The JPMAM North American Investment Stewardship Team is recruiting for an Investment Stewardship Specialist covering North America. The successful candidate will work closely with the Head of the North American Investment Stewardship Team on proxy research and voting, stewardship engagements and ESG topics. The role will be in a front office environment and will involve regular contact with research analysts and portfolio managers, as well as engaging with representatives of the companies in which we invest.
JPMAM manages the voting rights of the shares entrusted to it as it would manage any other asset. The firm is committed to encouraging good corporate governance and actively votes client holdings where given such discretion. Voting occurs in all markets wherever possible, currently in excess of 70 globally. The Investment Stewardship team is a business-aligned team and is committed to upholding our fiduciary responsibility. The team is responsible for all aspects of governance, including voting proxies for a portfolio of around 3,000 public companies in North America; engaging portfolio companies on their environmental, social, and governance policies and practices; and interacting with portfolio managers and analysts to communicate policies regarding proxy voting and governance issues.
Key Responsibilities
Provide vigorous proxy voting oversight and documentation:
Contribute to the development of North America proxy voting guidelines and a best-practices approach to corporate governance.
Formulate views on votes to maximize interests of our clients and provide managers with research as needed on governance issues.
Manage and maintain proxy voting and review process to ensure that proxies are voted in accordance with policies established by JPMAM's Proxy Committee and that diverse and robust views are considered.
Interact with portfolio managers and analysts to communicate policies regarding proxy voting and ESG issues
Recognize and escalate conflict of interest situations related to proxy voting and client requests
Identify, develop, and convey corporate governance related principles, policies and guidelines
Conduct engagements with portfolio companies with regard to corporate governance issues. Collaborate with investment teams on firm-wide ESG integration and communicate with issuers our ESG views and concerns
Participate in investor roundtable discussions to advocate the JPMAM views on Stewardship Priorities
Present to clients and respond to client requests on matters regarding proxy voting and ESG topics
Serve as the main contact for vendor relationships. Responsible for conducting due diligence across vendors including on-site visits, in person meetings, and the sampling and reconciliation of votes. Participate in evaluating competing proxy-analysis tools offered by other vendors
Build key working relationships across internal constituents from investment teams, business teams and corporate teams
Interact with Legal and Compliance in preparation of materials required for proxy audits.
Assist in preparation of NPX filings for U.S. registered mutual funds
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree required
10-15 years of financial services experience preferably in Asset Management, with previous exposure to proxy voting and research, corporate governance issues and engagements
Familiarity with fundamental equity research. Ability to analyze corporate strategy and the drivers of sustainable value creation
Communication, teamwork and organizational skills
Excellent problem solving skills with an ability to apply sound judgment
Ability to work effectively with highly confidential data.
Function effectively in a high volume, rapid pace, deadline-oriented environment
Strong PC skills - Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel required
JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.
We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.