Q: What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission is to provide bottom-up fundamental research that integrates ESG factors into Jennison’s broader investment strategies. You will be responsible for conducting deep-dive analysis on companies and sectors, translating your findings into formal research notes and white papers that assist portfolio managers in their decision-making process. Beyond research, the role involves heavy operational support for stewardship and proxy voting . This includes tracking company engagements, documenting progress on financially material sustainability topics, and ensuring all stewardship activities are recorded for compliance and client reporting purposes. You will also manage data mapping and help streamline the use of third-party ESG vendors. Finally, you will act as a cross-functional liaison , handling client-related reporting requests and contributing to strategic projects like climate scenario analysis, PRI reporting, and SFDR regulatory requirements. Your work ensures that the firm’s sustainability commitments are backed by rigorous data and transparent reporting.

Q: Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain unparalleled exposure to the integration of ESG into active investment management . Rather than viewing sustainability in a vacuum, you will learn how to link non-financial metrics directly to business fundamentals, valuations, and risk profiles. This provides a rare opportunity to develop a sophisticated understanding of how capital markets respond to environmental and social pressures. You will also develop technical expertise in specialized reporting frameworks such as SFDR and PRI, which are increasingly critical in the global regulatory landscape. Exposure to advanced data tools and the application of AI in sustainable investing will ensure your technical toolkit remains at the cutting edge of the industry. Working within a high-conviction investment firm allows for mentorship from seasoned investment professionals . With portfolio managers averaging nearly three decades of experience, the environment is rich with institutional knowledge regarding market cycles and the long-term materiality of sustainability trends.

Q: How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate typically brings 1 to 3 years of experience within the financial services sector, specifically in asset management or investment banking. Academic excellence is expected, and being a CFA charterholder or making significant progress toward the CFA designation is highly preferred, as it demonstrates the financial maturity needed for this level of research. Technical proficiency is a must, particularly advanced Excel skills and experience with financial modeling. The team looks for individuals who are not just competent with data, but are inherently inquisitive and detail-oriented , capable of spotting trends within complex datasets that others might miss. Soft skills are equally important, as the role requires excellent written communication for drafting white papers and internal briefs. You should be someone who can work independently under tight deadlines while remaining a collaborative team player, especially given the firm’s hybrid, high-touch office culture.

Q: What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

This role is central to Jennison’s responsible investment and stewardship strategy . You will likely focus heavily on climate-related financial disclosures and emissions data, helping the firm navigate the transition to a low-carbon economy. This involves both identifying risks in carbon-intensive sectors and finding opportunities in sustainable solutions. A significant portion of your focus will be on materiality mapping —determining which ESG factors actually impact a company's bottom line. This requires a nuanced understanding of different industries, from governance structures in tech firms to labor practices in global supply chains. Additionally, you will support the active ownership pillar of the firm’s strategy. This involves preparing for company engagements and proxy voting, ensuring that Jennison uses its influence as a major shareholder to drive better corporate behavior on material sustainability issues.

Q: What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the primary challenges is data fragmentation and quality . ESG data is notoriously inconsistent across different providers, and you will need to apply critical judgment to synthesize conflicting information into a coherent investment narrative. Balancing quantitative data with qualitative insights is a constant hurdle. You may also face the challenge of managing competing priorities from various stakeholders. Bridging the gap between the sustainability team's long-term ESG goals and the investment teams' immediate performance objectives requires diplomacy and a high degree of organizational skill to ensure all reporting and research deadlines are met. Furthermore, the evolving regulatory landscape (such as SFDR in Europe and shifting SEC requirements in the US) means the 'goalposts' for compliance and reporting are constantly moving. Staying ahead of these changes while maintaining your primary focus on fundamental research requires significant mental agility.

Q: How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day begins with monitoring market news and ESG disclosures relevant to the firm’s core holdings. You might spend your morning update calls with the sustainability team, discussing recent company earnings reports or new sustainability ratings that might trigger a re-assessment of a firm’s ESG profile. Mid-day, you would likely transition into deep analytical work , such as updating an Excel model or drafting a research note on a specific sector's exposure to water scarcity or labor risks. This work is often interrupted by collaborative meetings with the investment or technology teams to streamline how ESG data is displayed in internal systems. In the afternoons, you might shift to stewardship and reporting , preparing data for a client presentation or documenting the notes from a recent engagement call with a CEO. Given the hybrid model, Tuesdays through Thursdays are particularly high-energy, involving frequent in-person brainstorming sessions and mentorship check-ins.

Q: What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Growth in this role often follows a path toward becoming a Senior Sustainability Analyst or moving into a specialized Investment Analyst role with a focus on specific sectors. Because you are embedded within the investment research function, the skills you gain are highly transferable to mainstream portfolio management. There is also room for specialized leadership within the sustainability team. As the firm’s ESG efforts expand, there may be opportunities to lead specific initiatives, such as the development of proprietary ESG scoring models or spearheading the firm’s approach to nature and biodiversity risks. Given the firm’s long-tenured staff , there is a strong culture of internal promotion. Success in this role can lead to high-visibility projects that put you in direct contact with the firm’s leadership, providing a platform to influence the firm’s long-term sustainability roadmap and investment philosophy.

Q: The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact daily with the Sustainability Team , reporting your findings and collaborating on research papers. However, your impact extends to the Portfolio Managers and Equity/Fixed Income Analysts , who rely on your ESG insights to refine their investment theses and manage portfolio risk. You will also work closely with Client Teams, Sales, and Marketing to ensure that Jennison’s sustainability story is accurately told to institutional investors. This includes helping answer complex Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs) and preparing materials for client quarterly reviews. Finally, the role involves significant coordination with Legal, Compliance, and Technology teams. These stakeholders ensure that all sustainability claims are substantiated and that the firm’s data infrastructure is robust enough to handle the increasing volume of ESG metrics required for modern investment management.

Question 1

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

Accepted Answer

The primary mission is to provide bottom-up fundamental research that integrates ESG factors into Jennison’s broader investment strategies. You will be responsible for conducting deep-dive analysis on companies and sectors, translating your findings into formal research notes and white papers that assist portfolio managers in their decision-making process. Beyond research, the role involves heavy operational support for stewardship and proxy voting. This includes tracking company engagements, documenting progress on financially material sustainability topics, and ensuring all stewardship activities are recorded for compliance and client reporting purposes. You will also manage data mapping and help streamline the use of third-party ESG vendors. Finally, you will act as a cross-functional liaison, handling client-related reporting requests and contributing to strategic projects like climate scenario analysis, PRI reporting, and SFDR regulatory requirements. Your work ensures that the firm’s sustainability commitments are backed by rigorous data and transparent reporting.

Question 2

Key learning opportunities for this job

Accepted Answer

Candidates will gain unparalleled exposure to the integration of ESG into active investment management. Rather than viewing sustainability in a vacuum, you will learn how to link non-financial metrics directly to business fundamentals, valuations, and risk profiles. This provides a rare opportunity to develop a sophisticated understanding of how capital markets respond to environmental and social pressures. You will also develop technical expertise in specialized reporting frameworks such as SFDR and PRI, which are increasingly critical in the global regulatory landscape. Exposure to advanced data tools and the application of AI in sustainable investing will ensure your technical toolkit remains at the cutting edge of the industry. Working within a high-conviction investment firm allows for mentorship from seasoned investment professionals. With portfolio managers averaging nearly three decades of experience, the environment is rich with institutional knowledge regarding market cycles and the long-term materiality of sustainability trends.

Question 3

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

Accepted Answer

The ideal candidate typically brings 1 to 3 years of experience within the financial services sector, specifically in asset management or investment banking. Academic excellence is expected, and being a CFA charterholder or making significant progress toward the CFA designation is highly preferred, as it demonstrates the financial maturity needed for this level of research. Technical proficiency is a must, particularly advanced Excel skills and experience with financial modeling. The team looks for individuals who are not just competent with data, but are inherently inquisitive and detail-oriented, capable of spotting trends within complex datasets that others might miss. Soft skills are equally important, as the role requires excellent written communication for drafting white papers and internal briefs. You should be someone who can work independently under tight deadlines while remaining a collaborative team player, especially given the firm’s hybrid, high-touch office culture.

