Manager of Stewardship and Sustainable Investments

About the position

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.

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.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.
• 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.

Nice-to-haves

• Public sector experience in the above-mentioned fields is desirable.

Benefits

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