Head of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship [Temporary Cover]

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious educational institution in the UK is seeking a Head of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship to lead a vital climate resilience program. This role involves developing and implementing strategies that support African ventures while fostering key partnerships. The ideal candidate should have experience in social innovation and a strong understanding of climate challenges. The position offers competitive pay, generous leave allowances, and the flexibility for hybrid working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive rates of pay

Generous annual leave allowance of 41 days

Family-friendly schemes

Pension scheme with employer contribution

Support with relocation

Qualifications

• Experience in leading social innovation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of climate change and African socio-economic challenges.
• Ability to manage and support multiple organizations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the climate SI&E program.
• Drive the implementation of the climate SI&E program.
• Deliver support for social ventures on the African continent.

Job description

About The Division / School

The Mastercard Foundation Climate Resilience and Sustainability Collaborative Program responds to the climate crisis in Africa by advancing relevant scholarship, curricula development, research, innovation and entrepreneurship in partnership with African collaborators. Africa is the continent that is most affected by climate change and has the highest youth unemployment rate: the program serves the next generation of African leaders that will respond to the climate crisis by developing the continent’s green economy and by creating jobs.Advancing African climate innovation and entrepreneurship talent, ventures and ecosystems are central to this commitment. The Program’s Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SI&E) arm is developed under a Collaborative formed by University of Cambridge and three institutions on the African continent who are anchor partners for further partnership and impact.

About The Role

The Head of Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship will lead the strategic development, long-term impact and oversee the implementation of the Program’s Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SI&E) arm during 2025-2030. The role will work in close partnership with the Collaborative anchor partners in Africa (including the SI&E Lead counterpart role holders), with additional partner organizations in Africa strategically positioned to advance climate SI&E, with the University of Cambridge SI&E community, with a SI&E Africa-based advisory group, with the Program’s Management Board at Cambridge and with the Mastercard Foundation. Building and sustaining these partnerships will be critical to the delivery of this programme.

The Role Holder Will

• Lead and develop the climate SI&E program using the recommendations that will emerge from the scoping and planning work developed during 2024/2025, as well as from continuously gleaning intelligence about key African climate priorities and opportunities to address them.
• Drive the implementation of the climate SI&E program.
• Deliver support for up to 200 social ventures on the African continent.
• Future-proof the impact of the SI&E program.

Temporary cover: This post is fixed-term for 12 months or the return of the post holder, whichever is the earlier.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We welcome applications from those who may wish to discuss part-time working arrangements (0.6 or 0.8 FTE considered).

Benefits Of Working At Cambridge Include

• Competitive rates of pay with automatic service-related pay progression and annual cost of living increases.
• Generous annual leave allowance of 41 days paid leave (including bank holidays).
• Generous maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement and other family friendly schemes (e.g. workplace nurseries and salary exchange schemes for childcare).
• An auto-enrolment pension scheme, with a generous employer contribution.
• Schemes to support with relocation / the provision of accommodation.

The University of Cambridge is committed to supporting our staff to thrive both professionally and personally. We aim to support a good work/life balance, whilst retaining the positive aspects of our unique in-person environment and culture. Elements of this role are suitable for hybrid working, where staff can split their time between in-person collaboration and remote working. The frequency of the remote elements of the role can be discussed with the recruiting manager.

Click the 'Apply' button below to register an account with our recruitment system (if you have not already) and apply online.

Informal enquiries about the role should be directed to Robert Foster-Jones, Programme Administrator: Mastercard Foundation Collaborative, Email: [e-mail]

If you have any queries regarding the application process, please contact Karin Kuchta, HR Coordinator, Email: [e-mail]

Please quote reference XN47288 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.