Esg and Sustainability Manager, Merlon Capital

ESG and Sustainability Manager - 3 days p/w

Role Purpose:
Merlon Capital Partners is a boutique Fund Manager owned 70% by its founders and 30% by ASX listed Challenger. Merlon manages approximately $1 billion Australian equities.

Our investment philosophy is built around a shared belief that people are motivated by short-term outcomes, overemphasise recent information and are uncomfortable having unpopular views. We believe that our staff and client alignment with our investment philosophy will be the most important contributors to our success.

Our ESG philosophy is aligned with our investment philosophy and states that “
_deep consideration of governance, social as well as environmental issues - coupled with active ownership - enhances investment, business and community outcomes”_. We have a strong preference for active ownership to enrich our research and enhance both investment and community outcomes.

The Merlon process is focused on investing in undervalued companies where we think market participants have become too pessimistic. We take a long-term view, look through fads and only pay for what’s sustainable. We have a strong culture of ownership, co-invest in our funds and proactively engage with the companies we own.

Role Responsibilities:
Merlon has established a strong foundation of ESG integration and engagement within our broader investment process. Sustainability of cash flow is the absolute foundation the Merlon investment process. In thinking about sustainability, we consider governance, company culture, management incentives, environmental concerns, social issues, government and community relations, reputational risks, and the firms’ ability to attract and retain staff. In this way, ESG is integrated into our assessment of companies we consider investing in.

We are recruiting an ESG & Sustainability expert to continue this body of work. In close collaboration with the investment team, this person would assess company ESG exposure and performance, drive engagement with management and directors of these companies and ensure key ESG issues are reflected in investment decisions. S/he would also refine and advance internal policies where required, own all ESG-related reporting on behalf of Merlon and represent ESG at Merlon at various key stakeholder interactions.

The role is based in Sydney with occasional travel required.

Stock Research
- Own the assessment of ESG considerations in the stock review process, including the ESG & Management section of qualitative scorecard for stocks owned or considered
- Build and maintain relationships with key market participants (e.g. buy-side & sell-side ESG analysts) to understand market concerns regarding ESG issues and company performance to date for stock owned or considered
- Work closely with stock analysts, consider how material ESG issues impact valuation scenarios and / or conviction for stocks owned or considered
- Work closely with investment team, maintain broader ESG theme specific research (e.g. decarbonisation, problem gambling harm) for use in stock analysis

Portfolio Company Engagement
- Formally engage with portfolio companies in writing as part of structured engagement program
- Identify & facilitate meetings with board and senior management of all portfolio companies, including driving discussions related to ESG matters
- Develop and maintain relationship with company representatives (investor relations, ESG specialists). Engage with companies regularly with goal of better ESG & investment outcomes, and provide feedback as required (e.g. via company sustainability materiality surveys)
- Track company engagements, including key themes, objectives & outcomes for use in future reporting
- Where relevant, engage other shareholders, proxy advisors and media to raise significant ESG concerns and lobby for change

Proxy Voting
- Manage all proxy voting on behalf of Merlon, engaging investment team where required
- Document justification for controversial matters

Clients
- Provide ESG, engagement and proxy voting materials for reporting requested by research houses and / or Merlon clients
- Participate in client reviews and other communications relating to ESG specific issues
- Participate in meetings with research houses and institutional consultants (e.g. Zenith) and prospective clients to represent ESG at Merlon
- Provide input into Financial Services Council documents and others, as required

Other Roles
- Principals for Responsible Investment Reporting
- Manage board reporting / resolutions related to ESG and engagement
- Contribute to Merlon’s external communications content on ESG via insight articles and webinars
- Build on Merlon’s internal ESG framework
- Support the enhancement of Merlon website content as it relates to ESG, as required
- Update Merlon’s ESG policies and procedures, as required
- Strong cultural alignment to Merlon, contributes positively to team

Role Requirements:

- A strong interest in ESG/Sus