About Northern Trust:
Northern Trust, a Fortune 500 company, is a globally recognized, award-winning financial institution that has been in continuous operation since 1889.
Northern Trust is proud to provide innovative financial services and guidance to the world’s most successful individuals, families, and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise, and integrity. With more than 130 years of financial experience and over 22,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.
Role:Our global stewardship team is part of our investment platform services group, with dedicated and experienced sector and market focused specialists located in Chicago, London, Melbourne and Bangalore.
As an Investment Stewardship Specialist, you will be responsible for supporting and executing our evolving and expanding active ownership activities, based in Chicago.
You will exhibit excellent analytical skills, leadership and strong communication. The successful candidate for this role will demonstrate a strong understanding of key governance trends and financially material sustainability topics across sectors, with a primary focus on issuers in the Americas.
The candidate will contribute to sector and industry specific research in collaboration with other partners in the broader investment practice.
Responsibilities:Engagement and Voting
Lead and manage engagement with companies on a variety of topics focused on enterprise value creation, corporate governance and financially material sustainability factors that impact client investment outcomes.
Ahead of any engagement conduct thorough company specific research for the sectors allocated to the role, to identity and set objectives for the topics relevant to the specific company.
Monitoring progress towards engagement milestones/outcomes, maintaining accurate records.
Collaborate with internal teams to produce timely research and marketing materials on topics related to corporate governance and corporate sustainability.
Contribute to advancing the integration of our stewardship program and our investment decision-making processes, and increasing collaboration with fundamental research analysts, to add their insights to our engagements and proxy voting decisions.
Act as a primary point of contact for firms wishing to meet on corporate governance, corporate sustainability, and voting related issues.
Analyze shareholder meeting agendas and related materials to ensure votes are submitted timeously and accurately in accordance with NTAM’s proxy voting guidelines.
Support the firm’s Proxy Committee by providing research and recommendations on industry trends and contribute to the ongoing refinement of NTAM’s proxy voting guidelines.
Gain an understanding of investment and shareholder issues gathered through research and contact with a variety of market participants to support position papers and contribute to public policy consultations.
Clients
Provide support for the Americas institutional and wealth management businesses by attending client meetings and supporting responses to RFPs and other capabilities inquiries.
Contribute to newsletters and other external facing mediums with case studies and market analysis.
Contribute to reporting relating to the firm’s stewardship activities.
Internal / External Advocacy
Identify, coordinate, and participate in industry events relating to stewardship.
Monitor global regulatory developments and engage with relevant industry bodies, as required for sectors under coverage.
Contribute to responses to public policy consultations – i.e. regulators, government, notable industry bodies.
Support internal partner education on stewardship and engagement topics.
Share best practice in engagement techniques with investment teams, deepening their understanding of global challenges in relation to stewardship and related sustainability practices and factors, assisting in the identification of material risks and opportunities.
Knowledge/Skills:
Understanding of financially material corporate governance and corporate sustainability issues and how they relate to investment outcomes.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
The ability to influence and inspire senior internal and external stakeholders, ideally with some previous leadership skills.
Inclusive, collegiate attitude, strong partnership skills, a team player, with ability to also work independently.
Ability to interpret and explain complex business and financial topics, making these relevant for clients, companies and other market participants.
Knowledge of stewardship best practice.
Curiosity and a desire to understand developments within the financial services industry, including emerging processes and technologies in the field of investment stewardship.
Ability to ingest information from multiple sources, attending to detail, synthesizing key points and demonstrating sound judgment in forming opinions and recommendations.
Initiative, self-management, and personal discipline are vital, as is the ability to work to short deadlines and under pressure.
Experience:
At least seven (7) years’ experience in a relevant or complementary field, preferably at a global corporation, asset manager or asset owner.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Prior experience in corporate governance or stewardship, corporate sustainability.
An understanding of integrating governance or sustainability into investment process or corporate operations.
