JOB SPECIFICATION
STRATEGY AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR(S)
STRATEGY AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE(S)
JOB SPECIFICATION
STRATEGY AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT
DIRECTOR(S) AND ASSOCIATE(S)
SALARY
Associate level: £40k - £55k
(depending on experience)
Director level: £50k - £70k
(depending on experience)
LOCATION
Central London although flexible locations
will be considered
RESPONSIBLE TO
Head of Strategy and Market Development
About Big Society Capital
About the role and the Strategy
and Market Development team
Big Society Capital’s mission is to develop a sustainable social
investment market in the UK, so that charities and social
enterprises can grow their positive impact on society.
The Strategy and Market Development team sits at the heart
of BSC, and is looking for at least one individual of the highest
calibre to join the other four members of the team in mid-2015.
BSC is a globally unique organisation, set-up in 2012 to be a
champion of social investment and a social investor itself. In
its first 3 years, together with its co-investors, BSC has helped
over £100m of capital reach over 100 different charities and
social enterprises. It has also played a major role in improving
the enterprise, investor and policy environment in which social
investments are made.
The team’s role and functions are broad and diverse, but include:
BSC’s task is just beginning, however. The next few years will
see further opportunities: to grow the use of social investment;
to make it as relevant as possible to charities and social
enterprises; and, most importantly of all, to measure and scale
the positive impact created through social investment.
BENEFITS
We will ask a lot of successful candidates – but in return
working life at BSC offers:
• The privilege (and responsibility) of working in a globally
pioneering organisation, backed by a substantial balance
sheet
• The chance to work with top-flight colleagues, who are
both inspirational in themselves but also a source of
support and encouragement
• A can-do culture. There is no ‘face time’ at BSC
• The opportunity once proven to sit on corporate and
advisory boards of investees and partner organisations
• Formal training and learning opportunities
• Salary and benefit package that is very competitive
within the UK social and public sector, and that includes
contributory pension plan, health insurance, child care
voucher scheme and other benefits
• Developing the overall vision and strategy for BSC, for
example its current 2014-7 strategy, and monitoring overall
corporate performance
• Delivering on a number of high value market development
projects, for example BSC’s central role in advocating for the
new Social Investment Tax Relief, the set-up of the Access
Foundation for social investment, the Business Impact
Challenge, or support to the Social Impact Bond market
• Running the public policy and affairs, and research functions
at BSC
• Alongside with other teams at BSC, helping to originate
investment proposals for BSC and contributing where
needed to investment deals
Much of the team’s work involves developing partnerships with
external organisations across the social, public and financial
sectors. The team also works extremely closely with the
investment, impact and communication teams within BSC, and
with BSC’s main board and advisory board.
Individuals in the team have significant autonomy – and personal
responsibility – over their work. This is true at Associate level, but
Director level staff are expected to take on particularly complex
and high-value projects, and work even more independently.
Ultimately, BSC is a lean, nimble organisation, and successful
applicants will be encouraged to build a role for themselves
rather than have it given to them.
JOB SPECIFICATION
STRATEGY AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATE(S) AND DIRECTOR(S)
About You
BSC is looking for an exceptional individual(s) that bring the following range of experience, skills and personal motivations:
EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
We are ideally looking for someone with experience that spans
the social, financial and public sectors. We are open-minded
about how this experience has been gained but it could be via
work as a:
• A strategy or economics consultant
• An analyst in an investment or private bank
• A social entrepreneur
• Someone who has worked in a significant management
role in a service delivery organisation, whether in the public,
social or private sector
Candidates are also expected to have a stellar academic record
• Experience in the social investment market in the UK, or
impact investment more generally
• Existing high-value networks in the UK social, finance or
public sectors
• Experience as a non-executive director or a charity trustee
• Strong public speaker and/or media experience
SKILLS AND APTITUDE
ESSENTIAL
DESIRABLE
• Exceptional strategic and problem-solving abilities. The
capacity to break-down a problem from first principles and
structure answers from both a top-down and bottom-up
perspective is vital, but so is a creative streak and an ability to
think innovatively
• A crystal-clear communicator. The successful candidate will
frequently present to senior stakeholders and at Board level,
and so well-structured verbal and written communications
will be paramount
• Strong analytical skills. An ability to understand, interpret and
critique quantitative and qualitative research, and not to get
queasy at the sight of a spreadsheet, is essential
• Strong project management abilities. The successful
candidate will often be working on several projects
simultaneously, that might involve managing external
resources and working through external organisations
• A can-do, pragmatic attitude. This job is not about
pontificating in an ivory tower, but making practical things
happen that improve social investment, and ultimately
improve people’s lives
• Deep experience or skills in one or some of the specific
social issues that BSC works on, for example tackling
educational disadvantage, or improving health inequalities
• Strong negotiating and influencing skills, including at very
senior levels and among diverse stakeholders
PERSONAL MOTIVATIONS
•
•
•
•
A passion about improving social outcomes in the UK, particularly for disadvantaged groups is essential...
...as is an appreciation of how social investment can be a systemic tool to improve these outcomes
Respect and appreciation for what the charity and social enterprise sector brings to the economic and social fabric of the UK
The inclination to get out-and-about from our London office, and work with people who are using and trying to access social
investment across the UK
BSC is an equal opportunities employer