BlackRock Investment Stewardship (BIS) Associate

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Job description

DescriptionAbout this role. As a fiduciary asset manager, BlackRock is committed to acting in the best long-term interests of our clients. We undertake our Investment Stewardship (BIS) activities to advocate for the sound corporate governance and sustainable business practices that contribute to long-term value creation for our clients. In this way, we support BlackRock's purpose of helping more people experience financial well-being. The BIS team is considered an investment function as it engages in proxy voting at portfolio companies to advance the economic interests of clients globally. The team operates in ten offices across three regions the Americas (New York, Delaware and San Francisco), EMEA (London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt) and Asia-Pacific (Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney). BlackRock strives to take a common approach to all of our engagement and voting policies and practices globally. BIS is responsible for coordinating, communicating, and carrying out these policies across 85 markets and approximately 17,000 shareholder meetings at which the firm votes each year. In addition, it leads approximately 3,500 engagement meetings with portfolio companies annually. Engagements are with senior corporate representatives and cover a wide range of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters in the context of a company's business model, long-term strategy and track record. They are a means for BIS to provide companies feedback and to ensure we are able to take well informed voting decisions. The Associate of Investment Stewardship works closely with the lead analyst covering companies in the U.S. industrials sector. He or she will contribute to company analysis, engagement and voting. The intention is for the person in this role to specialize in a subset of the companies in the sector, and possibly some aspects of relevant policy, to support the delivery of our annual and long-term objectives. He or she will report a senior member of the team. Key responsibilities include: 1. Working with the lead analyst to implement the approved corporate governance policies for the region through engagement with a subset of investee companies, including voting at shareholder meetings; 2. Contributing to the development of the firm's corporate governance policies and the strategies for implementing them each year; 3. Keeping abreast of the external public debate on corporate governance, stewardship and sustainability matters and sharing insights with the team that may contribute to our policy thinking and publications; 4. Contributing to process improvements to ensure that policy implementation is as efficient and effective as possible. The tasks involved in fulfilling these responsibilities include: Supporting engagement with representatives of portfolio companies at senior levels to encourage the observance of good practice and to ensure an understanding of BlackRock's views on corporate governance and shareholder rights. Engaging with BlackRock fundamental portfolio managers to get their input into our engagements, including proxy voting, and risk analysis. Supporting the development of ESG position papers relevant to companies in the industry covered. Monitoring policy developments impacting the industry covered to ensure BlackRock's principles and guidelines remain relevant. Working closely with the lead analyst to analyze companies' shareholder meeting agendas and related materials in order to vote in the manner most consistent with BlackRock's corporate governance policies. Contributing to reports for internal and external parties on BlackRock's corporate governance policies and activities. Contributing to the work of client-facing and communications colleagues to ensure client reporting and client presentations meet expectations, and that client queries on corporate governance are responded to promptly and to the satisfaction of the client. Contributing to the team's engagement with policymakers on corporate governance policy and ESG matters via dialogue and/or public comment letters. Contributing to the continual review of the BIS team's output and working practices to ensure risks are minimized and performance optimized. Participating in the monitoring of proxy voting workflow, to ensure all accounts are voted as intended and are in accordance with the appropriate guidelines. Key qualifications include: An undergraduate degree in finance, economics, accounting or related discipline. Investment management, investment banking, consulting, corporate, and/or legal experience an advantage. A keen interest in corporate governance and sustainable business practices, ideally in relation to the industrials sector. The ability to build and maintain successful relationships with colleagues across the firm and with external parties. The ability to analyze and resolve complex issues under time pressure. A detail-oriented, focused, and persistent work ethic to execute while managing multiple tasks and changing priorities. An organized, self-reliant, and self-motivated approach to responsibilities. The ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in writing and orally. Our benefits To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about. About BlackRock. At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children's educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress. This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment the one we make in our employees. It's why we're dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit careers.blackrock.com || | | LinkedIn: BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, and other statuses protected by law. BlackRock will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law.