ESG Co-op/Internship (Winter 2025)

Closing date: October 3, 2024

Use your critical thinking skills in a fast-growing company where you can have an impact. The British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is currently seeking a ESG Co-op/Internship for the Winter 2025 (January to April) work term to support the Public Markets department. If you are a highly motivated, team player who can handle multiple projects and are interested in developing your professional career and learning more about driving sustainable growth, accelerating innovation and operating on a global scale, this is the opportunity for you!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

BCI manages a globally diversified portfolio of assets valued at $250.4 billion and is one of Canada’s largest institutional investors. We invest globally to support pension and other funds for more than 30 clients based in British Columbia. We are proud to have been chosen as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers and BC’s Top Employers. These national and provincial competitions recognize employers who offer exceptional workplaces for their employees.

WHO YOU WILL WORK WITH

Use your research, investment, and data science skills in a fast-growing company where you can have an impact. The British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) is currently seeking two co-op students/interns for the Winter 2025 work terms (two positions from January to April) to provide ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) research and support across a range of asset classes and investment subjects. The ESG co-op/intern will work within our corporate ESG group. BCI is a leader in responsible investing and actively integrates ESG factors to our investment analysis and decision-making process. Successful candidates will work in one of the following two work-streams:

• 1) ESG Integration & Research, 2) ESG Total Fund Strategy & Risk 1) ESG Integration & Research – The co-op/intern will support a range of asset classes with a particular focus on public equities, fixed income, private debt and alternative strategies. The co-op/intern will assist the team in conducting ESG research and writing ESG analysis to support investment decisions for all internally managed active funds. The co-op/intern will help prepare and participate in conversations with portfolio companies, policy makers and standard setters to advance ESG performance. This role offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in the investment process from an ESG perspective, conduct valuable ESG research, and contribute creative solutions (both quantitative and qualitative) to the ESG integration process.

• 2) ESG Total Fund Strategy & Risk – The co-op/intern will support research, analysis, evaluation, and recommendations of systemic ESG risks and investment opportunities. The co-op/intern will assist in building and maintaining financial models, develop economic scenarios, collect, and analyze financial and ESG data to support investment recommendations and participate in the research and development of new investment strategy initiatives. The team is responsible for evaluating systemic ESG risk and opportunities, their implications on portfolios, asset class, client portfolios and BCI’s total fund. As part of this work, the team is responsible for measuring, monitoring, and making recommendations on mitigation and adaptation strategies as well as new opportunities that may arise.

WHAT YOU WILL BE DOING

• Research and analyze ESG risks and opportunities in the current BCI portfolio as well as in the investment universe

• Build and maintain financial models and economic scenarios to understand long-term systemic risk impacts to the market and client portfolios

• Collect, organize, and analyze ESG data to support investment recommendations and company engagements 

• Research new investment strategy initiatives, provide recommendations and work collaboratively in a team environment

• Conduct research on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) – E.g., research topics for inclusion in the SDI taxonomy

• Support day to day team activities including take meeting notes, streamlining processes, and providing support for various research, integration, or stewardship activities

• Construct and make improvements to data visualization tools to add value to the investment process

• Ad-hoc research projects and tasks as assigned by the team

REQUIRED SKILLS

• A fundamental knowledge of basic business, financial statements, and investment-related disciplines is essential

• Passion for investing, ESG, and a drive to continually learn about economics/financial markets

• Knowledge of finance, capital markets, and economics

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

• A dedication to hard work, commitment to the highest ethical standards, attention to detail and an eagerness to learn

• Strong research skills combined with analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Self-starter: ability to be proactive, resourceful and solution oriented as well as a drive for process improvement

• Intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and strong analytical skills

• High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (including Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote), particularly with advanced Excel skills to process large data sets and present in a concise manner

• Familiarity with Bloomberg, Eikon, R, Python, SQL, Tableau and Power BI would be an asset

• Proficiency in an additional language(s) would be an asset for the ESG Integration & Research position (E.g. A local language in Asia or the Emerging Markets)

• Financial modelling skills would be an asset for the ESG Total Fund Strategy & Risk position

WHAT WE OFFER

• Training and mentorship to develop your knowledge and professional skill sets that are required to succeed in the industry

• Be a valued part of a team and work culture that is down to earth, values your perspective and rewards transparency and accountability

• Exposure to some of the most talented, approachable, and inspiring people in the industry

• Time to connect and build your network with other interns and BCI professionals that will contribute to your professional network and future career opportunities

• Potential work term extensions and career opportunities

• The ability to opt-in for access to Dialogue, a user-friendly app that offers virtual primary care, employee and family services, and mental health supports  

• Time to connect with co-op students & interns at BCI – build your network and shared learning 

• 2 paid days per year for volunteering 

• Competitive pay: Front Office:  $2,665.00 gross bi-weekly + vacation leave paid based on 6% of salary 

THE DETAILS

• Work term: Winter 2025 (January to April)

• Department: Public Markets, ESG

• Office Location: 750 Pandora Avenue, Victoria, BC

• Spend your off hours exploring beautiful Victoria and Vancouver Island

• Travel: if coming to Victoria for this work term, BCI will provide a fixed-rate travel allowance based on your location

• All co-ops/internships will need to be completed in person at our Victoria office with the option to work one day per week from home. Please note, some positions are not eligible for hybrid work. 

HOW TO APPLY

• Apply directly to Public Markets, ESG Co-op/Intern (Winter 2025) on our careers page https://bci.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/BCI_Careers

• Application deadline: October 3, 2024 at 11:59pm PST

• Please include a cover letter, resume, and transcripts (unofficial transcript will suffice)

• Note: The ability to legally work full-time in Canada for the duration of your work term is a condition of employment at BCI

At BCI, we value diversity and believe in fostering an inclusive culture where all employees can be successful.

We are performance and client focused and value integrity; if you share these values, we want to know you. 

We recognize that some skills can be learned on the job and encourage all to apply.

If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), contact us at hr@bci.ca.

We would like to hear from you!