Strategic Organizing Center

Executive Director
SOC Investment Group

Based in Washington, DC
(hybrid remote)

 

The SOC Investment Group
The SOC Investment Group leads corporate governance initiatives that protect worker retirement fund beneficiaries' economic interests in the financial markets.

The SOC Investment Group is part of the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC), formerly Change to Win, a dynamic coalition of North America’s most progressive labor unions, made up of the Service Employees International Union, Communications Workers of America and the United Farmworkers of America. It is a leading force for social, racial and economic justice in our country. The SOC Investment Group works with union-sponsored pension funds with over $250 billion in assets under management.

The SOC Investment Group holds corporations and their leadership accountable for irresponsible and unethical corporate behavior, such as excessive executive pay. The SOC Investment Group supports regulatory and shareholder initiatives to ensure independent and accountable directors, reasonable executive compensation practices, and sound environmental, human capital and other business policies. Examples of prominent initiatives led by SOC Investment Group include those at Apple, Amazon, JPMorgan, McDonald’s, Starbucks and Tesla.

Executive Director Position
The Executive Director of the SOC Investment Group directs the Group’s research, analysis, and strategic support for capital market initiatives and leads the Group’s strategic thinking and work plan execution.

We are seeking an individual passionate about leading efforts to enhance environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) performance and to contribute to a vibrant, values-driven organization. We are looking for a leader with excellent people management skills and the ability to organize coalitions of organizations with different interests and priorities.

The successful candidate is familiar with and works well in the world of corporate governance and finance but is motivated by the opportunity to make meaningful changes to corporate policies, systems and practices that reflect the long-term interests of workers and their families invested in union pension funds.

Position Responsibilities Include:

• Develop and implement strategic plans and thought leadership
• Work with senior staff of the Strategic Organizing Center and of affiliated unions
• Manage staff priorities and work plans of a team of analysts and corporate engagement specialists
• Recruit, evaluate, promote, discipline, and terminate staff
• Design and supervise staff training and development plans
• Be a mentor and sounding board to team members     
• Develop and monitor compliance with the Group’s annual budget     
• Lead meetings with the directors and senior executives of focus companies, institutional investors, investment service providers, and affiliate union capital stewardship staff
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with pension fund trustees and staff, other institutional investors, and the broader responsible investment community
• Act as media spokesperson of the Investment Group
• Advocate for effective regulatory reforms to strengthen capital stewardship and enhance the integrity of the global financial market
• Represent the SOC Investment Group in external and internal forums
• Perform other duties as required to support the SOC Investment Group

Qualifications:

• Minimum of ten years (10) 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, finance, and executive compensation analysis a plus
• At least five years (5) of experience as team leader
• Knowledge of the labor movement and its relationships in the institutional investor community
• Experience managing corporate accountability campaigns
• Excellent writing, political and organizational skills
• A strong commitment to social justice
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide array of people—junior and senior, for-profit and nonprofit, and from diverse backgrounds
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills are essential
• Ability to manage several projects at the same time and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in organizational settings
• Ability to travel both domestically and international

Location: The SOC Invest Group’s offices are Washington, DC.

Compensation: $125,000 to $134,000 (depending on experience) plus excellent benefits.

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 $1,500 in professional development budget each year for each staff member.

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.

How to Apply: Email cover letter, résumé and writing sample to: https://jsco.re/dc42c.