Director, Socially Responsible Investing

Christian Brothers Investment Services, Inc. (CBIS) is a manager of managers with $4.5 billion under management in privately offered equity, market neutral, and fixed income commingled funds and separately managed accounts. We are a firm of 50 employees in three offices: Manhattan, Oak Brook, IL and San Francisco. CBIS serves only the Catholic institutional market across a full range of investment products and services.

Position Overview 

The Director of Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) is responsible for the direction and management of all elements of the socially responsible investing program including all activities relating to the future direction of the program and its day-to-day operation.

The Director is responsible for leading the departmental effort to integrate the main precepts of Catholic Social Teaching into the firm's SRI activities and to assist in integrating these values into its operations. The Director reports to the Executive Vice President and may be based in Manhattan or Oak Brook, IL.

Responsibilities

Strategy & Planning

• Maintain a vision of SRI and chart the way for CBIS to retain its position as a leader in the field.
• Promote a vision of Catholic SRI that is a compelling added value for investors and the Catholic institutional marketplace.
• Develop the social criteria that guide CBIS' investment process as articulated in its investment guidelines including preparation of supporting policy statements and other relevant documents.
• Lead the effort to survey the firm's base of clients to determine key issues and concerns.

Leadership

• Be recognized in the field and maintain CBIS' position as a leader in SRI.
• Direct and supervise the work of staff, providing mentoring and coaching.
• Act as the primary liaison between certain organizations/people with whom CBIS works.
• Be responsible for all aspects of resource management, including budget preparation, implementation and oversight of the Department.
• Participate in presentations, seminars or other activities to expand CBIS' SRI visibility in the marketplace.

SRI

• Plan and implement an enhanced SRI research capability, encompassing domestic and international companies and SRI issues, to identify companies engaged in lines of business or practices that contradict the values of our participants.
• Plan and implement the elements of an SRI program: company and issues research; voting of proxies; drafting and filing of shareholder resolutions; participation in certain corporate negotiations/dialogues; and communications with CBIS participants.
• Plan and develop new business initiatives for the SRI program.
• Implement existing SRI Services Unit offerings to current clients and expand the capability to offer to a wider array of clients.
• Work with the network of related SRI organizations to establish CBIS' reputation and to coordinate work when appropriate.
• Maintain the efficacy and integrity of the principled purchasing (screening) and proxy voting process.
• Plan, implement and monitor research information received from domestic and international sources.
• Establish long term goals for the Department with clear objectives and timetables. Work with SRI department staff in setting individual goals directly related to corporate mission and goals.
• Monitor the preparation of social portfolio analyses for non-CBIS participants interested in the social impact of their investments.
• Coordinate the SRI contribution to the CBIS newsletter.
• Use technology to increase the operating efficiency of the department.

Qualifications:

Formal Education & Certification

• Degree in a related field (business, public policy, theology, etc.) is required. Advanced degree a strong plus.
• Minimum of 7 years work experience in socially responsible investing, preferably in a senior position. Relevant experience in financial services will be considered.
• Ability to travel as needed.

Knowledge & Experience

• Catholic Social Teaching. Must have or be willing to acquire a deep understanding of Catholic moral and social teachings and an ability to translate Catholic theological concepts into the SRI practices of the firm.
• Analysis. In addition to providing investment services, CBIS audits the portfolios of Catholic institutions for consistency with the participant's principles. The Director will be able to gather information about a portfolio, analyzing its social impact and writing a portfolio social audit.
• Budgetary. The Director will need sufficient experience/ability in budgeting, budget planning, budget analysis and controlling expenditures including ability to analyze spending patterns, project future needs of the department and forecast budgets for plans/projects.
• Strategic Planning. SRI is a critical service that distinguishes CBIS from many other investment advisers. In many cases, it is the principle reason CBIS is selected. The Director is responsible to know the field and future developments to be sure CBIS is positioned as a leader and maintains its competitive advantage.
• Research. The Director will monitor and, in some cases, implement the SRI research capabilities so will need sufficient experience/ability to monitor the social research process to be sure all research in support of CBIS activities is thorough and accurate.
• Computer Literate. The Director will need significant experience using computers and with various computer software to be comfortable working in a technology oriented environment.
• Planning. Because the Director will be responsible for monitoring, and in some cases, directly implementing the company's research, social portfolio analysis and proxy voting analysis activities, expertise in detailed planning is essential.
• Public Speaking. The Director is CBIS' primary contact person with the larger social investing community. This will require initiating and taking advantage of invitations to speak at major events. The Director will need to possess excellent verbal communication skills and ability to speak to large and small groups, communicating complex concepts so that they are easily understood.
• Writing. Excellent writing skills to communicate complicated ideas in an easily understood manner are necessary. The Director will write about corporate responsibility issues for an audience with varying levels of business expertise.
• Supervisory. Ability to monitor the progress of others, to support staff in the fulfillment of their individual goals and to resolve any conflict. Prior successful supervisory experience and/or training in interpersonal skill development are required.

Personal Attributes

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills required.
• Ease and ability to foster and work in a team environment.

To Apply

Please send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to:

Susan Egmont
Egmont Associates
85 East India Row #24F
Boston, MA 02110

CBIS does not discriminate on the basis of color, sex, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, religious belief, or disabilities or other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law in its hiring, promotional or other personnel policies.