Research Manager – Survey

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

ShareAction’s Banking Standards team works towards holding banks accountable for their impact on people and planet, with a particular focus on climate change. We have a history of campaigning on key aspects of banks’ climate strategies – such as their emission reduction targets or fossil fuel policies – and we are gradually expanding our work to include other sustainability themes and banking regulation. Recently, we have achieved significant wins, such as contributing to HSBC becoming the world’s largest bank to cease financing for new oil and gas fields, Barclays dramatically reducing its oil sands financing, and mobilising investors to call on Societe Generale to set a renewable energy target.

Our campaign activities are rooted in rigorous analysis and facts. We produce a variety of research outputs supporting our engagement with banks, including:

• Investor briefings and research notes, reviewing commitments made by individual banks. For example, see our analysis of Barclays’ latest energy policy here.
• Banking sector benchmarks, ranking European banks on their approach to climate change and other sustainability themes. For example, see our 2022 Banking Survey here.
• Thematic reports and position papers, reviewing how the European banking sector aims to address specific issues and relevant sustainability standards. For example, see our report on banks’ financing of oil and gas expansion here.

What you’ll do

As a Research Manager, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our banking survey. Through your work, you will have the opportunity to influence the banking sector’s approach to sustainability by highlighting areas of improvement and leading practices among Europe’s largest banks. In close collaboration with colleagues in the Banking Standards and Financial Sector Research teams, you will:

• Lead survey development: Oversee all aspects of our banking survey, from designing methodology and collecting and analysing data to producing engaging written outputs and data visualisations that summarise key findings. You will coordinate the project from start to finish and liaise with multiple stakeholders, ensuring that surveys remain consistent with other ShareAction benchmarks and align with our campaign priorities.
• Conduct thematic research: Undertake research and engage with internal and external subject matter experts to inform positions on themes covered in banking surveys, ensuring that surveys are based on robust criteria and reflect the latest market developments.
• Engage with key stakeholders: Design engaging presentations and present survey findings and recommendations to banks, investors, and other stakeholders. You will act as an internal and external spokesperson for the banking survey, with the support of the Communications team and members of the Banking team. Additionally, you will contribute to external consultations and coordinate data-sharing initiatives with partners.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and learning: Support the development and implementation of a monitoring, evaluation, and learning strategy for our banking surveys to continuously enhance their impact, relevance, and delivery process.
• Support funding and resource development: Assist with funding bids to secure resources for the survey’s continued growth and impact. You will also be responsible for hiring and managing additional researchers when necessary.

What you’ll bring to the team

• Passionate about climate change, sustainability, and/or the role of the financial system in addressing these issues.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills with a proven ability to manage competing demands while meeting deadlines.
• Experience in project management, including task delegation and consideration of project team workload.
• Excellent analytical skills with a proven ability to analyse complex quantitative and qualitative data, produce detailed reports, and summarise findings.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office with a proven ability to manage data, produce research insights, and create data visualisations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to convey complex information to a wide variety of audiences.
• A great team player.

It would also be great – but not essential – if you have:

• Experience in conducting surveys and/or carrying out qualitative or quantitative research on financial institutions.
• Strong understanding of climate change, biodiversity, human rights, and/or public health.
• Strong understanding of how private commercial banks operate and the products and services they offer to corporate and retail clients.
• Experience integrating innovative tools into research processes, particularly AI tools.
• Experience with the Salesforce CRM system.
• Experience developing and/or managing databases using Excel or other applications.

While we hope we’ll find someone with the majority of these skills and experience, we’re keen to hear from you even if you don’t have them all. We appreciate lots of skills are transferable, and we welcome opportunities to explore different ways of achieving our goals.

We are currently formalising our hybrid working policy. However, the Banking team meets in the office every Tuesday as we find this helps with team bonding and productivity. We expect candidates based in London to come into the office at least once a week every Tuesday and candidates based outside of London to come into the office at least twice a month on a Tuesday.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide the right environment for our colleagues to thrive, and we are committed to improving our employee offer where possible.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• The opportunity to help make a difference: we tackle some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges. We offer opportunities for you to develop your skills and experience in a friendly, flexible and supportive working environment.
• A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• 8% non-contributory pension, invested with NEST and their green funds.
• Healthcare cash plan with Westfield that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
• Employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 9.00 am on Monday 9th December 2024.
First-round interviews: Thursday 19th/Friday 20th December 2024 (online).
Second-round interviews: Early January 2025 (online).

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Please be aware that when shortlisting we are really keen to get a sense of your unique voice and individual experience, especially if you are using generative AI tools as part of your drafting process.