ESG Analyst

THE ROLE

The Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Team is seeking an analyst to support the development, acquisition and management of utility scale solar power plants and energy storage facilities, and ESG activities across their value chain.

Reporting to the Senior ESG Associate, you will join a team of 8 ESG professionals working within a major global investment manager in renewable energy. Founded in 2007, NextEnergy Group is one of the longest-established investors in solar and energy storage, with more than 300 employees and sustainability at the heart of its culture.

Working across the business, your role will be to help coordinate the integration of ESG into the UK and other investment processes, from due diligence to monitoring and reporting. You will also assist in the development and implementation of the Group ESG strategy, with a focus on climate and supply chain, and design and implement research and other projects.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Integrating ESG processes at the Group, Fund, and asset management levels
• Undertaking ESG due diligence for new solar PV plants and energy storage acquisitions, working closely with the Group’s investment teams, external consultants, and other transaction stakeholders
• Undertaking ESG due diligence on the various counterparties involved in a transaction, from sellers, construction and maintenance contractors to module, inverter and battery suppliers
• Reviewing potential solar PV plants and energy storage projects to identify ESG risks and compliance gaps as they relate to planning, consents, and national and international standards, and developing appropriate mitigations for these in accordance with NEC standards
• Drafting ESG Memos as part of the investment papers presented to the Investment Committee for each transaction
• Liaising with the development, investment, construction and procurement, and other transaction teams to ensure that ESG actions are on track with deal milestones and requirements
• Managing ESG capex and opex, ensuring they are included in relevant financial models so that ESG actions can be implemented following the acquisition
• Engaging with fund Portfolio Managers and asset managers to ensure ESG action plans are managed and implemented post-acquisition
• Providing support to the Investor Relations team to raise funds for new investment vehicles as they are developed (for example, by responding to investor ESG questionnaires)
• Supporting the development of the climate change strategy of the Group
• Preparing relevant reporting according to mandatory and voluntary standard requirements. This includes PRI reporting and fund specific reporting, such as GRESB, ISSB, and TNFD.
• Managing a wide range of internal and external stakeholder engagement, including with investor relations, investment teams, legal and compliance, trade associations, NGOs, academia, and peer businesses
• Pursuing new ESG initiatives and identifying strategic partnerships to promote ESG and sustainability within the financial community
• Maintaining communications material, such as website pages, presentations, and briefings
• Supporting in the generation of new governance, processes and approaches across the Investment Manager and Group from an ESG perspective

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Time management & prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage yourself and your workload is critical.
• Excellent communication skills (in English or/and other European languages) - you must be able to organize your thoughts in a way that others find clear and compelling. You will be expected to together well-written, grammatically correct emails and other communications. When communicating verbally – whether over the phone, on video calls, in person or in meetings – you will need to be articulate, warm and engaging.
• Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in your approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelled out in your job description.
• Intellectual Curiosity – Technical Management is a broad and nuanced field, and we are looking for someone who is truly interested in our profession and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas into the team.
• IT Literacy - you need to be comfortable with IT systems and working with data (you should have at least intermediate-level excel).
• Delivery focus – it may sound obvious, but the ability to proactively churn through work at pace and deliver quality outputs really matters!
• Presentation skills - you will have excellent people and presentation skills and be keen to learn a new business whilst being generous with passing on your knowledge to another team, particularly M&A, investor relations (IR), Portfolio Managers (PM). and the asset manager WiseEnergy.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Passion for our mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy.
• Our values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• Have 2-4 years’ experience in a relevant sector. This could mean ESG expertise gained from M&A, investment or financial advisory roles, environmental consulting on infrastructure projects, sustainability policy and research, human rights and social sustainability initiatives (such as working for an NGO), or the law. Regardless of their current role, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate a robust approach to risk management (i.e. the identification of risk and appropriate mitigations) through structured due diligence, and a willingness to learn from the rest of the team.
• Have a sustainability-related academic background. This could mean renewable energy engineering but also political science, international development, agricultural and land management, community engagement, environmental law and/or management, or similar. We are open to candidates with a range of experience so long as they can demonstrate how it would help them succeed in the role
• Be familiar with key standards and initiatives that relate to the financial, solar, and energy storage sector, such as the UN SDGs, the Equator Principles, and the IFC Performance Standards. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience of reporting frameworks including the EU SFDR, GRESB, ISSB, and the Task Force on Nature-Related Financial Disclosure (TNFD), as well as the work of trade associations such as Solar Energy UK and SolarPower Europe
• Have strong drafting skills and be able to produce reports, investment memorandums and presentations suitable for different audiences, drawing on material from across the business
• Be fluent in English and able to speak additional languages, particularly Spanish or Italian
• Have the legal right to work in the UK

WHAT WE OFFER

• A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn.
• International scope – we operate in over 8 countries.
• Hybrid working – we will need you in the central London (Mayfair) office at least twice a week, but you will normally be able to work remotely for the remainder of the week.
• 30 days’ holiday per year (3 of which are taken during the festive shutdown in December).
• Private pension.
• BUPA Healthcare for you and qualifying dependents.
• Cycle to work and electric vehicle leasing schemes.
• Annual discretionary bonus.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in this opportunity, please follow the link to apply or send your application to careers@nextenergygroup.com. If you have been shortlisted for the next stage, we will be in contact within 14 days.

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DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of our values. Our entrepreneurial culture inspires us to try new things, be open to different viewpoints and be bold. Our Group is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of connectedness that values difference and gives space for individual expression. The collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent and hard work form the bedrock of who we are and who we aspire to be.

We are committed to equal employment and advancement opportunity irrespective of race, color, ancestry, social background, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity.