About the organisation

Founded in 2005, Big Issue Invest extends The Big Issue’s mission by financing the growth of sustainable social enterprises.

Big Issue Invest offers social enterprises, charities and profit-with-purpose businesses loans and investment from £20,000 to £3 million. Since 2005, the group has invested more than £90m in over 500 social enterprises and charities across the UK becoming one of the UK’s leading social impact investors.

Their investment operations are comprised of a direct lending platform together with a number of Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulated funds operating under the BII Fund Management entity (BIIFM). Their direct lending business is designed to provide smaller loans, often on a blended finance basis to charities, social enterprises and a community-led housing facility. Their funds offer a range of investment and impact strategies, two of which remain open for investment; their Growth Impact Fund, focused on diversity in enterprise, and their social debt fund investing in social housing, social care and social infrastructure. Their investment activity is backed by an award-winning impact team which also supports other Big Issue Group mission-focused services.

The Chief Executive Officer leads Big Issue Invest and is our ambassador in the social investment sector and beyond. 

About the role

Reports to: Big Issue Invest Board of Directors

Salary: £100,000 per annum (negotiable)

Term: Full-time - Permanent

As CEO you will work with various stakeholders including the Big Issue Invest (BII) and Big Issue Group (BIG) Boards to develop and execute on BII’s overarching strategy of delivering meaningful investment into social enterprises which have impactful social purpose. The role requires an outgoing, energetic and entrepreneurial commercial leader, driving innovation and financial sustainability whilst at all times observing the mission of BIG. The CEO reports jointly to the Chairman of the BII board and the BIG CEO. 

The main BII office is in Finsbury Park in London, co-located with various other parts of BIG. The CEO is expected to be physically present in office for most of the time, however hybrid working is not unusual. A reasonable amount of travel around the UK is an intrinsic part of the job; visiting investee organisations, networking, fundraising and generally representing BII as an ambassador of BIG.

Role responsibilities

Responsibilities are not limited to, but include:

• Strategic: Working with stakeholders, define and execute the Big Issue Invest strategy in line with the Big Issue Group mission, updating the business plan annually for discussion and agreement with stakeholders.
• Governance: Be a member of: the Big Issue Invest and BIIFM boards; the BIIFM investment committee; the BII Lending Committee; the Big Issue Group Senior Leadership Team.
• Commercial: Manages the product portfolio and Big Issue Invest P&L with desired commercial and impact outcomes, at all times driving financial sustainability to fund future innovation and create operational resilience.
• Investments: Takes the lead on innovative investment product development in line with sector needs, whilst leveraging relationships with social lenders and grant makers to construct relevant financing solution.
• Fundraising: Takes the lead on driving fundraising activity from both commercial investors and central / local government and related agencies, identifying and securing investment into the business and its investment vehicles.
• Relationships:  Manage strategic relationships with external stakeholders including investors and funding agencies, at all times acting as an ambassador for Big Issue Invest and the wider Group.
• Leadership: Manage the senior management team of BII and provide motivational and cultural leadership to the wider BII organization and a framework of inclusivity, diversity and skills development.
• Operations: In executing the BII strategy, set appropriate business objectives, metrics, organization and risk management framework to monitor and manage high standards of operational delivery. 
• Reporting: Provide effective internal management reporting to stakeholders incl. BII and BIG boards and the group’s SLT and establish an efficient Investor Relations function to deliver high quality and comprehensive investor reporting.
  
  

About the person:

Being entrepreneurial and demonstrating belief in the Big Issue

• You believe in The Big Issue and support our social objectives.
• You have strong personal impact and credibility.
• You are a self-starter who makes timely, appropriate and rigorous decisions.
  
  

Impact investing and financial services

• You have a demonstrable proven track record in the management and growth of a financial services business, ideally in fund management and direct investment.
• You can demonstrate an understanding of the drivers behind the social finance sector and social impact investment.
• You can raise investment finance from a diverse range of investors for use by a variety of investment vehicles.
• You are qualified to be an FCA SMF1 and SMF 3 (Chief Executive and Executive Director) approved person and able to accept the responsibility of becoming BII’s key approved person under the Senior Managers and Certification Regime.
  
