Gender & Diversity Finance Executive, Gender & Diversity Finance Team, Impact Group

British International Investment; Camden Town; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading development finance institution in the UK seeks an experienced professional to drive gender equity initiatives and support investments in Black-owned companies. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, with strong people management skills and the ability to navigate sensitive topics. The role involves strategy development, transaction support, and collaboration across teams to enhance BOLD ambitions in sub-Saharan Africa.

Qualifications

• Practical experience of driving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within an investment organization.
• Demonstrated track record of increasing transaction flows against a particular investment strategy.
• Excellent listening and facilitation skills.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the execution of BII's G&D Finance Strategy.
• Conduct assessments of pipeline investments for gender and diversity finance.
• Produce quarterly updates for the internal Inclusion Steering Group.

Skills

Self-starter

Collaboration

Strong communication

Gender and diversity expertise

People management

Cultural sensitivity

Public speaking

Results-oriented

Education

Advanced degree in development impact, social science, or business

MBA, CFA, ACA or similar

Tools

Advanced MS Office

Job description

Overview

The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who is highly collaborative and innovative in nature, be a strong communicator and have an interest in how the private sector can drive impact BII's markets and portfolio. While the candidate will contribute to the wider goals of BII's Gender & Diversity Finance Team, they will also focus on advancing our BOLD ambitions.

Responsibilities

• Contributing to the execution of BII's G&D Finance Strategy: working closely across teams to ensure that BII's G&D offering is embedded across all systems, governance documents, operating procedures; ensure effective roll out of key products developed by the team including those related to training and capacity building.
• 2X and BOLD Transaction execution: Conduct assessments of pipeline investments for gender and diversity finance using the 2X criteria and BOLD framework. Engage with investees to understand and influence their approach to gender and diversity. Contribute findings into investment proposals and present the G&D case in investment committees. Oversee G&DF Team assessments of BOLD eligibility and provide support where required.
• Internal mainstreaming to support execution of BII's BOLD ambitions: produce quarterly updates for the internal Inclusion Steering Group; ensure coordination between the G&D team, the BOLD Implementation Group, Head of Africa and the Africa Coverage team.
• Strategy and origination development: engage with the BOLD Implementation Group, Head of G&DF, key Executive Committee BOLD champions, and Corporate Strategy Team to reassess BOLD strategic direction and ambitions. Support an origination strategy within BII's investment toolkit to increase the number of BOLD deals entering the pipeline.
• Refining BII's BOLD framework and assessment tools to ensure our definitions, processes, and data structures support our BOLD ambitions in a sensitive and context-appropriate manner.
• Driving the offering for BOLD-eligible businesses/fund managers within BII's G&D Technical Assistance (TA) programme(s). Collaborate with programme managers, BII Plus, and other stakeholders to conceptualise, test, roll-out and refine TA offerings, including supporting businesses to become 'investment-ready' and enter BII's pipeline, drive increased Black leadership representation, and market-shaping activities.
• Developing and rolling out BOLD training for internal audiences (e.g., Investment Committee, ExCo, Board, Investment Officers, and Impact Group).
• Ongoing BOLD analysis: conduct ongoing analysis and research into BII's portfolio and pipeline to track, report and use data to effect change (e.g., informing potential BOLD targets/other incentives).
• Developing and executing a strategy to communicate and drive uptake of BOLD outside of BII through external uptake strategies and targeted engagement of DFI and MDB peers and other external partners, leveraging senior BII members as required (e.g., Head of G&DF, Head of Africa).
• Practical experience of driving Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) within an investment organisation, ideally focused at transaction level and in developing markets. Bring diversity finance expertise beyond gender if possible.
• In-house experience in impact investing, development finance responsible investing, or private equity across investment products.
• Demonstrated track record of increasing transaction flows against a particular investment strategy.
• Experience of direct transaction support, including pre-investment inputs (e.g., screening deals for impact, due diligence) and post-investment capacity building (e.g., value creation with investees).
• Familiarity with different investment products (Funds, Debt, Equity and other asset classes) and BII's priority sectors; extensive experience working in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Ability to engage with investees, colleagues and the broader market on sensitive topics including race and ethnicity, demonstrating high emotional intelligence, respect, and sensitivity; adaptable approaches by context.
• Strong people management and leadership skills with an inspiring and intrapreneurial spirit.
• Practical and results-oriented with a proven record of leading complex projects delivering high-impact solutions and change on the ground.
• Excellent listening and facilitation skills with ability to deliver impact across matrix-based organisations.
• Demonstrable experience of public speaking, stakeholder engagement, and relationship management.
• Advanced degree or comparable experience in development impact, social science or business.
• Advanced MS Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, SharePoint.
• MBA, CFA, ACA or similar is a plus.
• Fluency in French or other language is a plus.

Our cultural values

• Impact-led, commercially rigorous
• Tenacious in the face of challenges
• Collaborative and caring

About British International Investment (BII)

British International Investment (BII) is the UK's leading development finance institution, wholly owned by the UK Government. Our primary mission is to address global development challenges through strategic investments that promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

BII focuses on catalysing economic development, creating jobs, and building resilient economies in some of the world's most complex and underserved markets. We invest in businesses and projects that prioritise inclusive development, environmental sustainability, and innovation. Our approach is characterised by rigorous investment standards, high governance principles, and a commitment to delivering measurable development impact. Our team consists of highly skilled and passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible difference globally. We foster a collaborative and intellectually stimulating work environment that values curiosity, innovation, and professional growth. Our culture balances high performance with a strong emphasis on wellbeing, ensuring our employees can achieve their full potential while contributing to our mission.

BII at a glance: Over 75 years supporting sustainable business growth in developing and emerging markets; More than £9.9 billion in net assets; 1,600+ businesses invested in; 950,000+ workers in the businesses we support; 650+ people in our diverse global team.

Note: The content below describes team and role details, including mission and program descriptions that apply to the G&D and BOLD initiatives.

Team and role overview: As a development finance institution, BII has a dual mandate to create both investment and development impact. BII focuses on two areas of diversity finance: promoting gender equity and increased representation and inclusion of women at all levels in our portfolio; and increasing investments in Black-owned and -led companies and fund managers in sub-Saharan Africa, known as the Black Ownership & Leadership for Development (BOLD) approach. The Gender and Diversity Finance (G&DF) Team is a dedicated team within BII's Impact Group responsible for driving gender- and diversity-lens investing. The team approaches Gender & Diversity by focusing on three pathways: originating with a gender and BOLD lens to target capital to enterprises, financial institutions and funds that meaningfully support women and Black African owners and leaders; mainstreaming diversity and inclusion as core factors in investment decision-making and portfolio management; and creating value across our portfolio by partnering with investees to enhance gender balance, increase representation of Black leaders within SSA, and foster inclusive cultures. BII formally launched its BOLD initiative in 2022, evolving from the Umoja Works internal staff network, and recognizing disparities in access to capital for Black entrepreneurs and leaders in Africa.