Director, EMEA Voting

Description

About this role

Director - BlackRock Investment Stewardship EMEA, London based

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 (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 Director - BIS will work in a lead role as part of a growing team, currently of ten 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 a number of sectors and markets in Europe for voting and engagement purposes; the individual will lead particularly complex, high profile or sensitive engagements; and facilitate 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 Director - 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;
• Initiating, leading and/or participating in internal research projects 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 expert 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;
• Act as an internal consultant on ESG by educating both the BIS team in London and leading BlackRock investors in responsible investing/ESG; keeping them abreast of market changes;
• 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.
• Partner with the Head of EMEA BIS to execute the strategy for the team's ESG efforts in EMEA;
• 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 management and development of the team;
• Contribute to regular updates of our publicly available documents, including voting guidelines, ensuring their relevance and timeliness;
• If required, take responsibility for communication with the regional advisory committee and, in conjunction with the Committee's chairman, ensure its members remain informed of regional developments and are equipped to fulfil their function to guide the team's work;
• Share responsibility with the Head of EMEA BIS for public representation of BlackRock's views and work on BIS, including with clients;
• 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

BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, our clients turn to us for the solutions they need when planning for their most important goals. As of September 30, 2020, the firm managed approximately $7.81 trillion in assets on behalf of investors worldwide.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate | 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.