SOC Investment Group: Corporate Governance Director

Location: Hybrid work schedule; Washington, DC

Join a growing and diverse multi-disciplinary team that develops and executes corporate accountability efforts to enhance environmental, social, and corporate governance performance by ensuring independent and accountable directors, reasonable executive compensation, sound human capital management, and other responsible business policies. Examples of initiatives led by the SOC Investment Group include calls for racial equity and civil rights audits at JPMorgan and other large banks, and “vote no” campaigns at McDonald’s,

Activision Blizzard, and Tesla. By joining SOC Investment Group, you will become part of a team with a proven track record in driving positive change. This position would report to the SOC

Investment Group’s Executive Director.

About the SOC Investment Group:

The SOC Investment Group leads corporate governance initiatives that protect worker retirement fund beneficiaries' economic interests in the financial markets by creating an effective voice for corporate accountability.

The SOC Investment Group is part of the Strategic Organizing Center, a democratic union federation whose three affiliated unions – the Service Employees International Union, the Communications Workers of America, and the United Farmworkers of America – represent some 3 million workers. These unions have been leaders of the labor movement’s efforts to help workers form unions to secure fair pay, benefits, and justice on the job. Members of SOC affiliated unions participate in pension funds with over $250 billion in assets under management.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Lead ESG analysis, research, and engagements.
• Develop new strategies and thought leadership to engage with pension fund trustees and staff, other institutional shareholders, and the broader ESG investment community. on investor-related issues.
• Conduct media outreach and development related to SOC Investment Group initiatives.
• Develop agendas and strategy for meetings with the directors and senior executives of focus companies, institutional investors, investment service providers, and affiliate union capital stewardship staff.
• Lead the data analysis on industries, companies, individuals, federal and state policies.
• Draft and prepare public reports, letters, and presentations.
• Represent the SOC Investment Group in internal and external forums, including shareholder meetings and conferences.

• Perform other duties as required to support the SOC Investment Group.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of five years (5) work experience with labor, financial, public interest, or governmental organizations; advocacy to improve the environmental, social, and corporate governance performance of companies; familiarity with corporate transactions and/or executive compensation analysis a plus.
• At least three years (3) of experience leading a team of research staff.
• Ability to effectively manage a workload with competing priorities and deadlines, work independently, and take initiative.
• Ability to convey complex information in a succinct manner to a variety of audiences.
• Strong online research skills utilizing a variety of sources and databases, including Refinitiv, Proxy Insight, LexisNexis, PACER, and ISS Voting Analytics platform.
• Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills, including drafting communications to a variety of audiences.
• Advanced degree or BA or BS plus equivalent job experience required in economics, business, finance, labor relations, legal or related fields.
• Strong understanding of proxy voting guidelines and governance-related trends and best practices.
• A strong commitment to social justice.
• Strong computer skills, including Excel and PowerPoint. Familiarity with SharePoint and PowerBI a plus.
• Willingness to travel occasionally, particularly during proxy season, with occasional irregular hours.

Salary and benefits

• Salary range: $100,000 to $118,000
• Benefits: The SOC offers fully employer-paid comprehensive health insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision and prescription benefits) for employees, their spouses or domestic partners, and children; a 12% of salary contribution paid by the SOC to a 401K retirement plan after six months of employment; fully paid premiums for life insurance, short and long term disability; thirteen days of accrued sick leave, plus eight weeks of parental leave, fourteen paid holidays, ten days of paid vacation (vacation time increases with seniority to up to 25 days per year), two personal days and four days of compensatory time. The SOC also offers a $1,000 in professional development budget each year for each staff member.
• Work schedule that promotes a healthy work-life balance.
• This position is based in our DC office. We offer a hybrid work schedule, with 2 days in- person, and 3 days remote. SOC staff may also take up to 2 weeks to work remotely anywhere in the continental United States.

Women and people of color are strongly urged to apply. The SOC does not discriminate in any of its programs, procedures, or practices on the basis of age, color, disability, national or ethnic

origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or veteran status.

Application Requirements:

A resume and cover letter are required for all applications. Your cover letter should explain your reason for wanting to work for us, an example of how you demonstrated success in a similar position and a description of how this position fits into your long-term career plan.