Director Strategy and Communications

About the PRI

The PRI is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. It works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions.

The PRI’s three distinct capabilities relate to the core elements of the PRI’s approach to achieving a sustainable financial system.

• Translate RI (Responsible Investment) thought leadership into insights and practical support that is tailored to what signatories need to progress their RI practice
• Convene our vast network to create opportunities for collaborative action
• Harness our global scale to influence policymakers and regulators to effect system change

Job Description

The Director of Strategy and Communications is responsible for developing the PRI’s vision and communication strategy, making sure the PRI remains

1. The leading RI voice in the global investment industry and optimally relevant to its signatories’ missions;
2. and decisively focused on the communication of its value proposition.

The role involves analysing and anticipating market trends, stakeholder engagement across the organisation, and overseeing internal and external communications to ensure alignment with the PRI’s goals.

The successful candidate will report to the Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer and collaborates intensively and proactively with the PRI’s CEO and all PRI’s departments to steer the strategic direction, promote brand messaging, and enhance the overall reputation of the organization. Additionally, the director is tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of communication efforts and making adjustments to strategies based on outcomes and societal changes inside and outside the financial industry.

It is important to note that this new role is merging three functional areas (Strategy, External Communications, and Internal Communications) for the first time in PRI’s history at the Director level. This is done to consistently reflect our strategic goals and value proposition in our narrative and messaging to signatories, the Board, media, partners, and other key stakeholders. A single Director ensures that communications amplify strategic priorities (as well as responses to external pressures) rather than being reactive or disconnected.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide direction & support across the PRI to set the organisation’s strategy, evolve PRI’s operating model and align business plans with strategic objectives.
• Support the Executive Team with prioritisation and allocation of resources across the organisation
• Develop and implement PRI’s agreed Communications strategy across all channels, both internal and external.
• Ensure work across Strategy, Press Relations, Corporate Communications, Editorial and Internal Communications is aligned to create consistency of outputs and maximise stakeholder value. 
• Provide oversight and leadership to a group of 13 FTE’s (5 directs) across all Strategy and Communications functions, supporting team development and managing individual performance to help the team fulfil their potential. 
• Develop a consistently strong service culture in the teams and a reputation for high levels of guidance, collaboration, responsiveness and pro-activity.
• Collaborate with other Marketing and Strategy functions to maximise consistency and strategic consistency in all outside facing communications. 
• Drive engagement with other PRI teams to enhance and support their Communications objectives.
• Contribute to a strong and engaged employment culture by designing and executing an engaging Internal Communications approach.   
• Collaborate with PRI Directors and departments to engage signatories in PRI’s strategy design.
• Work with Directors in the development of PRI’s strategy, aligning with business planning and support the operationalise of strategy to deliver value to signatories 
• Provide overall leadership direction, coaching and support to small teams of professionals.
• Stakeholder management and engagement across our global locations
• Lead on cross-organisational projects with strategic importance for the CEO and CMSO.

Person Specification

PRI expects roles at Director level and above within the organisation to demonstrate managerial and leadership skills across the following core competencies:

• Well-developed people management skills and experience of leading
• Demonstrable experience in developing and managing a Strategy and Communications function, ideally in financial services, professional services, or a not-for-profit environment.
• Excellent written communication and verbal presentation skills
• A collaborative and consultative approach to working with others, able to take ownership of challenges or complaints and see them through to resolution. 
• Demonstrates a commitment to developing others and a growth mindset, actively pursuing continuous professional and personal development
• Excellent networking, relationship management and interpersonal skills. Ability to forge long-term relationships with industry leaders and drive decision-making in diverse, multi-stakeholder groups. 
• Strong programme management skills, with experience in designing projects and delivering successfully through others by providing timely and constructive advice to teams on their objectives and performance 
• IT/system skills (Microsoft Office, CRM, social media, webcasts, etc.)
• As this is a global role, international travel may be required. 
• Language skills, other than English, are desirable

We particularly welcome candidates from under-represented groups, including Black, Asian, and other People of Colour, those with visible or non-visible disabilities, LGBTQ+ candidates and those who are neurodivergent.

The PRI is committed to offering flexibility to our employees, both formal (e.g. part-time work) and informal (e.g. a shift in hours to accommodate caring responsibilities). Please talk to us about how we could make this role flexible for you.

N.B. We reserve the right to close a vacancy in the event of an overwhelming response or a change in business priorities.

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