Investment Officer (Sustainable Investment)

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Secretary-General is responsible for the investment of the assets of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF). The Secretary-General has delegated this responsibility to the Representative of the Secretary-General for the investment of the assets of the UNJSPF (RSG). The RSG is, in turn, assisted in this function by the Office of Investment Management (OIM). OIM manages a $80+ billion multi-asset class, global investment portfolio, about 85% of which is actively managed in-house. Asset classes under management comprise of global equities, fixed income, foreign exchange, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, timber and commodities. OIM’s staff are all based in New York and come from over 30 countries. For more information, please visit OIM's website at https://oim.unjspf.org/.

This position is located in the Sustainable Investment Team of OIM. The incumbent reports to the Team Lead.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief Investment Officer and Team Lead, the incumbent will perform the following duties:

1. Assists the Investment Officer (IO) / Team Lead to develop and implement the Sustainable Investment approach across private markets and impact investing strategies and in collaboration with all the Investment Teams a. Balances long-term strategic goals with short-term performance objectives to outperform return benchmarks, supported by ESG integration, impact investing and stewardship. b. Monitors the various portfolio holdings and external managers and conduct appropriate ESG and impact analysis and due diligence at the direction of the IO. c. Complies with risk control parameters as delineated in the investments Policy and Procedures Manual with a goal to produce the optimal investment return that avoids undue risk by applying ESG and impact due diligence. d. Contributes to the development and implementation of proxy voting and engagement guidelines in line with the fiduciary responsibility of the Fund. e. Integrates Principles of Responsible Investments into investment analysis and monitor both internally and externally managed holdings, subject to OIM's standards of fiduciary responsibility to the Fund. f. Conducts portfolio, external manager and service provider review periodically. g. Conducts portfolio ESG and impact analysis using risk tools and analytical tools.

2. Conducts careful and thorough ESG and impact investment research: a. Performs ESG and impact analysis and due diligence through ESG statements, disclosures and reports, corporate announcements, market news, and other publicly available information. b. Reviews ESG and impact research and discuss with various stakeholders, including industry participants, General Partners etc. c. Attends investment conferences and Seminars to access to academia and industry experts. d. Assists in evaluating the quality of the advice of recommendations submitted by the Fund's impact research provider and appraise performance of external managers employed in the region.

3. Makes specific impact investing recommendations a. Makes specific impact investing recommendations to achieve optimum impact investing performance with carefully review of the portfolio’s investment objectives and risk tolerance, b. Presents and discusses impact investing recommendations to IO of the relevant asset class/region, c. Participates in the discussions and development of impact investing recommendations for asset allocation for the Fund.

4. Reporting a. Assists in the preparation of reports accurately and timely to the Representative of the Secretary-General for the Investments of the UNJSPF and Chief Investment Officer of OIM when requested, as well as annual reporting on impact investing. b. Assists the Chief Investment Officer of the Office of Investment Management in reporting on investments and related matters to governing bodies.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Demonstrated ability and sound knowledge of environmental, social and governance factor in the private, public equity and fixed income investment structures. Demonstrated ability and sound knowledge of impact investing principles and impact measurement, and implementation in portfolios across asset classes. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across teams, to support the implementation of sustainable investing strategies including engagement and proxy voting. Ability to work under pressure and provide accurate, efficient, and effective results. Ability to utilize various portfolio management and data processing tools such as Bloomberg and familiarity with the use of Internet applications and MS Office programmes. The ability to analyze and interpret ESG data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines, and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

• Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in Business and Administration (MBA), Finance, Economics or related field is required. A first-degree level university degree in combination with two additional years of experience in investment management may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. Certifications or course work in ESG is desirable.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in multi-assets investment analysis and/or investment management, primarily focused on ESG integration, impact investing and stewardship is required.

Relevant experience in the implementation of Sustainable Investment strategy & policy, ESG integration across asset classes, alternative data providers, ESG reporting, stewardship as an asset owner and / or asset management is required.

Relevant experience working for a pension fund or asset owner is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• Funding for this position is subject to GA approval and therefore, the selection and onboarding of the successful candidate may be expected in early 2024.

• Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

• Appointment at the United Nations is subject to mandatory adherence to the United Nations Financial disclosure Programme. An appointment to the Office of Investment Management (OIM) of the UNJSPF additionally requires compliance with the rules and regulations pertaining to OIM's Code of Ethics, Personal Securities, Gift and Hospitality policies.

• For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 Aug 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.