Head, North America Policy

Principles for Responsible Investment

Head, North America Policy

Employment Type - Full time

Location - Hybrid · Washington, USA - Washington DC

Salary - $130,000 - $150,000 (USD)

Closing: 11:59pm, 16th Aug 2026 EDT

About the PRI

The PRI is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. It works to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions.

The PRI’s three distinct capabilities relate to the core elements of the PRI’s approach to achieving a sustainable financial system:

• Translate responsible investment thought leadership into insights and practical support that is tailored to what signatories need to progress their responsible investment practice.
• Convene our vast network to create opportunities for collaborative action.
• Harness our global scale to influence policymakers and regulators to effect system change.

Job Description

The Head of North American Policy will lead the development and delivery of PRI's policy strategy and engagement program across the United States and Canada. The role will position PRI as a credible, non-partisan and market-focused organization, advancing a responsible investment policy agenda that supports long-term investor returns, economic growth, job creation and capital formation in both markets.

Working across PRI's regional and global teams, the role will provide tools, insight and practical analysis to policymakers and PRI signatories in the US and Canada. It will oversee the development of evidence-based policy positions, briefings, submissions and engagement strategies, ensuring that PRI's policy work in both markets is grounded in regional signatory needs and realities and aligned with PRI's Strategy, the Six Principles and global policy positions.

The role will require strong judgement in a complex and fast-moving policy environment, including the ability to respond quickly to live developments, build trusted relationships with policymakers and signatories, and translate technical policy issues into clear, investor-relevant messages.

Core Responsibilities

• Implement and develop PRI's US and Canadian policy strategy, engagement program and workplan, grounded in regional signatory needs and consistent with PRI's Strategy, the Six Principles and relevant global positions.
• Monitor and interpret developments from the White House, Congress, federal agencies, courts, states, Canadian federal and provincial authorities, regulators and other relevant bodies, providing timely analysis, internal flags and investor-facing insight where appropriate.
• Build and maintain senior relationships with policymakers, regulators, standard setters, investor networks, signatories, government relations staff and other stakeholders in the US and Canada.
• Develop, review and validate high-quality policy outputs (positions, consultation responses, briefings, letters, signatory updates and thought leadership), and oversee rapid response to significant developments, coordinating with communications, legal and global/regional colleagues to provide timely and useful intelligence.
• Cultivate signatory engagement on US and Canadian policy priorities (events for, 1:1 dialogues, newsletters, calls, webinars, short briefings and regional reference groups) and connect policymakers with signatory perspectives where appropriate, managing political sensitivity and avoiding unnecessary politicization of investors' responsible investment practices.
• Line manage team members in Canada and the United States, collaborate closely with teams across PRI. Support the Director of Americas and relevant senior leaders in delivering against business plans, budgets, reporting requirements and strategic priorities.

Person Specification

• Significant policy, advocacy or public affairs experience related to financial markets, sustainable finance, responsible investment, corporate governance, climate, nature, human capital or related fields, preferably with strong exposure to the US and/or Canadian policy environments.
• Working knowledge of the PRI, investment practice and the structure and operation of the investment chain, and of the public policy issues affecting responsible investment — including fiduciary duty, disclosure, stewardship, proxy voting, shareholder rights, capital formation, industrial policy, AI governance, human capital, climate policy, resilience, infrastructure, and nature and biodiversity.
• Demonstrable experience engaging policymakers, regulators, investors, trade associations, civil society and/or other stakeholders at a senior level, with sound judgement in politically sensitive environments.
• Well-developed people management and matrix leadership skills, including the ability to line manage remote team members in Canada and the United States, provide direction, review deliverables and mentor colleagues, and to build consensus across regional and global teams while maintaining clear accountability for delivery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce high-quality briefings, submissions, talking points and executive materials with minimal supervision, and to present to groups, facilitate workshops or roundtables and adapt style to policymakers, investors, executives, technical experts and public audiences.
• Education or training in public policy, law, economics, finance, international affairs, sustainability or a related discipline is preferred. Advanced degrees or relevant industry qualifications would be an asset.
• As this role covers both the US and Canada, travel within North America and occasional international travel may be required.
• Must be eligible to work in the United States, Washington, D.C.

We particularly welcome candidates from under-represented groups, including Black, Asian and other People of Color, those with visible or non-visible disabilities, LGBTQ candidates and those who are neurodivergent.

N.B. We reserve the right to close a vacancy before the closing date in the event of an overwhelming response or a change in business priorities.