Employment Opportunities
Investor Advocates for Social Justice seeks a part-time seasonal proxy voting analyst. The position is for 15-20 hours/week in early April to mid-late May. The Proxy Voting Analyst will conduct proxy voting on domestic corporate annual meetings on all voting items, including issues related to Board elections and shareholder proposals on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. Training will be provided and the Proxy Voting Analyst will report to the Program Director.
Duties include: Conducting research on proxy voting decisions, analyzing corporate proxy statements, making voting decisions in accordance with the IASJ Proxy Voting Guidelines, and executing votes in a timely manner on electronic voting platform.
Qualifications: Undergraduate degree or currently working towards a degree preferably in business, finance, economics, or other relevant field. Experience in social justice advocacy, corporate governance, ESG or proxy voting preferred. Strong research skills, attention to detail, open communication with staff, and secure internet connectivity and ability to use online database.
About Investor Advocates for Social Justice
Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization representing investors with faith-based values who seek to leverage their investments to advance human rights, climate justice, racial equity, and the common good. On behalf of our Affiliates, we engage companies to address strategic environmental, social, and governance issues and advocate for change. IASJ votes proxies on behalf of 15 institutional investors. IASJ uses a variety of shareholder advocacy strategies to encourage corporations to adopt more ethical and sustainable business practices and believes in seeking out and building collaborative partners who share similar goals, in an effort to increase the effectiveness and impact of our work. Founded in 1975, we have over forty years of experience with shareholder advocacy and responsible investment.
Location: Our office is located in Montclair, NJ, but this is a remote position.
Compensation & Benefits: $15/hour
Equal Opportunity
Investor Advocates for Social Justice is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity, and fostering inclusion and a sense of belonging. Women and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
To Apply
Interested applications should send a cover letter and resume to Courtney Wicks, Executive Director, at jobs@iasj.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis but interviews will start the week of April 1.
Investor Advocates for Social Justice (IASJ), is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization representing investors with faith-based values who seek to leverage their investments to advance human rights, climate justice, racial equity, and the common good. Founded in 1975 within the movement to encourage corporations to leave apartheid South Africa, IASJ has over forty years of experience with shareholder advocacy and responsible investment. IASJ uses a variety of advocacy strategies to encourage corporations to adopt more ethical and sustainable business practices and believes in seeking out and building collaborative partners who share similar goals. To achieve these outcomes, IASJ takes a human rights-based approach and conducts rigorous research, relies on international and domestic legal frameworks and norms, and works closely with civil society organizations and impacted communities.
Internship Description
IASJ is seeking a human rights and shareholder advocacy legal intern to support shareholder advocacy efforts during Summer 2024.
Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, the legal intern will conduct legal and policy research on a variety of human rights issues, including environmental justice, racial justice, and labor rights. The intern’s work will be split between supporting IASJ’s overall programmatic work and conducting discrete research projects on a variety of timely human rights and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues.
Regarding IASJ’s overall programmatic work, duties may include the following:
- Legal and academic research related to the companies IASJ engages with.
- Submissions to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) related to shareholders’ rights.
- Coordination and other administrative duties, when necessary, to support IASJ’s efforts.
The legal intern will also spend a significant portion of time working on discrete research assignments related to human rights, shareholder advocacy, and ESG more broadly. Topics of research and activities may include:
- Legal and academic research on human rights violations in electric vehicle and agricultural supply chains, both domestically and internationally. The research will focus on a broad range of human rights concerns, including labor rights, Indigenous Peoples’ rights, health and environmental rights, and rights related to conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
- Research and analysis of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
- Legal research and analysis related to antitrust law, as it relates to shareholder rights and actions.
- Research and development of methodologies for community forums and roundtables.
- Participation in multi-stakeholder groups and dialogues with focus companies.
Location: Remote. Our office is located in Montclair, NJ, but this is a remote position. Although the intern may work from any time zone, they may be required to virtually attend work-related meetings and events within IASJ’s operating hours: M-F, 9am-5pm ET.
Duration: The intern is expected to work full time (40 hours per week) for 8-10 weeks. The internship will start around the beginning of June 2024.
Compensation: IASJ will be able to provide a stipend of $3,500 for the internship position.
Qualifications
Applicants must be a 1L or 2L law student in an ABA-approved law program, possess strong legal research and writing skills, and demonstrate experience or a strong interest in human rights issues with a passion for social justice. IASJ seeks candidates who demonstrate self-initiative, good interpersonal skills, and a willingness to learn and perform under supervision in a fast-paced environment. Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and Westlaw or LexisNexis preferred. Additionally, fluency in Spanish or French is preferred.
Application Process
Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Aaron Acosta, Program Director, at jobs@iasj.org with the subject line as follows: Application for 2024 Legal Internship. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. The writing sample should not exceed 5 pages (it may be an excerpt of a larger paper), and should preferably focus on a human rights issue.