Description

PHITRUST, a pioneering French asset management company specialising in impact investing and shareholder engagement, is looking for an ESG Engagement Director.

Investing for action: for more than 25 years, Phitrust has been investing by reconciling environmental and social impact with long-term financial performance. The management company exercises its responsibility as an engaged shareholder by supporting unlisted impact companies and large listed companies in their transition by questioning their governance and environmental and social practices.

Phitrust manages a range of funds invested in European equity markets on behalf of institutional and private investors and wishes to deploy its expertise in shareholder dialogue at European level and strengthen its ESG analysis team.

• Mission

The mission of the ESG Engagement Director is to implement and develop the shareholder engagement strategy with French and European company executives, which is a cornerstone of Phitrust's fund management.

• Responsibilities

1.ESG engagement and research

• Overseeing ESG research and managing the team of analysts responsible for analysing and monitoring portfolio companies: updating and developing ESG databases, monitoring engagement initiatives, company analyses, sector and thematic analyses to support engagement and management decisions
• Management of the shareholder engagement process - private dialogue: implementation of the annual engagement campaign, definition of cross-cutting themes and topics targeted by the company, organisation of technical committees, drafting of letters to executives, interviews with executives of portfolio companies
• Design and implementation of public shareholder engagement initiatives at general meetings: shareholder resolutions, written questions, solicitation of co-sponsors, voting and participation in general meetings, and team coordination

2.Development

• Business development: meetings with investors, clients and prospects
• Monitoring partnership opportunities
• Participation in cross-functional development work for the management company

3.Management of ESG/sustainability reporting

• Monitoring updates to regulatory sustainability documentation for UCITS and the management company (voting and engagement report, Article 29 report, SFDR annexes, AMF compliance, etc.)
• Organisation and monitoring of ESG client reporting (ESG questionnaires and due diligence; dedicated presentations, etc.)

• Skills

• Ability to engage in dialogue with the leaders of major European companies
• Expertise in shareholder engagement practices and issues at the French and European level
• Strong knowledge of ESG extra-financial analysis with a focus on governance
• Strong legal and regulatory knowledge (company law, European sustainable finance regulations)
• Proficiency in research tools and databases
• Strong commercial acumen
• Fluent in English and German. Italian desirable.

• Desired profile

• University degree (law/economics/finance) or Grandes Ecoles education
• At least 10 years' experience in shareholder engagement and/or financial and ESG analysis and/or management with a strong focus on dialogue with companies
• Or legal experience
• Ideally, certification in financial analysis (CIIA Certified International Investment Analyst, CEFA, CFA, etc.) and/or extra-financial analysis (CESGA European financial analysis certifications, etc.)
• International background

This position is based in Paris (8th arrondissement).