  

Driving strategy and execution

• You are strong on strategy and can demonstrate that you have led a business (not necessarily as CEO) through a period of growth and product development.
• You can demonstrate an ability to deliver outcomes to a variety of stakeholders in line with expectations, strategic goals and wider brand values.
• You can evidence the ability to use judgement and making considered, reasoned decisions with due consideration to all stakeholders.
  
  

External leadership

• You can be a leader and ambassador for the whole social investment sector.
• You are a good networker and brand ambassador for BII and the wider BIG.
• You can shape the external perception of an organisation with key stakeholders.
  
  

Internal Leadership & management

• You can mobilise people around a vision and business plan.
• You can give clear, consistent leadership with an open, motivating, collaborative and inspirational style and building trust in staff and stakeholders.
• You are an influencer and persuader of people, both inside the organisation and externally.
• You can delegate appropriately and effectively.
• You can manage and control substantial budgets demonstrating decision making, and having due regard for financial implications and competing priorities.
  
  

General duties of everyone who is part of The Big Issue

• Being committed to the social objectives of The Big Issue.
• Open to new experiences, lean in to challenges and embrace change.
• Being an ambassador for The Big Issue externally, and maintaining the professional reputation of your team internally.
• Maintaining awareness of all other aspects of The Big Issue’s work and assessing their implications for your team/role.
• Adhering to and implementing The Big Issue’s Equal Opportunities and other policies.
• Ensuring Health & Safety standards are met.
• Taking your part of our shared responsibility for maintaining a safe working environment with a good standard of efficiency.
• Undertaking any other ad hoc duties as and when required by your manager.
  
  

Benefits

• Annual leave: 25 days starting entitlement (excluding bank and public holidays) that increases incrementally with each year of service up to a maximum of 30 days.
• Company sick pay: Available from day 1 to top up your pay to the level of your normal salary.
• Family friendly suit of policies: Including enhanced Maternity and Paternity Pay, Family Friendly leave, Adoption leave and more.
• Flexible working: We fully embrace the benefits flexible working has on employee wellbeing, work-life balance and motivation, productivity and performance and offer the following options:
  • Homeworking / Hybrid working.
  • Compressed hours
  • Flexitime - allowing, within limits, staff to choose the start and end times within core hours.
• BUPA Health Care Cash Back Plan: After 3 months of service. Allowing you to claim money towards the costs of a wide range of treatments for both yourself and up to four dependants at the same address including pre-existing conditions.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Providing a range of wellbeing services, including legal, health and childcare.
• Income Protection scheme: Desgined to protect your income in the event of you being absent from work due to illness or injury for a continuous period of 13 weeks or more after exhausting your sick leave days.
• Pension and salary exchange options: Our pension scheme is a group personal pension scheme administered by The People's Pension.
• Group Life Assurance: including bereavement counselling.
• Training, development and wellbeing activities: We offer all new staff a New Starter Welcome Period, which starts the moment you accept an offer for employment from us. This includes a comprehensive welcome pack, a tailored onboarding programme, and training to support you in your probationary period and excelling in your new role.
  
  

But, the main reasons to work at Big Issue Group are...

• Be a changemaker: We've always dared to be different. Big Issue Group is a dynamic social enterprise that's led the way driving change and unlocking opportunities for people through enterprise. Our diverse group of companies work together to achieve a huge ambition - a world that works for everyone.
• Empowered to own it: Here you're empowered to bring your ideas, energy and passion to make things happen. Most of all you're trusted to own it.
• Multiple ways to grow: We're all about creating opportunities for people and supporting them to flourish. There are limitless possibilities to grow your skills and your career. You're encouraged to try new things and lean into challenges.
• Join a committed team: Our super strength is our people and the way they work together. We come from a wide range of backgrounds and specialisms. The power of different people united by a shared goal.
• Write our next chapter: It's an exciting time in our journey, at a moment when the people we serve are counting on us more than ever. You can play a key role, writing the next chapter in our unique story.
  
  

How to apply:

If you find this opportunity a potential exiting next step in your career and you wish to apply for this role, please click the 'Apply now' button to be taken to the application portal.

If you require any adjustments, have any questions or would like to discuss the role, please contact us at [email protected].