Head of Stewardship, Europe

About the Opportunity Job Type: Permanent Application Deadline: 29 March 2025 Title Head of Stewardship, Europe Department Sustainable Investing Team Location London Reports To Global Head of Stewardship About Fidelity International Fidelity International (“FIL”) offers world-class investment solutions and retirement expertise. As a privately-owned, independent company, investment is our only business. We are driven by the needs of our clients, not by shareholders. Our vision is to deliver innovative client solutions for a better future for our clients. Our people are passionate, engaged, smart and curious, and we give them the independence and the confidence to make a difference. While we take pride in the excellence of our investment solutions and client service, we know we can always do better. We are honest, respectful and make tough calls, challenging the status quo to achieve better outcomes through innovation. Above all else, we always put our clients first. Find out more about what we do, our history, and how you could be a part of our future at www.fidelityrecruitment.com/about-us Our Values Integrity - Doing the right thing, every time and putting the client first Trust - Empowering each other to take the initiative and make good decision Our Behaviours Our employees should be: Brave - Challenge the status quo, be accountable and speak up Bold - Act with conviction, encourage diverse thinking and keep things simple Curious - Learn to do new things in better ways and encourage fresh thinking Compassionate - Have empathy, care for colleagues, clients and the community About the Sustainable Investing team Fidelity believes that high standards of corporate responsibility make good business sense and protect and enhance investment returns. Our investment process takes environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues into account when, in our view, these have a material impact on either investment risk or return. We gain an understanding of the relevant ESG issues applicable to our investments through our internal research process and in collaboration with a highly technical in-house Sustainable Investing team to identify those issues which may potentially threaten the value of our investment. ESG analysis is being carried out at an analyst level within the equity, fixed income, multi-asset and real estate teams and our portfolio managers are active in analysing the potential effects of these factors when making investment decisions. Our Sustainable Investing team works closely with the investment teams and is responsible for consolidating Fidelity approach to stewardship, engagement, ESG integration and the exercise of our votes at general meetings. As one of the largest investment managers globally, our team works closely with policymakers, industry groups and non-governmental organisations to improve sustainable behaviours by businesses across the world. We are a signatory to the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investing (PRI) to ensure companies have a consistent set of standards with which to work towards. Fidelity Sustainable Investing team also works closely with external and collaborative ESG related bodies that seek to improve the way industries and regulated and companies are managed as well as to promote sustainable investing and social development. The sustainable investing team is consisted of over 30 sustainability specialists based across eight cities in five countries and an additional eight sustainability specialists in Dalian. The Stewardship & Research pillar (the SR team) works closely with investment analysts across different asset classes, supporting their ESG analysis and stewardship activities, including voting and engagement, at an issuer level. The SR team owns and leads the firm-level sustainability programs and initiatives such as the development of our ESG evaluation framework and proxy voting policy, collaborative and thematic engagement, regulatory engagement and policy advocacy issues, and the publication of sustainability research. About the role The Head of Stewardship, Europe covers a range of core responsibilities but is primarily focused on leading and managing the SR team in the region to fulfil the team responsibilities around sustainability stewardship and research through close collaboration with investment professionals across asset classes. You will also lead the team to work with the other components of the Sustainable Investing Team and provide inputs to the build-out of the firm sustainable product design and implementation. The Head of Stewardship, Europe is expected to lead the SR team in the region to deliver on the following: Work closely with investment analysts to support their ESG analysis. This includes providing ongoing training and discussion to help analysts deepen their understanding of various ESG topics as well as FIL ESG evaluation methodology. Support investment analysts on their ESG engagement. Where an analyst is new to engagement or where an engagement is particularly complex, the SR team members will play a more active role in leading the engagement with the aim of enabling the investment analyst over time to take on engagement directly. Lead FIL collaborative and thematic engagement with companies in the region. Manage FIL proxy voting in EMEA and Americas including developing market-specific voting policies, conducting in-depth analysis of voting resolutions, and collaborating with the investment team to exercise our voting rights in an effective and efficient manner. Provide market and thematic ESG insights to portfolio managers and investment analysts to maintain and enhance ESG awareness and deepen ESG integration into investment thinking. Conduct ESG research to build ESG expertise, facilitate investment, and promote FIL thought leadership. Participate actively in regulatory engagement on sustainability issues to help shape policy development and contribute to the healthy development of ESG investing. Represent FIL at conferences and on industry organizations to contribute to market advocacy while raising FIL profile. Collaborate with Distribution colleagues to evidence our sustainable investing capabilities and implementation to clients, consultants and rating agencies. Partner with the other parts of the Sustainable Investing team in delivering FIL sustainable investing strategy by offering input from a research and stewardship angle. As a critical management role, the Head of Stewardship, Europe is also expected to provide the following: Coach and mentor the junior members on the team, providing targeted guidance and feedback to help each individual develop professionally in the field of sustainability. Encourage and promote team-bonding and teamwork to cultivate a collaborative and positive team dynamic. Work with peers in other functions to support firm-wide initiatives in building a great place to work. About you Substantial experience of working within and/or leading ESG/voting teams in asset management Advanced experience in corporate engagement and proxy voting on sustainability and governance themes Subject matter expert in various ESG themes with ability to articulate investment-relevant insights and research Excellent writing skills, communication and presentation skills Strong attention to detail Ability to form relationships, be credible with and influence senior Fidelity management and external parties Proactive approach to work with a proven ability to multitask Ability to work under pressure Team oriented with a creative and innovative mind-set Strong project management skills Clear leadership skills and abilities Strong emotional intelligence, empathy, and a value set that matches that of Fidelity Feel rewarded For starters, we’ll offer you a comprehensive benefits package. We’ll value your wellbeing and support your development. And we’ll be as flexible as we can about where and when you work – finding a balance that works for all of us. It all part of our commitment to making you feel motivated by the work you do and happy to be part of our team. For more about our work, our approach to dynamic working and how you could build your future here, visit careers.fidelityinternational.com. For more about our work, our approach to dynamic working and how you could build your future here, visit careers.fidelityinternational.com. As an international financial services organisation, we are in-scope of international regulations in the way that we carry out our work. This position is involved in work that is regulated by the FCA and/or the PRA and their Individual Conduct Rules (COCON) apply to it, along with any other regulation. We provide training on COCON and how it affects our employees. More information about COCON can be found in the Employment Handbook.