Senior 3D Sustainability Specialist – Research

The Senior 3D Sustainability Specialist position offers an exciting opportunity for a motivated and experienced professional to make impact through collaborative research and knowledge sharing within the field of sustainable investing, focusing on the evolving landscape of sustainable investing and transition finance. In this role, you will ensure the delivery of meaningful and actionable research results and insights that inform the investment strategies and portfolio management of PGGM and PFZW, by balancing the three dimensions: risk, return, and sustainability.

The key transitions for PFZW are: 1) the healthcare and welfare transition in the Netherlands; 2) the global energy transition; 3) global nature and biodiversity, which includes the food and material transition and nature restoration.

You will join a dynamic and diverse team of young professionals and experienced researchers who are dedicated to exploring variety of topics and translating the topics into actionable insights. We believe in the power of diverse perspectives and welcome your unique insights and contributions.

Your responsibilities will include working on multiple projects simultaneously, such as:

• Conducting innovative, ad hoc research and analysis in the field of sustainable investing and transition finance, with the aim of optimizing risk, return, and sustainability, while having a positive impact on the major transitions: energy, healthcare, and nature & biodiversity.
• Shaping and maintaining our internal center of expertise, external networks and thought leadership on transitions and sustainable investing and serving as the critical link between PGGM’s three dimensions of investing: risk, return, and sustainability. For instance, by moderating or giving internal workshops, building on the internal ecosystem and speaking at conferences.
• Coordinating, guiding and mentoring (junior) researchers, guiding them in their analyses and promoting a collaborative environment that encourages knowledge sharing and professional growth within the team and with other teams.
• Engaging with peers exploring best practices and developments and monitoring the latest academic insights. This involves tracking global trends in 3D investing and actively participating in relevant peer networks and initiatives. 

The Research department is a newly established department dedicated to exploring innovative developments regarding risks, returns, and sustainability in the investment domain. This includes investigating macro economy, financial markets, geopolitical developments and sustainable transitions from an external perspective to support the strategic 3D objectives of PGGM and PFZW. The department aims to create a comprehensive research ecosystem and share insights primarily internally and occasionally externally. Ultimately, the team will consist of approximately 16 members, who will collaborate across PGGM’s Investment Management domain on various interdisciplinary topics.

The main activities of the department include:

• Building a strong internal and external research ecosystem with effective stakeholder management.
• Defining the research agenda to address both explorative and ad hoc research requests.
• Conducting actionable research that aligns with the research agenda.
• Performing recurring research, both forward-looking and retrospective, incorporating 3D thinking throughout.

For this challenging role, we are looking for an experienced candidate who identifies with the following attributes and qualifications:

• WO master’s degree with strong academic performance, ideally in sustainability/environmental studies, economics, sustainable finance, or a related field. PhD is considered a plus.
• Demonstrable in-depth knowledge of sustainability, 3D investing and transition finance, with a keen interest in translating these into practice.
• 7-10 years of experience that demonstrates the ability to critically assess complex research findings and translate them into actionable outcomes.
• Strong technical and analytical skills in research and data analysis, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies with a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics and sustainable investing, and a goal-oriented mindset with a quick learning ability (familiarity with data science and/or programming skills are considered a plus).
• Proactive and collaborative mindset, with precise attention to detail and the ability to build coalitions and cooperate with internal teams, external stakeholders, academia, and peers.
• Experience with mentoring colleagues and a supportive attitude, with a sense of fulfillment in helping others to solve problems.
• Flexibility to work on various topics/specializations and projects, with strong project management skills to successfully oversee multiple initiatives simultaneously is essential.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with an open-minded and reflective approach that fosters collaboration and effectively conveys complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, e.g., public speaking experience.
• Fluency in spoken and written English.

At PGGM we are proud of our core values: trust, teamwork and innovation. These values arose from the best stories of our colleagues, moments when they were at their best. We believe those moments occur when you can be 100% yourself. At PGGM, we value the unique combination of your personal and professional attributes. Because what really counts at PGGM are people, one hundred percent! At PGGM, you can count on:

• A pleasant workplace at our office in Zeist and, from the middle of 2028, in the center of Utrecht.
• A gross monthly salary in scale 18 between 8.973 and 12.819 based on 36 hours, depending on your knowledge and experience.
• A thirteenth month.
• A good pension scheme as a member of the PFZW pension fund (71% paid by PGGM, 29% by the employee).
• An annual Fit for the Future budget of €300 net, which you can use to improve your mental, physical, or financial fitness.
• A generous training budget for internal and external training courses or education.
• More than 26 vacation days (employees can choose to swap up to two national Christian holidays for a day that is important to them).
• Flexibility in working hours and working from home options.
• A net internet allowance of €45 per month (€540 per year).
• Group discount on supplementary health insurance (21% in 2024) and dental insurance (15% in 2024).
• A work-from-home arrangement with a maximum allowance of €900 to set up a health and safety-compliant home office.

You can find more information about our terms of employment and salary scales in our collective labor agreement.

You are most welcome to apply through our webiste, via the blue button.

The deadline for applications is the 18th of May.

Applications via mail will not be reviewed, we kindly request you to apply through the website in order to comply with GDPR regulations. Click here to learn more about how we process your personal data.

Please contact Tijmen, recruiter, via tijmen.muller@pggm.nl for more information about the role.

We always communicate via official PGGM email addresses (@pggm.nl). Have you been approached by a third party and/or are you unsure whether the contact is genuinely on behalf of PGGM? Feel free to check whether there is a legitimate collaboration with third parties by emailing or calling us.