We are at a pivotal moment: the climate and biodiversity crises are deepening, and inequalities are even more marked in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The global investment system has an oversized impact on many of these global challenges. We want to make sure that impact is positive. At ShareAction we work with investors, policymakers and individuals to unleash the positive potential of the investment system. We aim to build a world where our financial system serves our planet and its people.

Team

The Asset Owner Initiatives team aims to raise responsible investment standards through its vibrant networks of charities, universities and pension schemes and pools.

The newly created role of Head of Asset Owner Initiatives (reporting to the Director of Financial Sector Standards) will be responsible for design and delivery of ShareAction’s strategy for asset owners and asset owner networks. The post holder will be responsible for maintaining the high standards of secretariat support that we have offered asset owner networks over many years. This will include oversight of member relationships and delivery of work plans of the OPSC (Occupational Pensions Stewardship Council), CRIN (Charities Responsible Investment Network) and RINU (Responsible Investment Network – Universities).

The OPSC is the youngest but also the largest of our asset owner networks for which we provide the secretariat in partnership with the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions). The new Head will focus initially on directly supporting OPSC members in the delivery of their agreed workplan for 2022/2023. This role will be subject to a personal confidentiality agreement, which protects information related to OPSC planning, operations and both current and prospective member organisations Over time and as resources allow, the scope of the role will develop to encompass a wider international programme of work with pension schemes and other asset owners.

What you’ll do

• Play a leading role in delivering secretariat support for the OPSC work plan 2022-23.

• You will lead on the development of ShareAction’s strategy for asset owners and asset owner networks.

• You will manage relationships with existing network members and maintain quality of participation in networks activities.

• You will lead on growing the networks by recruiting new and diverse members.

• You will oversee the design and delivery of work plans for our networks of asset owners (CRIN, RINU and OPSC) setting realistic but ambitious KPIs alongside team members.

• You will deliver successful funding bids for the work of the asset owner team.

• You will oversee the budget for asset owner networks, lead on work to ensure on-going financial sustainability, and ensure team-specific risks are monitored and managed.

• You will manage and develop the Asset Owner Initiatives team, taking responsibility for the growth, line management, and professional development of your team members, enabling individuals to progress in their careers.

• You will manage and develop stakeholder relationships in the wider sector and representing ShareAction at events as the organisation’s spokesperson for our asset owner work.

• You will work with ShareAction’s Communications team to achieve positive media and social media coverage of activity within the team.

• You will collaborate with colleagues across ShareAction to ensure that asset owner facing work is well coordinated with other activities in the organisation, whilst championing the independence and leadership of our asset owner network members.

What you’ll bring to the team

• You have exceptional relationship-building skills with the ability to understand a range of priorities and perspectives and negotiate solutions (both internally and externally and the ability to influence with respect and diplomacy)

• You are highly collaborative, with expertise in managing a broad range of nuanced and complex stakeholder relations for mutual benefit and mission impact.

• You have the ability to confidently contribute to a range of teams and networks , understanding and respecting the priorities of other colleagues and stakeholders.

• You have a strong team-working aptitude with experience of building, managing and leading a high performing team based on mutual trust, respect and inclusion.

• You have the ability to build out and deliver effective work plans that identify, engage, recruit and manage diverse stakeholder groups.

• You have excellent knowledge of the UK occupational pensions charitable foundations and university endowments sectors as well as of the ESG challenges facing asset owners.

• You are a strong strategic thinker with the ability to make valuable connections and translate strategy into effective plans, as well as contribute to delivery.

• Although its not essential if you have experience of working with asset owners outside the UK it would be a plus!

What we will do for you

• You will be joining a peer group of Heads of that sits across the organisation. They meet bi-weekly to share tips and challenges. They also work together to support the wider management team with organisational thinking.

• You will have opportunities to attend events as a ShareAction representative.

• We will provide you with any training you might require to use our internal systems, we will also provide you with learning and development opportunities as required.

• You will be joining a newly created team that is made up of existing staff members., For this reason you will have space to shape how your team works together and how you work well with others across the organisation.

Contract type: Full- Time, Perm
Who it reports to: Director of Financial Sector Standards (FSS)
Salary: £49,500- £54,000 + 8% pension contribution
Deadline for applications: 9am Tues 23 August 2022
Interview dates: There will likely be three rounds of interviews, 1st round most likely to be w/c 29 August.

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 as described 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 and live in the UK. Due to employment law and tax reasons you must reside in the UK to be employed by ShareAction. We are unable to sponsor visas for this role.