Director, Stewardship, Responsible Investment - BMO Global Asset Management

Director, Stewardship, Responsible Investment - BMO Global Asset Management

Application Deadline: 09/22/2024

Address: 100 King Street West

Job Family Group: Customer Solutions

BMO Global Asset Management’s Responsible Investment (RI) team oversees the firm’s ESG initiatives and supports investment teams in integrating ESG considerations into investment processes. In addition, the team owns and executes on BMO GAM’s firm-wide commitments to responsible investment, develops thought leadership on emerging ESG topics and employs a progressive approach to stewardship and active ownership activities. The team works with both internal and external stakeholders across all sales channels in both asset management and the wider wealth businesses.

The Director, Stewardship, Responsible Investment will be primarily responsible for implementing and overseeing strategy and activities related to proxy voting, corporate engagement, public policy engagement and industry collaboration. They directly manage RI team individuals with defined proxy voting and/or engagement responsibilities as well as guide stewardship activities more broadly across the team. This role works closely with the Head of RI, RI team members, investment teams and other internal stakeholders to ensure stewardship activities support business needs.

Responsibilities

Strategy

• Supports the Head of RI with the development and implementation of the GAM-wide RI program, specifically related to its Stewardship pillar, and corresponding team and business planning.
• Monitors stewardship implementation strategy including effectiveness of internal and external resources on an annual basis.
• Stays abreast of best practices related to industry standards, regulatory developments and stewardship best practices to inform proxy voting guidelines, internal policy updates and engagement planning.
• Fosters and grows relationships with key stakeholders within the RI and sustainability community to represent the team’s expertise and position on ESG issues.
• Develops and mentors talent across the team to empower individuals, facilitate cross-training, support succession planning and career growth.

Proxy Voting

• Oversee and guide the voting of proxies and voting-related engagement, mainly in the North American market, according to our corporate governance guidelines and other relevant policies and procedures.
• Manage annual updates to our corporate governance guidelines informing proxy voting strategies, including ensuring internal approvals and close communication with external service providers.
• Oversee and manage internal and external proxy voting stakeholder relationships according to internal governance structures, including decision-making with portfolio managers, leading internal relevant committees and managing touchpoints with external proxy voting and engagement service providers.

Engagement

• Oversee and manage the overarching engagement program, including setting targets, engagement record-keeping, tracking progress and guiding the team to meet their annual goals.
• Provide guidance related to thematic engagement project campaigns on Climate Action, Social Equality and Good Governance and advise subject-matter experts on engagement best practices.
• Assess and oversee BMO GAM’s participation in collaborative investor initiatives and manage the relationship with external proxy voting and engagement service provider.

Client and external facing elements

• Leads relevant educational presentations for institutional/retail clients and stakeholders and oversees client deliverables including stewardship reporting and ad-hoc client requests.
• Speaks frequently at industry events on topics related to ESG themes and stewardship approaches including policy developments and participates in leadership positions within industry committees and roundtables on behalf of GAM.
• Authors and mentors team members on external facing thought leadership/research.

Other

• Engages and socializes stewardship activities and initiatives with internal stakeholders including BMO FG counterparts.
• Closely follows relevant public policy developments and updates to inform formal consultation responses and approvals.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years of direct or relevant experience and post-secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education, experience and advanced understanding of the functional area and the market, preferably in Asset Management.
• 5+ years of oversight and team management related to ESG and or sustainability.
• Strategic thinker that is able to adapt to the fast-changing environment of responsible investment.
• Strong experience with sustainability/ESG regulation, policy and standards in North America and globally.
• Direct experience with proxy voting and/or corporate governance, preferably in the North American market – in depth.
• Knowledge and experience with proxy voting data provider platforms and tools.
• Detailed understanding of investment management processes and portfolio management decision-making to collaborate effectively with investment teams.
• Passionate about responsible investment and thematic ESG issues.
• Experience using, preparing and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with internal and external audiences – In-depth.
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills; strong attention to detail – In-depth.
• Collaboration & relationship management skills – In-depth.

Salary: $95,200.00 - $176,400.00

Pay Type: Salaried

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards.

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.