Vice President - BlackRock Investment Stewardship EMEA

Description

About this role

Business Unit Overview:

As an independent, fiduciary asset manager, BlackRock is committed to acting at all times in the best long-term interests of our clients. We undertake our BIS activities to protect and enhance the economic value of the companies in which we invest on their behalf through engagement. The work of BlackRock's BIS team is an investment function. The team operates in six offices across three regions - the Americas (New York and San Francisco); Europe, Middle East and Africa (Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London); and Asia-Pacific (Tokyo, Hong Kong and Sydney) - and undertakes engagement with portfolio companies on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues including proxy voting on behalf of clients globally.

BlackRock aims to take a common view in-house regarding our engagement and voting policies and uses the BIS group to coordinate, communicate and carry out these policies across the 95 markets and approximately 15,000 shareholder meetings at which the firm votes each year.

Job Purpose/Background:

The Vice President - BIS will work in a senior role as part of a growing team, currently of sixteen analysts focused on EMEA. The role reports to the Head of BIS EMEA and is based in London. The intention is for the person in this role to specialise in corporate governance, environmental and social issues as an investment theme or risk. The successful candidate will cover several sectors and markets in Europe for voting and engagement purposes; the individual is expected to lead on particularly complex, high profile or sensitive engagements; and contribute the overall development of team capabilities. Close partnership with BlackRock's public policy and client relationship teams is an integral part of the job.

The Vice President - BIS is responsible for:

• Contributing to the implementation of the approved corporate governance policies for the region through engagement with investee companies, including voting at shareholder meetings;

• Contributing to the development of the firm's ESG policies and the strategies for implementing them year to year;

• Contributing and/or initiating internal research projects in partnership with senior colleagues responsible for research & analytics, as required. This could also include contributing to key public policy debates and responding to policy consultation;

• Working with the active equity and fixed income investment teams as well as BlackRock's Sustainable Investing team to further the development of ESG research and implementation of ESG risks in the investment process;

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a senior stewardship analyst in BlackRock's Investment Stewardship team focusing on corporate governance, environmental and social issues/risks from an investment perspective in EMEA for key audiences internally and externally. Ensure an accurate and widespread understanding of our activities in this area;

• Responsible for research and analysis of governance, environmental and social issues from an investment perspective and collaborating with the investment teams and other key stakeholders to share views;

• Responsible for the implementation of the approved corporate governance policies for a number of sectors and the key markets in the region through engagement with investee companies, including voting at shareholder meetings;

• Voting responsibility for a number of sectors by analysing meeting agendas and related materials in order to vote in the manner most consistent with BlackRock's corporate governance policies;

• Work closely with fundamental/active portfolio managers to get their input into our engagements, including proxy voting, and risk analysis.

• Engage, in conjunction with portfolio managers, with Chairmen, CEOs and other senior representatives of the companies in which BlackRock invests to address a range of issues including industry trends, strategy and performance in addition to corporate governance;

• Contribute to the development of the team and building of an inclusive and diverse "One BlackRock" culture;

• Contribute to regular updates of our publicly available documents, including voting guidelines, ensuring their relevance and timeliness;

• Work closely with the Head of EMEA on assessing key regulatory and market developments in the BIS field to ensure that BlackRock's approach continues to be at the leading edge of best practice.

Skills/Qualifications:

• Min undergraduate with a degree in finance, economics, accounting or related discipline

• Postgraduate, CFA or MBA preferred

• Investment management, investment banking, corporate finance, and/or legal experience preferred

• An understanding of and interest in ESG issues as long-term investment considerations

• Proven track record of producing ESG research and analysis;

• Experience of ESG integration in the investment process;

• The ability to build and maintain successful relationships with colleagues across the firm and with external parties; The ability to analyse and resolve complex problems under time pressure;

• Detail oriented and persistent to see things through to completion whilst managing multiple tasks and changing priorities;

• Organised, self-reliant and self-motivated;

• The ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in writing and orally, including with senior colleagues, investee company representatives, and the public;

• The ability to analyse and resolve complex problems under time pressure;

• Fluent in Microsoft office business tools; and market data analysis;

• Good English skills is a must and fluency in additional Western European language an advantage.

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being. Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children's educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment - the one we make in our employees. It's why we're dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit careers.blackrock.com | www.blackrock.com/corporate | Instagram: @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law.

BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.