Temporary Network Manager South Africa
Job Description
The PRI South Africa Network was launched in 2009 with the objective of bringing PRI signatories in South Africa together to provide implementation support of the Principles, addressing material ESG issues in the local context and providing coordination support for initiating collaborative shareholder engagements in South Africa.
The PRI South Africa Network has three working groups:
Recruitment & awareness working group – Focuses on raising awareness among asset owners, investment managers and professional service partners about the materiality of ESG issues to investment processes with the view to signatory recruitment.
Integration working group – Focuses on the contextualisation of the Principles in South Africa. Identifies best practice examples of what implementation of ESG issues practically means for South African signatories.
Engagement working group – Focuses on regulatory challenges currently in place for collaborative shareholder engagement in South Africa and investigates potential collaborative engagements with companies in South Africa.
This is a six month position (with possibility of extension depending on performance). It is ideally suited to a mid-level professional or a recent graduate with relevant work experience and who is passionate about working in the responsible investment area. This position will provide the successful candidate a solid grounding in the field of responsible investment, a broad range of contacts, knowledge of the many environmental, social and governance issues relevant to investors, and the opportunity to develop a range of useful skills relevant to the field. The successful candidate will act as a bridge between South African signatories and other signatories in the world. This position might involve some local and international travel.
Core responsibilities
- Facilitate coordination and activities of the PRI South Africa Network and three working groups
- Develop and help shape agenda for the PRI South Africa Network
- Liaise with local signatories and develop strong working relationships
- Support new signatory recruitment in South Africa
- Assist the PRI Networks & Recruitment Manager and other members of the PRI team when necessary
- Act as a liaison between PRI South Africa Network and the international PRI community
Responsibilities may include
- Managing email correspondence, conference calls and meetings involving
- PRI signatories and other stakeholders
- Preparing agendas for meetings, taking minutes and producing progress reports
- Managing local intranets and databases
- Organising local PRI events and/or Signatory Workshops
- Leading recruitment meetings and PRI presentation to potential signatories
- Representing PRI in key local conferences and RI related forums
Requirements
- Ability to learn quickly and to get ‘up to speed’ within a short time (time will be set aside during induction to read a number of lengthy, but important documents on responsible investment)
- Several years relevant work experience
- Degree in a PRI?related field (finance, economics, business administration, responsible investment, law)
- Full time commitment (flexibility is possible during the week and for university assessment periods)
- Strong interest in responsible investment and environmental, social and corporate governance issues in general
- Fast and reliable home broadband connection & Skype
- Confidence with a range of IT and internet tools
- High?level written and spoken English
- Confidence to relate to and interact with senior investment professionals
- Well organised and reliable
- Ability to complete tasks without constant supervision
- Diplomacy, tact, and the ability to get on with people and fit into a team culture
- Should be based in Johannesburg, Pretoria or Cape Town
What you would gain from the position
- A deep understanding of the PRI and a solid grounding in responsible investment in general
- Experience in a dynamic and growing United Nations?backed public?private partnership
- The opportunity to develop contacts, build networks and get to know the industry
- Opportunity to shape and further develop PRI work in South Africa
- Experience in research, project management, teamwork and other essential skills required for a career in responsible investment
- Exposure to a broad range of environmental, social and corporate governance issues from the investment perspective
Please send your CV and covering letter explaining why you are suited for this position to Marcela Zonis by 14 February 2011 (marcela.zonis@unpri.org). Please attach your covering letter as a separate document, rather than in the email text. Interviews will be held in February 2011.
Project Manager for the Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance
Location: London
Duration: 1 year (4 month trial period)
Start date: 1/4/2011
Remuneration: competitive
Job description
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced project manager to join a growing team dedicated to providing practical guidance to investors on the implementation of responsible investment practices. The role will focus specifically on the early development and establishment of a work stream to host the Principles for Investors in Inclusive Finance. The Principles provide a framework for responsible investment in inclusive finance and were developed in response to growing interest and investments into inclusive finance as well as a demand for guidance from investors. They are an initiative of a core group of investors and Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development.
Specific tasks include
- Project managing the development and establishment of a work stream to house the Principles within the PRI
- Continue the implementation of a fund raising strategy to secure funding for year two of the initiative
- Establish and coordinate an expert steering committee. This may include organising conference calls, preparing agendas, preparing reports and working with experts in the field
- Project managing deliverables related to the establishment of the work stream, including producing publications, case studies, webinars, seminars and events
- Providing leadership in developing strategy for how best to support signatories to the Principles
- Promoting the Principles and signing up new organisations
- Developing and maintaining a library of resources on best practices in responsible investment and inclusive finance
- Providing the PRI team more broadly with intelligence and capacity in the area of inclusive finance
- Communicating with signatories the outputs of the work stream
- Developing a strong network among signatories to the Principles
- Liaising with other networks and organisations, such as CGAP, IAMFI working in this area
- Presenting at conferences
- Managing a dedicated section of the PRI’s signatory intranet
- Administration of and communication with new signatories.
The above description is designed as an indication of the role, not a definitive list of tasks. You will be expected to be self-directed, and autonomous. You will need to have knowledge of best practices within investment, inclusive/micro finance experience with established key contacts as well as project management experience.
Requirements
- Experience with and ability to understand and work in international and multi-cultural contexts
- 5+ years experience in micro/inclusive finance or an investment-related field. Ideal experience is a mix between institutional investment and microfinance
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Ability to connect with investors and speak their ‘language’
- Outstanding project management skills
- Technology friendly. Good working knowledge of relevant technology
- Relevant language skills other than English are preferred
- Ability to work in teams, friendly, tactful and diplomatic
- This is not a 9-5 job. We expect the successful candidate to demonstrate desire to achieve the highest standard of professional delivery in a fast-moving, international investment and policy environment
- The position has significant scope for professional development. International travel is likely
How to Apply
Please send your CV and covering letter explaining why you want this job and why you are suited to by 18 March. Please attach your covering letter as a separate document, rather than in the email text. Interviews will be in London at the end of March. Additional telephone interviews may be required.
For more information UNPRI website
788 total views, 2 today