This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced ESG Manager to help shape our future. At Mercia we believe ESG underpins our successful growth and delivery of our future ambitions. We have made a set of commitments and wish to build upon these. As our ESG Manager you will be part of a diverse and agile organisation that puts its people and our communities at the heart of what we do. As a UK investor this is a unique opportunity to focus on our business operations as well as the local communities we impact with our investments.
Mercia has always had strong responsible investment principles and a broad ESG focus.
To formalise this focus, we are creating a new role with responsibility for developing and delivering our ESG plan. Building on the solid foundations of the work we have completed to date; this internal and external facing role is tasked with developing our frameworks and working practices to meet our stakeholders’ broad requirements and aspirations. Joining a small team supported by the wider organisation, this is an opportunity to both lead and influence.
This is a full-time position based in Henley-in-Arden, with travel to other offices and locations as required.
With previous demonstrable experience in developing and delivering ESG transformation projects in our industry, you will bring thought leadership as well as proven approaches to driving our ESG agenda. Providing expertise, leadership and project management support across our business to embed an ESG alert mindset into our business-as-usual operations.
In this role you would have responsibility for:
- Influence company strategies, plans and performance measures to support our ESG ambitions.
- Formulate, with key stakeholders, investment policy and strategy on various ESG issues, and ensuring these are governed, communicated and implemented appropriately.
- Create and publish ESG Statements/Policies and drive employee awareness and engagement.
- Publish an annual ESG roadmap and provide quarterly updates on progress against objectives.
- Lead and execute key ESG initiatives acting as a champion for the business.
- Collaborate with, assist and advise, internal and external stakeholders on emerging ESG practices.
- Seek and work with independent specialist experts to progress target setting and initiatives to deliver our ESG Plan where necessary.
- Work closely with stakeholders to ensure data is captured and reported consistently.
- Develop and maintain relationships with relevant membership bodies and ratings agencies to raise our profile with key external stakeholders.
- Lead training and awareness sessions internally and develop supporting collateral.
- Develop additional collateral as required to support outward-facing teams with portfolio and prospect engagement, and public markets information.
- Take part in meetings with our external stakeholders to ensure awareness of our ESG Action Plan and active engagement with our efforts.
- Help our internal teams to understand competitor and market ESG related insights.
- Align with and guide our People and Talent team on our Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DE&I) goals and ensure our DEI Agenda and KPIs are included within reports/submissions.
- Lead on and take responsibility for scanning the horizon for developments in ESG reporting to ensure we meet all regulatory requirements at the right time.
About you:
- Knowledge of ESG agenda within the Financial Services sector, in particular for asset managers.
- Aware of sustainability guidelines and standards for UK based Firms.
- Experience of reporting and driving change on Carbon Emissions and on DEI commitments.
- Experience of managing projects and collaborating with internal teams.
- Confident and effective communicator.
- Proven ability to build relationships and positively influence stakeholders based on your ESG domain knowledge and practice.
- A Knowledge of ESG frameworks, indices and common reporting methods used for screening and monitoring investments is desirable.
- Have the unrestricted use of a car and maintain a current driving licence enabling you to drive in the UK – there will be regular travel to other Mercia offices required, so you should have flexibility to travel.
- In line with our core values, you must be able to demonstrate that you are Growth Focused, Responsive, Respectful/Responsible, Connected and Trusted.
What we can offer you:
In addition to your base salary, we offer a broad and exciting range of perks and benefits, including family-friendly policies, wellbeing support, Mercia Spirit charity days, regular 1-2-1’s, mentoring and support with training and career development.
We value diversity at Mercia and are committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment equally and fairly, regardless of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or religious beliefs, gender or gender realignment, sexual orientation or marital status, disability, responsibility for dependants or age. In your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you prefer to use.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy if we receive sufficient applications for the position. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.