Investment Stewardship Manager
To apply, submit your resume to: [email protected]. The Tennessee Department of Treasury impacts the lives of Tennesseans every day. Treasury is responsible for many of the financial operations of state government, including managing more than $100 billion in assets through its various investment programs. We administer and invest the State’s Retirement Program, RetireReadyTN, which combines the state pension plan, Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System, and the State’s Defined Contribution plans. Treasury serves all Tennesseans by helping to educate and empower them to make smart financial choices, and by providing public- serving programs in the areas of college savings, financial literacy, unclaimed property, risk management, criminal injuries compensation, and more.
Job Overview:
The Investment Stewardship Manager will manage Treasury’s proxy voting process and help lead the Department’s other stewardship activities. This is an exciting opportunity for a professional to oversee a program to mitigate economic, operational, headline and reputational risk for Treasury as it relates to proxy voting, investment oversight, and securities litigation and class action filings for the investments for which the Department is responsible. The successful candidate will report to the Director of Investment Stewardship, and he/she will execute the proxy voting process, regularly interface with the proxy advisor and internal investment team, and work with the stewardship team on other initiatives.
At the present time, this position is primarily remote, with occasional required in-person meetings. It is anticipated that the department will regularly utilize its downtown Nashville office on a hybrid schedule in the future. Job location is subject to change at the discretion of the Department. The successful candidate should live in Tennessee and provide sufficient internet connection.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manages the proxy voting process as part of Treasury’s proxy voting policies and procedures
- Manages workflows and supervises direct report to ensure adequate coverage
- Monitors proxy advisor reporting to identify non-routine agenda items, and to confirm votes follow governing policies and guidelines.
- For non-routine meeting agenda items, analyzes proxy proposals and forwards meeting information, proxy advisor research & recommendation to member of internal investment team for further review.
- For certain agenda items, including proxy contests, works with the stewardship team to identify issues and to escalate votes internally for further review and decision-making, including to a governing body or to the State Treasurer as necessary.
- Reviews and updates voting instructions on proxy advisor voting platform
- Reviews prior month’s votes to ensure votes follow policy and all eligible ballots were voted, and works with Director to prepare material for quarterly proxy voting committee meetings.
- Collaborates with investment operations and proxy advisor to ensure new accounts are set up to vote.
- Works with stewardship team to oversee proxy voting activity of external mangers.
- Helps lead other stewardship responsibilities including securities litigation and class action filings
- Reviews updates to proxy advisor voting policies, and collaborates with the stewardship team and proxy advisor to address issues as necessary.
- Stays abreast of proxy voting and corporate governance issues and trends
- Assists with ad hoc department projects as needed
Minimum Qualifications:
- Graduation from a four (4)-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance or similar field of study.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience in proxy voting and stewardship
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading a team of professionals
- Experience with proxy advisors and U.S. & International voting processes
- Familiarity with ESG-related shareholder proposals and industry trends
- Advanced Microsoft skills (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
- Strong financial analysis, analytical and problem-solving skills
- Proven ability to multi-task and prioritize responsibilities
- Robust attention to detail and aptitude for discernment
- Self-motivated individual with the ambition to succeed and work collaboratively
Preferred Qualifications:
- MBA / CFA.
- Completion of ESG-focused credential or certificate program.
Recommended Competencies:
- Integrity and Trust
- Problem Solving
- Process Management
- Communication Skills
- Relationship Management
- Subject Matter Knowledge
- Attention to Detail
- Analytical Background
The State of Tennessee is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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