Impact investing research intern: six-month remote role

Location: Remote or Zurich/ZugType: Paid internship Duration: 6 months (potential to continue on for longer)Additionality is a think tank and specialist impact advisor led by Dr James Gifford.James was the founding Executive Director of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), co-founder of the “Impact investing for the next generation” program at MIT and University of St Gallen and led sustainable and impact advisory at UBS and Credit Suisse for eight years.We support UHNW families, family offices, and foundations in deploying their capital where it can generate measurable, additional impact. Our work is guided by the concept of “additionality” – that is, delivering outcomes that wouldn’t have occurred otherwise – and spans a wide range of initiatives, including thought leadership, research, education, and impact investing strategy development.We are in our early stages, further developing our client advisory offering and a forthcoming book and article series on “Additionality”.About the RoleThis is a unique opportunity to join a fast-moving initiative at the heart of the impact investing space, working directly with Dr Gifford on a range of projects that combine research, strategy, client outreach, content creation and other support. The role is highly varied and ideal for someone curious, independent, and eager to learn across both the analytical and creative sides of impact investing.What You’ll DoAs a Research Intern, you’ll work directly with Dr Gifford on a range of projects, including:• Supporting in the building of our advisory capacity, developing materials for client engagement, and project management of thought leadership activities.• Conducting research and writing on sustainable and impact investing topics – particularly around investor additionality, shareholder engagement, and frontier-market impact (no prior experience with these topics is required – just curiosity, a sharp mind and a willingness to learn).• Research for the forthcoming book and related articles, thought leadership, and educational content.• Assisting with workshops and advisory materials for UHNW families and foundations exploring impact investing strategies.• Supporting with outreach to, and engagement with, potential clients.• Coordinating external collaborators and partnersWhat You’ll Gain• First-hand experience helping develop an advisory offering and a compelling book project from the ground up.• Mentorship from one of the pioneers of sustainable and impact investing.• Exposure to cutting-edge topics in sustainable finance – from early-stage tech and catalytic capital to frontier-market development and family-office strategy.• Development of high-level writing, research, and project-management skills.• Flexible, fully remote work ideally during Swiss business hours. Living in or near Zurich, or within a short flight/train distance would be a plus.Who You Are• Someone with a background, degree or strong interest in finance, investment, sustainability, impact or related fields.• Someone who believes in the power of technology to solve environmental problems and responsible capitalism and economic growth to solve poverty. • A clear writer and critical thinker who can translate complex ideas into engaging insights.• Organised, proactive, conscientious and comfortable working independently and remotely across time zones.• Passionate about sustainable finance, innovation, and the potential for capital to drive real-world impact.• Strong writing and research skills. Professional business English is a must. If you’re looking for hands-on experience working directly with a pioneer in sustainable and impact investing, and contributing to thought leadership that redefines how investors create real-world impact, we’d love to hear from you.📩 To Apply: Please send your CV and a short cover note outlining your interest in the role to james.gifford@additionality.co.Dr James Gifford - BioDr James Gifford is an advisor to UHNW investors and family offices on sustainable and impact investing. He is also lecturer at the Centre for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth at the University of St Gallen, where he teaches a joint program with MIT (and formerly Harvard) on impact investing for the next generation of UHNW family members. He was the founding Executive Director of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment and led the organisation from inception in 2003 until 2013. Other roles included Head of Impact Investing at Credit Suisse and UBS, and Director of Impact at TAU Investment Management, a supply chain investment firm in the apparel industry. James has published numerous articles and book chapters on sustainable and impact investing themes, and has a PhD from the University of Sydney on the effectiveness of shareholder engagement in improving corporate sustainability performance.