ESG Research Analyst, Index Intelligence

S&P Global Dow Jones Indices The Role: Index Governance – ESG Research Analyst, Index Intelligence The Grade: G11 (for internal use) The Location: Amsterdam The Team Index Governance (IG) oversees a variety of analytical committees that form the backbone of S&P DJI’s governance structure. IG is a critical function responsible for index methodologies and index committee oversight including membership, structure, analytical rigor, culture, and adherence to policies and best practices. IG Index Intelligence is a group of senior analytical professionals with dedicated subject-matter expertise who serve as analytical resources to index committees by working closely with committee chairpersons and others to enhance analytical aspects of index oversight. ESG Index Intelligence will play an important role in the growth of S&P DJI’s ESG business, provision of leading ESG index methodologies and insights, and in the further establishment of market norms and best practices around ESG. The role will also support S&P DJI’s collaboration with other S&P Global businesses and its cross-divisional ESG strategy. The Impact ESG indexing is growing as clients and market stakeholders seek increasingly complex and nuanced ESG benchmarks. The ESG Research Analyst will support the critical review of new ESG index concepts, datasets, and external developments in the sustainable investing space. The Analyst will regularly deliver a range of research deliverables to index committees and will play an integral role in the maintenance of S&P DJI’s ever-changing mandatory and voluntary index-level ESG information disclosures. The Analyst will also play a supporting role in maintaining a suite of ESG analytics used to inform index committees and assure that ESG indices are well designed, properly documented and continue to meet their objectives through time. What’s in it for you The ESG Research Analyst role is a high impact position collaborating with index committees and governance colleagues, as well as operational, commercial, and research groups. The role will play an essential part in the development of S&P DJI’s next generation of ESG insights for client, regulator and market consumption. The research conducted in the role will provide the essential intelligence to inform key analytical committee decision-making relating to ESG indices across asset classes, including how indices can adhere to any prevailing market norms, best-practices and regulatory or voluntary standards. The role provides the opportunity to develop expertise in prevailing ESG market trends, themes and concepts, understand best-practices and market norms, and other aspects that present S&P DJI with a significant opportunity, or pose risk to our ESG index offerings. Use your expertise to help shape S&P DJI’s efforts to provide global markets with leading ESG, sustainability and climate benchmarks, ESG analytical insights and best practices, and to have a seat at the table as we navigate new analytical terrain and shape the ESG debate. Work for an organization recognized as an industry leader in terms of employee benefits, with a strong people-first culture, and a leader in ESG, sustainability and climate benchmarks and datasets. Responsibilities Conduct research into ESG dataset methodologies, concepts, standards and classifications, regulations, and indices, and providing a variety of research deliverables for a range of audiences. Conduct competitor intelligence research and producing committee briefings. Act as principal point of contact for index committees by interpreting a wide range of ESG concepts supporting committee and client education efforts. Draft and maintain a variety of written deliverables in support of S&P DJI’s ESG indices and insights. Support reviews of new equity and fixed income ESG index methodologies, coordinating with other stakeholders to resolve questions and issues, and challenging the Research & Design and Product Management groups when appropriate before launch. Support the design of new ESG index analytics reports for a variety of internal and external (including regulatory) audiences, and the drafting of ESG index consultations. Contribute to reviews of new ESG datasets proposed for use in S&P DJI’s indices, and changes in the methodologies of existing datasets. Support the maintenance of existing ESG reporting disclosures. Contribute to the designing of quality assurance processes for ESG datasets, data change reporting, annual data vendor reviews. Maintain relevant reference data relating to the maintenance of S&P DJI’s ESG indices and ESG index-level analytics. Collaborate and maintain relationships with cross-functional groups involved in the development, oversight, and management of the S&P DJI ESG indices lineup. Basic Qualifications Undergraduate degree, or equivalent qualification, including coursework in finance, economics, environmental economics, development studies, development economics, environmental science, mathematics and/or statistics, with strong desk research and writing/editorial experience. 3 - 5 years of proven experience with, and strong intellectual grasp of, ESG, sustainability and/or climate change debates. Demonstrated understanding of indices, ESG datasets and index methodologies, and conventional approaches for integrating ESG factors in financial portfolios. First class communication skills – written, verbal and presenting Fluency in English The ability to coordinate work done by multiple people and/or groups. Strong attention to detail and work ethic. Strong analytical, research and investigative skills, ability to evaluate and assess complex topics and creatively problem-solve. An ability to contribute to the designing of end-user analytics reports of various formats with an eye for creative approaches to visualizing data and present findings. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, Python is advantageous. Preferred Qualifications: Graduate degree, or equivalent experience, related to finance, economics, environmental economics, development studies, development economics, environmental science, mathematics and/or statistics. Strong knowledge of ESG regulations, product standards, classification systems, datasets and vendors, and the ESG index landscape. CFA ESG Investing Certificate CFA Charterholder or progress toward CFA Charter. S&P Dow Jones Indices S&P Dow Jones Indices, a leading brand of the S&P Global, maintains a wide variety of investable and benchmark indices to meet an array of investor needs. Over $1.25 trillion is directly indexed to Standard & Poor's family of indices, which includes the S&P 500, the world's most followed stock market index, the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, the S&P Global BMI, an index with approximately 11,000 constituents, the S&P GSCI, the industry's most closely watched commodities index, and the S&P National AMT-Free Municipal Bond Index, the premier investable index for U.S. municipal bonds. S&P Global has a Securities Disclosure and Trading Policy (“the Policy”) that seeks to mitigate conflicts of interest by monitoring and placing restrictions on personal securities holding and trading. The Policy is designed to promote compliance with global regulations. In some Divisions, pursuant to the Policy’s requirements, candidates at S&P Global may be asked to disclose securities holdings. Some roles may include a trading prohibition and remediation of positions when there is an effective or potential conflict of interest. Employment at S&P Global is contingent upon compliance with the Policy. 20 - Professional (EEO-2 Job Categories-United States of America), RESECH202.2 - Middle Professional Tier II (EEO Job Group), SWP Priority – Ratings - (Strategic Workforce Planning) Job ID: 270198 Posted On: 2022-02-15 Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands