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Conseiller expert engagement et intendance ESG

Beneva • Canada • Added on Sep 4, 2026
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As a lead expert in sustainable investment, you will take full ownership of the strategic direction for ESG engagement and stewardship. Your daily work involves defining institutional positions on critical issues like climate change and human rights, while directly influencing external fund managers to adopt more rigorous sustainability standards. You will bridge the gap between financial performance and ethical oversight by managing proxy voting guidelines and shareholder resolution analysis.

This role is vital because it leverages the massive scale of an insurance giant to drive systemic change across the financial markets. By accelerating the adoption of best practices within portfolio companies, you ensure that capital is not just protected, but actively contributing to a more resilient and equitable economy. It is a chance to move beyond passive reporting into active, high-impact stewardship.

This suits someone who possesses deep institutional investment expertise and the diplomatic skill to influence C-suite level external partners. You should be a bilingual strategist who excels at translating complex ESG risks into actionable investment policies.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The core mission involves defining the strategic orientations for sustainable investment, focusing on ESG engagement and stewardship. You will be responsible for developing the organization's institutional positions on climate, social issues, and shareholder rights. Your responsibilities extend to managing the proxy voting policy and conducting deep-dive analyses of complex shareholder resolutions. You will also establish escalation mechanisms to ensure responsible governance across all investment portfolios. Furthermore, you will represent the organization in collaborative international initiatives and develop performance indicators to track the effectiveness of stewardship activities, ensuring high-quality reporting for external disclosures.

Key learning opportunities for this job

Candidates will gain unparalleled exposure to the evolution of sustainable finance regulation in the Canadian and international contexts. You will stay at the forefront of emerging standards and best practices for institutional investors. There is a significant opportunity to sharpen your skills in active ownership and shareholder diplomacy. Working within a large mutualist structure allows for a unique perspective on how social values can be integrated into long-term capital management. Professional development is further supported through high-level interactions with global fund managers and participation in industry-leading collaborative engagement platforms, offering a broad view of the entire financial ecosystem.

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

The ideal candidate brings a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in finance, sustainability, or law, with a specific focus on institutional investment practices. A CFA designation or specialized ESG certification is highly prioritized. You must demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of shareholder engagement and the technicalities of proxy voting. Expert-level analytical skills are required to evaluate high-risk resolutions and formulate institutional recommendations. Fluency in both French and English is essential, as the role requires seamless communication with international partners and stakeholders while operating within a Quebec-based headquarters.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, your application should demonstrate a clear track record of influencing external investment managers or portfolio companies. Highlight specific instances where your analysis led to a change in voting behavior or investment policy. Given Beneva's mutualist values, it is beneficial to articulate how your personal philosophy on stewardship aligns with their mission of 'people protecting people.' Show that you view ESG not just as a risk mitigation tool, but as a core component of collective well-being. Prepare to discuss your familiarity with specific frameworks like the PRI or climate-related disclosures, and how you translate these global standards into practical internal guidelines for a large insurance group.

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

The role focuses heavily on responsible governance and the decarbonization of investment portfolios. You will be at the intersection of climate risk management and social equity within the financial sector. You will likely spend significant energy on climate-related stewardship, pushing for better disclosures and transition plans from the companies Beneva invests in. This ensures the long-term sustainability of the capital used to protect policyholders. Additionally, there is a strong focus on social rights, ensuring that the labor practices and human rights records of portfolio companies meet the ethical standards expected by a mutualist organization.

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

One major challenge is the balancing act between achieving competitive financial returns and upholding rigorous ESG criteria, especially when dealing with diverse external managers. You may also face difficulties in data consistency when analyzing various shareholder resolutions across different jurisdictions, requiring a high degree of technical rigor to maintain institutional credibility. Finally, the role requires constant strategic agility to keep pace with rapidly shifting ESG regulations and the rising expectations of institutional clients who demand greater transparency in stewardship.

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

A typical day might begin with a review of upcoming shareholder votes, followed by drafting recommendations on a complex governance resolution for a major portfolio company. Afternoons are often spent in strategic dialogues with external fund managers, questioning their ESG integration processes or discussing their progress on specific climate engagement goals. You will also spend time collaborating with internal risk and finance teams to ensure that the stewardship strategy is fully aligned with the broader corporate sustainability reporting cycle and external disclosures.

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

Growth in this role is likely to manifest through leadership in industry groups, positioning you as a thought leader in the Canadian sustainable finance space. You could move into more senior oversight roles within the investment division. There is also the potential to expand your scope toward strategic policy-making at the executive level, helping to shape the entire group's long-term sustainability roadmap beyond just the investment function. As the organization continues to grow, there may be opportunities to lead specialized task forces on emerging topics like biodiversity finance or the just transition, further broadening your professional expertise.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact extensively with external asset managers and investment partners, acting as both an evaluator and a strategic influencer of their ESG practices. Internally, your main stakeholders include the Investment Committee and the Sustainability/ESG department, ensuring that stewardship activities are consistent with the company’s overall mission. Externally, you will also engage with industry associations and collaborative initiatives like the PRI, representing Beneva’s interests and contributing to the advancement of responsible investment standards.

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