Head of Sustainability

Pension Insurance Corporation (“PIC”) provides secure retirement incomes through comprehensive risk management and excellence in asset and liability management, as well as exceptional customer service. Our purpose is to pay the pensions of our current and future policyholders.

PIC is recruiting a Head of Sustainability who will provide leadership across the firm in all areas relating to sustainability. This covers:

1. Responsible Investing: working collaboratively with the Investments team on sustainability related topics
2. Responsible Corporate: working with the business to continue to embed sustainability across the whole firm.

You will also apply knowledge and insights concerning the impact of Sustainability factors on investment portfolios and how this impacts our policyholders and other stakeholders.

Specific accountabilities assigned to the role of Head of Sustainability within PIC Capital:

• Enhance and lead PIC’s sustainability strategy as a responsible corporate and a responsible investor and with a focus on creation of social value. Ensure our approach remains appropriate to meet the expectations of PIC’s stakeholders both internally and externally
• Set priorities for the business with regards to its sustainability actions taking into consideration evolving industry expectations and regulations
• Lead the integration of ESG within investment processes and collaborate with Investment teams to apply such processes.
• Be Sustainability Subject Matter Expert on investments by providing ESG / sustainability opinion and analysis. Support analysts to input the opinion into Credit and Investment committee papers.
• Lead a small but dynamic team including a Climate Lead and an Investment Stewardship Manager.
• Help set climate and stewardship strategies and ensure targets are met in those areas.
• Manage your direct reports and encourage their own professional development and career progression
• Keep informed of industry trends and market developments. Ensure constant knowledge sharing across the Investment team and wider company
• Present and respond to the Board, Internal Committees, Trustee, Adviser or other stakeholders on sustainability related queries
• Work alongside Executive Committee members and Sustainability Champions across the business to embed Sustainability as BAU
• Contribute to external reporting requirements (Sustainability report and TCFD) annually
• Represent PIC at relevant industry conferences as speaker
• Champion PIC’s culture and values by role modelling professional and best practice standards of conduct and behaviour throughout the employee lifecycle

Experience:

• Relevant senior sustainability experience within a financial services firm
• Experience integrating ESG into investments both within public and private markets, in particular within fixed income
• Experience in overseeing and/or driving forwards an investment portfolio decarbonisation strategy
• Familiarity of and involvement in industry-level Sustainability initiatives
• Front-facing experience engaging with external stakeholders and /or investee companies on Sustainability matters
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders across different departments. i.e. Exco, Board
• Proven leadership experience either directly or indirectly managing / influencing a team

Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of sustainability risks and opportunities and their application to a business such as PIC’s
• Strong technical knowledge of sustainability related matters and their integration into the investment processes across asset classes
• Knowledge of regulatory and industry best practices in sustainability, including reporting standards such as TCFD, ISSB
• A clear understanding of industry and stakeholder expectations on Sustainability in the context of a life insurance company
• Knowledge of climate specific topics and Stewardship approach for an investor such as PIC

Skills:

• Strong organisation skills with the ability to work across various priorities and organize yourself and your team so that deadlines are met
• Proven ability to persuade and influence stakeholders (internal and external) at all levels both directly and indirectly
• Strong interpersonal skills – proven ability to adapt to different personalities
• Commercial judgement when setting priorities and action

In addition to a competitive base salary and the opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan, upon joining us here at Pension Insurance Corporation, you will get access to some great benefits, including private medical insurance, 28 days' annual leave (excluding bank holidays), a generous pension scheme and much more.