Question 4

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

Accepted Answer

To stand out at Jennison, your application should demonstrate a strong alignment between financial rigor and ESG passion. Avoid generic statements about 'making the world better' and instead focus on how you use sustainability data to identify investment risks or alpha opportunities. If you have experience with materiality mapping or specific carbon accounting frameworks, highlight these technical niche skills. Prepare to discuss your analytical process in detail. The firm values 'bottom-up' research, so showing that you can dissect a single company's business model through a sustainability lens is more valuable than discussing high-level ESG theory. Mentioning your familiarity with Bloomberg, MSCI, or Sustainalytics data can also be a significant advantage. Lastly, emphasize your communication style. Since this role bridges the gap between the sustainability team and portfolio managers, you need to prove you can summarize complex topics concisely. Quality over quantity in your writing samples or cover letter will reflect the 'high-conviction' mindset the firm prizes.

Question 5

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

Accepted Answer

This role is central to Jennison’s responsible investment and stewardship strategy. You will likely focus heavily on climate-related financial disclosures and emissions data, helping the firm navigate the transition to a low-carbon economy. This involves both identifying risks in carbon-intensive sectors and finding opportunities in sustainable solutions. A significant portion of your focus will be on materiality mapping—determining which ESG factors actually impact a company's bottom line. This requires a nuanced understanding of different industries, from governance structures in tech firms to labor practices in global supply chains. Additionally, you will support the active ownership pillar of the firm’s strategy. This involves preparing for company engagements and proxy voting, ensuring that Jennison uses its influence as a major shareholder to drive better corporate behavior on material sustainability issues.

Question 6

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

Accepted Answer

One of the primary challenges is data fragmentation and quality. ESG data is notoriously inconsistent across different providers, and you will need to apply critical judgment to synthesize conflicting information into a coherent investment narrative. Balancing quantitative data with qualitative insights is a constant hurdle. You may also face the challenge of managing competing priorities from various stakeholders. Bridging the gap between the sustainability team's long-term ESG goals and the investment teams' immediate performance objectives requires diplomacy and a high degree of organizational skill to ensure all reporting and research deadlines are met. Furthermore, the evolving regulatory landscape (such as SFDR in Europe and shifting SEC requirements in the US) means the 'goalposts' for compliance and reporting are constantly moving. Staying ahead of these changes while maintaining your primary focus on fundamental research requires significant mental agility.

Question 7

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

Accepted Answer

A typical day begins with monitoring market news and ESG disclosures relevant to the firm’s core holdings. You might spend your morning update calls with the sustainability team, discussing recent company earnings reports or new sustainability ratings that might trigger a re-assessment of a firm’s ESG profile. Mid-day, you would likely transition into deep analytical work, such as updating an Excel model or drafting a research note on a specific sector's exposure to water scarcity or labor risks. This work is often interrupted by collaborative meetings with the investment or technology teams to streamline how ESG data is displayed in internal systems. In the afternoons, you might shift to stewardship and reporting, preparing data for a client presentation or documenting the notes from a recent engagement call with a CEO. Given the hybrid model, Tuesdays through Thursdays are particularly high-energy, involving frequent in-person brainstorming sessions and mentorship check-ins.

Question 8

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Accepted Answer

Growth in this role often follows a path toward becoming a Senior Sustainability Analyst or moving into a specialized Investment Analyst role with a focus on specific sectors. Because you are embedded within the investment research function, the skills you gain are highly transferable to mainstream portfolio management. There is also room for specialized leadership within the sustainability team. As the firm’s ESG efforts expand, there may be opportunities to lead specific initiatives, such as the development of proprietary ESG scoring models or spearheading the firm’s approach to nature and biodiversity risks. Given the firm’s long-tenured staff, there is a strong culture of internal promotion. Success in this role can lead to high-visibility projects that put you in direct contact with the firm’s leadership, providing a platform to influence the firm’s long-term sustainability roadmap and investment philosophy.

Question 9

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Accepted Answer

You will interact daily with the Sustainability Team, reporting your findings and collaborating on research papers. However, your impact extends to the Portfolio Managers and Equity/Fixed Income Analysts, who rely on your ESG insights to refine their investment theses and manage portfolio risk. You will also work closely with Client Teams, Sales, and Marketing to ensure that Jennison’s sustainability story is accurately told to institutional investors. This includes helping answer complex Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs) and preparing materials for client quarterly reviews. Finally, the role involves significant coordination with Legal, Compliance, and Technology teams. These stakeholders ensure that all sustainability claims are substantiated and that the firm’s data infrastructure is robust enough to handle the increasing volume of ESG metrics required for modern investment management.

Sustainability Research Associate

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