Systematic Stewardship Lead

Join the University of Cambridge in shaping the future of responsible investment.

We are seeking a knowledgeable and collaborative person to join the University as our new Systemic Stewardship Lead (SSL). This unique opportunity will utilise your deep institutional knowledge on climate-related investment strategies and engagement, while helping to build an evidence-based stewardship programme that reflects the breadth and depth of the collegiate University. Drawing on Cambridge's academic excellence and practical experience across pensions, colleges, trusts, and more, you will play a key role in embedding systemic stewardship into our pension schemes' investment approach—ensuring it is both theoretically grounded and operationally effective.

The Role

1. Strategic Leadership in Responsible Investment: You will design and implement a systemic stewardship strategy across all asset classes, ensuring alignment with fiduciary duties and regulatory requirements.
2. Collaborative Engagement Across the University: Working closely with Finance for Systemic Change, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and stakeholders across Colleges, Departments, and Trusts, you'll build a unified, evidence-based approach to stewardship across the collegiate University.
3. Expert Advisory Role: You'll provide high-level advice to senior leaders, including the Head of Group Pensions, CFO, and Trustee Chairs on responsible investment matters, drawing on academic research and best practice.
4. Stakeholder Influence and Communication: The role demands strong influencing skills to engage with a wide range of stakeholders, including trustees, committees, employers, and external providers, ensuring buy-in and alignment across the schemes. You will represent the schemes' systemic stewardship interests in industry collaborations and appropriate public fora.
5. Capacity Building and Knowledge Transfer: As the first dedicated in-house expert on the pensions team, you'll help establish a lasting framework for systemic stewardship, sharing knowledge, training others, and embedding responsible investment principles into the University's long-term pension strategy.

Your Skills

• Ability to provide challenge and eagerness within a Trustee-led organisation.
• Ability to manage and deliver robust investment stewardship processes (e.g. responsible investment-related stewardship due diligence in manager selection, collaborative engagement project management) within defined deadlines.
• Knowledge of 'ESG', systemic stewardship/universal ownership, and responsible investment, from an investor or corporate perspective.

Benefits

The University offers an excellent benefit package including:

• 41 days annual leave, inclusive of Bank Holidays
• Defined benefits pension schemes
• Flexible working options
• Family-friendly initiatives
• Career development opportunities
• Support for health & mental wellbeing
• Discounts on shopping
• Rental deposit scheme
• Public transport season ticket loans
• Tax-efficient bicycle and charity-giving schemes

Once an offer of employment has been accepted, the successful candidate will be required to undergo a basic disclosure and a security check. We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.