Fundamental investment research experience would be useful.
Proven track record of successfully engaging with senior executives and directors.
Salary Range:
$99,600 - 169,200 USDSalary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.
Working with Us:
As a Northern Trust partner, greater achievements await. You will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture in an organization where financial strength and stability is an asset that emboldens us to explore new ideas.
Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to assisting the communities we serve! Join a workplace with a greater purpose.
We’d love to learn more about how your interests and experience could be a fit with one of the world’s most admired and sustainable companies! Build your career with us and apply today. #MadeForGreater
Reasonable accommodation
Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected].
We hope you’re excited about the role and the opportunity to work with us. We value an inclusive workplace and understand flexibility means different things to different people.
Apply today and talk to us about your flexible working requirements and together we can achieve greater.
Skills Required
- At least seven (7) years' experience in a relevant or complementary field
- Bachelor's degree
- Prior experience in corporate governance, stewardship, or corporate sustainability
- Understanding of integrating governance or sustainability into investment processes or corporate operations
- Proven track record of engaging successfully with senior executives and board directors
- Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize information from multiple sources
- Excellent written and verbal communication and stakeholder influencing skills
- Knowledge of stewardship best practices and proxy voting processes
- Ability to produce research, client materials, and contribute to public policy consultation responses
- Fundamental investment research experience
Northern Trust Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Northern Trust and has not been reviewed or approved by Northern Trust.
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Retirement Support — Retirement offerings are positioned as a standout, with a 401(k) plus an additional employer-funded pension described as a differentiator. This combination is repeatedly framed as a meaningful offset within total rewards, especially for long-term financial security.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off benefits are depicted as generous, spanning paid time off, holidays, and dedicated paid volunteer time. The breadth of leave options is highlighted as a consistent strength that supports work-life balance.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is characterized as comprehensive, typically including medical, dental, vision, and mental-health support through an assistance program. The offering is portrayed as robust and family-supportive, with multiple plan options in some descriptions.
Northern Trust Insights
What We Do
As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing and investment solutions, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families and institutions by remaining true to our enduring principles of service, expertise and integrity. A globally recognized Fortune 500 Company in continuous operation since 1889, we’ve built a legacy of empowering clients to reach their goals with confidence. Since our roots as a trust bank, we’ve grown to a global presence with more than 24,000 employees in more than 20 countries and across six core business units: Wealth Management Asset Management Asset Servicing Technology Corporate Functions Enterprise Operations Join a Team That’s Achieving Greater At Northern Trust, we refer to our employees as partners – with good reason. We understand that relationships are the key to our success. Here you’ll join a diverse and inclusive team of innovators with the drive to challenge the way things have always been done. Instead of choosing between a dynamic career and work-life balance, enjoy working with a team that supports your goals in the office and at home. We’ll help you get where you want to go without sacrificing what matters most to you. Delivering value and adhering to our enduring principles What are enduring principles? Since our founding, they have guided our strategy and success. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, Northern Trust continues to thrive by adhering to three enduring principles: service, expertise and integrity . What does this mean? Service Northern Trust has a relentless drive to provide exceptional service to our clients, our partners and our communities. We set new standards and go above and beyond in our commitment to delivering greater results. Expertise Expertise is at the core of who we are. We focus sharply on what we do well. From expanding our capabilities, to hiring talented professionals to developing innovative solutions, our expertise is why we continue to be a trusted advisor for generations of families and institutions. Integrity Operating with uncompromising ethics is central to Northern Trust’s heritage. As a result, our clients, partners and communities know they can rely on us. For more than 130 years, our integrity has been our guide – and that will never change.
Why Work With Us
At Northern Trust, we go further because we go together. We embrace flexibility, encourage balance, and prioritize inclusion at all levels, working together to keep you connected. We are committed to our employees—all 24,000 of them. Whether this is a first step or a bold new leap in your career, we’re here to help you move forward.
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