyzes results from each survey and scoring annually.
Assists the Director of Corporate Governance and Sustainable Investment and other relevant staff in developing policies, strategies, and operational processes that effectuate compliance with the Illinois Sustainable Investing Act (PA 101-473) and optimize the sustainable investment duties of the Office. This includes developing policies, processes, and best practices for sustainable investment for implementation by the Division of Stewardship & Sustainable Investment, the Divisions of Public Market and Alternative Investments, and the Division of Portfolio Risk & Analytics.
Researches, evaluates, and helps integrate sustainability factors, including environmental, social, and governance factors, as components of investment decision-making, investment analysis, portfolio construction, due diligence, risk management, and investment ownership to ensure that the Office’s policies and processes reflect best practices.
Assists the investment division’s Equity, Diversity & Inclusion program, which seeks to increase business with minority, women, veteran, and disabled-owned (MWVD) investment and financial service providers, and also helps ensure compliance with Section 30 of the State Treasurer Act, which declares that it be policy of the Treasurer’s Office to promote and encourage the use of businesses owned by or under the control of MWVD Persons and sets forth the aspirational goal of directing 25% of the total dollar amount of funds under management, purchases of investment securities, and other contracts to businesses owned by or under the control of MWVD Persons. Supports the planning and execution of the Office’s Finance Forward Forum, the annual diversity conference hosted by the Illinois Treasurer.
Corresponds and interacts with various entities including other state agencies as well as outside organizations.
Any other duties as assigned by the Director of Stewardship and Sustainable Investments toward the execution of the Office’s mission.

Specific Skills:

Excellent organizational, writing editing and communication skills
Excellent analytic and problem-solving skills
Excellent data analysis and visualization skills
Ability to exercise good judgment and discretion while implementing and interpreting agency policies and procedures
Strong attention to detail
Strong abilities to develop investment policies and business solutions
Knowledge of public sector finance
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and PowerBI
Ability to maintain satisfactory working relationships and communicate effectively with all levels of staff and the general public

Education and Work Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree in finance/economics/public administration/sustainability or any other related field; Master’s Degree in finance/economics/public administration/public policy/sustainability preferred; Three (3) or more years of experience in areas of investment stewardship, project management, policy analysis, finance, communications, and/or a related field; OR any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to carry out the duties of the position. Public sector experience in the above-mentioned fields is desirable.

Application Process: Please visit https://illinoisstatetreasurer.applytojob.com/apply to apply by completing the online application, upload a resume and letter of interest.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Applicants must be lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital or veteran status, or the presence of a non-job related medical condition or disability.

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