Meeting the growing demands and expectations of our clients, regulators and other key stakeholders as they navigate the complex area of ESG is a core service for State Street Global Advisors and we are committed to providing the tools, products and information our clients need in order to meet their objectives.
SSGA has extensive experience working with a wide range of clients and ESG approaches through multiple market cycles. SSGA provides dedicated ESG products and strategies, research, thought leadership, and implementation guidance demonstrating the firm’s commitment to providing both comprehensive and focused ESG solutions to clients. SSGA’s central ESG team is made up of strategists, researchers and data specialist, the stewardship team as well as a dedicated operations and administration team.
Role of the ESG Strategist
ESG strategists works closely with internal stakeholders such as portfolio managers and strategists in the various investment teams, marketing communications teams and sales personnel across the entire organization to help inform ESG product and strategy development, develop thought leadership, and ensure the ESG approach is consistent across the organization. Externally, they act as ESG specialists representing the investment organization in initial discussion with clients to better understand client concerns and ESG needs. Through client discussions, they help inform a client’s ESG investment journey and help identify the right ESG investment product or solution that will fulfil client needs. They also are responsible for building SSGA’s brand image and promoting ESG thought leadership at conferences and among industry peers.
Functionally, a Strategist Is
- an advisor to clients and investment teams,
- a facilitator that helps foster an environment of collaboration among internal stakeholders and clients
- a thought leader who can simplify complex ESG issues and develop frameworks for investors to consider ESG risks and opportunities in the investment process
- a specialist that helps to enhance ESG acumen across the organization and increase literacy on ESG
Key Responsibilities
- Drive the adoption of SSGA’s investment strategies with clients and prospects, in collaboration with client-facing teams, to fuel the growth of SSGA’s ESG business
- Coordinate with the broader ESG, Product teams and distribution teams to ensure a positive client experience
- Act as an expert on ESG strategies and portfolio implementation, and deliver that expertise to serve clients, empower colleagues and raise SSGA’s public ESG profile
- Oversee and contribute to complex projects and conduct analysis for some of the most sophisticated investors in the world
- Keep internal business partners and clients updated on general industry trends and provide insights on how they affect client goals and our offering
- Develop relationships with our business partners , notably across SSGA’s investment, sales and marketing and legal and compliance teams, as well as clients and key industry associations
- Contribute to our thought leadership platform and help drive the research agenda on salient ESG and sustainability topics and trends
- Review and edit request for proposals/ information (RfP/RfI) and due diligence questionnaires
- Contribute to achieving SSGA’s ESG growth target
Experience & Skills
- 8+years of experience in investment management and/or investment sales, with experience in ESG investing and familiarity with ESG research, frameworks and data
- Understanding of the interplay between investment and ESG frameworks and initiatives such as EU SFDR, UK SDR, UN SDGs, TCFD, ISSB, Net Zero Asset Manager Initiative and others
- Proven ability to independently research and analyse an issue through multiple angles, identify viable investment alternatives, develop and communicate investment strategies and recommend investment solutions
- Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills to articulate complex concepts and issues in a compelling, persuasive, fact-based manner
- Background in working cross-functionally/ geographically and building relationships with investment, sales, operations, marketing, product and legal and compliance teams
- Willingness to collaborate with members of the team to achieve group performance targets
Education
- Degree in Business, Finance, Economics or similar field
- MBA or CFA or equivalent Master’s degree a plus
Personal Profile
- Analytical with a solid investment foundation, and the ability to formulate strategy to convert ideas into action
- Passionate about ESG issues with experience in dealing with the investment implications
- Highly developed team player, within a multi-cultural environment; someone who is sensitive to complexities within a global business
- Self-starter, motivated and driven to succeed; someone who will thrive in a dynamic and entrepreneurial team environment and is results oriented
- Excellent communicator (written and verbal), with strong relationship management skills
- Experienced presenter, capable of connecting and engaging with a sophisticated audience to explain complex concepts in simple fashion
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
Job ID: R-733863