Head, Sustainability Function

Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (KWAP); Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent Malaysian investment agency is seeking a Senior Manager for Sustainability and ESG strategies. This role involves formulating and recommending corporate sustainability frameworks, leading stakeholder engagements, and ensuring ESG compliance across the organisation. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in sustainability leadership and a strong educational background in environmental or social sciences. This position offers competitive benefits and a chance to drive impactful sustainability initiatives within the agency.

Benefits

EPF

SOCSO

Annual Leaves

Qualifications

• 10 years of relevant working experience in sustainability or ESG.
• At least 3 years in a leadership position overseeing sustainability functions.
• Experience developing and implementing ESG strategies and policies.

Responsibilities

• Formulate and recommend sustainability strategies for the CSSO's review.
• Develop and maintain sustainability frameworks and policies.
• Monitor adherence to sustainability requirements across functions.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Master or Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Science, Business Administration, Economics, Social Science, Finance

Job description

Requirements

• Master or Bachelor’s Degree in, Environmental Science, Business Administration, Economics, Social Science, Finance, or other related fields.
• 10 years of relevant working experience, including at least 3 years in leadership position, overseeing sustainability, ESG, corporate responsibility, or related strategic functions.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing sustainability or ESG strategies, policies, and reporting frameworks in line with recognised global standards.
• Proven ability to engage with internal and external stakeholders, including regulators, investors, and industry partners, to drive alignment and collaboration on sustainability initiatives.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills with the ability to influence decision-making, and foster a culture of sustainability across the organisation.

Responsibilities

Strategy Formulation and Advisory

• Formulate and recommend enterprise sustainability and Responsible Investment (RI) strategies, frameworks, and priorities for the Chief Strategy and Services Officer’s (CSSO) review.
• Provide analysis, scenario options and implications to support the CSSO decision making.
• Translate approved strategies into implementation plans, internal guidelines and policies.
• Coordinate with relevant departments to embed or integrate sustainability into organisational processes.

Policy, Compliance and Governance

• Develop, review, and maintain Sustainability related frameworks such as RI or Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), policies, at a minimum or of the best standards.
• Monitor adherence to sustainability requirements across functions and elevate issues when necessary.
• Support integration of ESG considerations into enterprise risk management, procurement, audits, investment governance, internal controls, and others.

Responsible Investing, Stewardship & Due Diligence

• Formulate and review KWAP’s overarching stewardship and engagement strategy.
• Provide ESG risk assessments and technical views for investment discussions.
• Conduct ESG due diligence for new and existing investments by assessing sustainability risks, governance concerns, climate exposures, and social impacts, highlight material ESG red flags and provide recommendations to support investment division decisions.
• Engage with selected investee companies based on defined criteria to drive ESG improvements and promote shareholder activism.
• Monitor ESG incidents and controversies involving portfolio companies and elevate material issues to Management and relevant division.
• Lead stewardship engagements with investee companies on sustainability expectations, disclosure practices, and stewardship priorities.
• Support portfolio decarbonisation efforts through climate data, emission insights, sectoral pathways, and stewardship follow-ups.

ESG Reporting, Disclosures & Data Management

• Oversee ESG disclosures including sustainability reports, stewardship reports, Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) submissions, and regulatory requirements.
• Strengthen ESG data systems and validation processes to ensure accuracy and timelines for Management and the Board reporting.
• Track and report enterprise and portfolio ESG KPIs and provide improvement recommendations.
• Provide accurate, timely, and transparent reporting and disclosures to Management, the Board, Investment Panel and relevant internal or external stakeholders based on global governance standards and national initiatives or policies.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Liaison

• Represent the CSSO or the Senior Management and act as the Sustainability – RI or ESG focal point for technical engagements with regulators, industry bodies, and investment peers.
• Coordinate external ESG reporting obligations and respond to sustainability related enquiries.
• Identify and establish partnerships and collaborations with like-minded institutions, including the Institutional Investors Council Malaysia (IIC) and others to improve sustainability and RI effectiveness, enhancing KWAP’s credibility in promoting the sustainability agenda.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation to ensure successful delivery of ESG related initiatives.

.NET Zero Transition and Climate Related Agenda

• Develop and review KWAP Net Zero Decarbonisation strategy at enterprise or portfolio level.
• Align enterprise and portfolio decarbonisation efforts with investments, operations, procurement and other teams.

Social Impact Initiatives

• Formulate overarching social impact related strategy.
• Develop and support impact measurement approaches and measurement metrics for both internal and external social impact initiatives.
• Monitor the effectiveness of social impact programmes and review or report progress updates to Management and others.
• Lead selected social impact initiatives or projects that strengthen organisational resilience.

Research & Market Intelligence

• Conduct research and market intelligence on Sustainability – ESG related developments and translate insights into practical recommendations.
• Support the investment division with ESG research and analysis, screening and thematic insights.
• Identify new tools, technologies and partnerships to improve sustainability and RI effectiveness.
• Monitor and conduct horizon scanning on global ESG and climate standards, developments, and emerging best practices, providing advise on their implications.

Thought Leadership

• Act as KWAP’s Sustainability – ESG subject matter expert or authority and provide guidance as well as advisory within and outside of KWAP.
• Interpret emerging and new ESG and climate requirements and brief relevant teams on operational aspects.
• Represent KWAP in technical ESG-RI Sustainability platforms such as working groups, consultations and focus group discussions.
• Provide technical inputs, ideas and feedback for the CSSO as when and where needed.
• Build and promote internalisation of ESG culture and awareness through briefings and engagements.

People / Talent Management & Other Roles

• Support the CSSO in managing team dynamics, workflow processes and day-to-day operations of the function, including resources or budgeting.
• Assist in the preparation of the function’s business plan and the optimal utilisation of relevant tools or platforms.
• Manage relationships within the organisation and monitor as well as manage corresponding documentations.
• Foster innovation by identifying emerging trends, technologies, and partnerships that advance the organisation’s sustainability agenda and create measurable value for stakeholders.

Benefits

• EPF
• SOCSO
• Annual Leaves