Corporate Engagement Manager/Director, Protein Transition (India)

Full time (2 years, with performance based renewable contract).

Asia Research and Engagement (ARE) brings the voice of investors to Asia’s sustainable development challenges. We run collaborative engagement programs across Asia with coalitions of investors to address strategic sustainability issues and use dialogue, benchmarking and research as tools to create change with senior business decision makers. Our main areas of expertise are energy transition, protein transition and sustainable real estate.

ARE’s Asia Protein Transition Platform collaborates with investors managing USD 3 trillion. The platform hosts an aspirational 2030 vision and goals for the protein programme, and sets out specific investor expected protein sustainability disclosures for Asian food and agriculture businesses.

We aim for key Indian listed food companies to transition to responsible animal protein and diversify to more alternative proteins. We are also planning to engage related Indian banks, policy makers and civil society actors, to enable a more favorable context for protein transition.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead ARE’s new work in India. The role holder will be responsible for driving, monitoring and reporting on engagement and a pipeline of analysis and research on the various aspects of Protein Transition relevant to India. Ultimately, the role will encourage improvement and outcomes in responsible and sustainable protein sourcing or supply through corporate strategy, policy, standards and disclosure by Indian listed companies and banks to help leverage change for people, planet and animals. The Engagement Manager (possibly Director) will report to the Director Protein Transition in Singapore and collaborate as needed with other external stakeholders with an aligned vision and mission.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategic Company Engagement – 60%

• Devise and lead a strategic engagement plan for an agreed list of listed Indian food companies to achieve the programme outputs and outcomes
• Develop, manage and maintain business relationships with the agreed Indian companies by arranging meetings, presenting and sharing information to encourage improved protein responsibility and sustainability policies, standards, targets and disclosure.
• Follow up and support the company needs, in line with our programme objectives.
• Collaborate, as agreed with select in country civil society (especially animal welfare experts and / or advocates) to help improve company animal welfare policies and practices, among other sustainability topics.
• Engage key banks, to influence responsible and sustainable lending and enable a protein transition
• Monitor and report company progress, as well as general contextual threats and opportunities.

Background research and analysis – 30% (this may decrease as Analyst role rises).

• Leading the review and extension of our Indian target company and bank profiles, plus contextual and strategic background research. Map the financial, sustainability and animal welfare ecosystem.
• Tailoring engagement support materials to initiate or maintain engagement of Indian companies (and some initial banks) and influence them in line with strategic objectives.
• Drive internal research and analysis on ESG with regard to proteins, including related farm animal welfare and alternative proteins in India.
• Socialise the second (H1, 2024) and contribute to the third biennial benchmark on responsible protein sourcing (H2, 2025)

Communication and other – 10%

• Collaborate with team members in Singapore on writing communications including presentations, blogs, articles and any research reports.
• Be a knowledge manager for India protein engagement, supporting the team in a database on corporate targets, regulatory policies and changes across finance and food sector. Manage ecosystem relationships.

Required attributes:

• Tenacious, collaborative and intellectually curious
• Able to work in a high level business, finance and multi-cultural context
• High attention to detail and able to manage multiple deadlines
• Identify themes, recognise issues and be able to discuss constructive solutions
• Excellent business and team communication, presentation skills and writing skills

Required qualifications and competencies:

• At least 5 years of corporate engagement or business experience, ideally in sustainability or other relevant sector in India (Indian national based in India)
• A good understanding of protein and/or food and related environmental topics related to business risks and opportunities (desirable but not essential, motivation is key however)
• Relevant academic background in corporate food, supply chains, environmental management, business or finance (desirable)
• Self-motivated and confident to lead, engage, meet, advocate and communicate professionally by self and with others.