ESG Co-op/Internship (Winter 2027)

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation; Victoria; Hybrid; CAD 70,000 - 78,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Volunteer days

Travel allowance

Hybrid/onsite flexibility

Job summary

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) seeks two co-op interns for Winter 2027 (Jan–April) to perform ESG research and support across asset classes. You will build models, analyze ESG data, and contribute to SDG research while engaging with portfolio teams and policy discussions.

The role emphasizes hands-on analysis, collaboration, and exposure to a leading institutional investor in Canada.

Qualifications

• Foundational knowledge in business and finance is essential.
• Strong interest in ESG and investing, with a learning attitude.
• Proficiency in data analysis and communication of results.

Responsibilities

• Research ESG risks and opportunities across portfolios and investment universe.
• Build and maintain financial models and economic scenarios.
• Analyze ESG data to support recommendations and engagements.
• Assist in new investment strategy initiatives and SDG research.
• Participate in documentation and collaboration within the team.

Skills

ESG research

Python

SQL

Data visualization

Excel advanced

Bloomberg access

Microsoft Office

Critical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) preferred

Tools

Python (pandas, NumPy)

SQL

Tableau/Power BI

Databricks/PySpark

Git

Job description

Closing Date: October 1, 2026

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 2027 work term (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.

Work‑streams

• 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 need to know

BCI manages a globally diversified portfolio of assets valued at $313.7 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.

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.
• Develop and maintain Python‑based data pipelines and analytical workflows – including data ingestion, cleaning, transformation, and analysis of ESG and financial datasets.
• Apply quantitative techniques (e.g., regression analysis, factor research, scenario modelling) to ESG‑related research questions, including climate scenario analysis (e.g., NGFS).
• 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.
• Working proficiency in Python (pandas, NumPy) and SQL is strongly preferred for data analysis and research workflows; familiarity with Bloomberg, Databricks/PySpark, Plotly/Dash, Git, and BI/visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) would be an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to use AI/LLM tools (e.g., Claude, ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot) effectively as part of a research and coding workflow – including writing clear prompts, critically validating AI‑generated outputs, and recognizing when human judgment and methodological rigour are required.
• Foundational understanding of quantitative methods (e.g., linear regression, statistical inference, factor analysis) would be an asset for quantitative ESG research workstreams.
• Familiarity with ESG data providers (e.g., MSCI, Sustainalytics, TruValue Labs, FTSE Green Revenues) and climate scenario frameworks (e.g., NGFS, IEA) 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

• Excellent career development and training by helping the candidate to understand the tools, the data and the methodologies applied by financial institutions to manage their risk.
• Work with a dynamic team in a fast‑paced environment.
• The chance to do work that will challenge and stimulate you.
• The development of real‑world skills at one of the largest institutional investors in Canada and the world.
• Exposure to some of the most talented, approachable, and inspiring people in the finance industry.
• Time to connect with co‑op students and interns at BCI – build your network and shared learning.
• Two paid days for volunteering per year.
• 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.
• Competitive pay: $2,745.00 gross bi‑weekly + vacation leave paid based on 6% of salary.
• Travel: if coming to Victoria for this work term, BCI will provide a fixed‑rate travel allowance based on your location.

The Details

• Work term: Winter 2027 (January - April)
• Department: Capital Markets & Credit Investments
• Office Location: 750 Pandora Avenue, Victoria, BC
• Spend your off hours exploring beautiful Victoria and Vancouver Island.
• 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.

Note: We welcome applications from all qualified candidates who are interested in applying for this role.

You will need to be legally authorized to work in the country where this job is located. If you currently do not have authorization or if your work permit, study permit, or visa has restrictions or is due to expire during the work term, you may not be eligible for this opportunity.

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 [e-mail].

BCI has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers – for the sixth consecutive year – and has built programs and benefits to support all our employees.

We pay our people competitively in the markets in which we compete for talent and with consideration to internal equity and job structure. We aim for actual pay to be around the median of the market for target or expected levels of performance, and around the upper quartile of the market for excellent performance. The philosophy is principles-based and emphasizes pay-for-performance, long‑term results, and meeting clients’ expectations.

Our people help shape employee‑focused initiatives and create the environment we work in each day – which further strengthens our culture.

To learn more about our employee experience, visit our BCI Values in Action. There you will see how feedback from our employees was used to articulate our Employee Value Proposition (EVP), composed of three pillars: Performance with Purpose, Built on Collective Expertise, and Accelerating Innovation.