Commitment:   
Four board meetings per annum (3 hours) and up to two additional Board calls, as required; two monthly lead expert calls (45 minutes) and regular inputs and communication (up to 2 hours per week) with the international development programme team

Duration:            
3 years (possibility of renewal at the end of term)

About the Institute

More and more people want to use their capital in a way that benefits society and the environment as well as generating a financial return. At the same time, there remain entrenched social challenges in the UK and around the world. The Impact Investing Institute is an independent, non-profit organisation which aims to make capital markets work better for people and planet.

We have a wide, global network across financial services, social enterprises, businesses, government and regulators. In partnership with our dedicated volunteers, we work to get the message out and bring people together through information sharing, events, guidance, research, and specific partnerships and projects - all dedicated to addressing the barriers that prevent more money from having a positive impact on people and planet.

Currently the Institute is a not-for-profit company.

Examples of our current work include:

• The upcoming launch of a Just Transition Finance Challenge, aimed at accelerating market activity around the development of financing vehicles that can attract capital at scale to finance a Just Transition to net zero in the UK and globally;

• Engagement with the financial services industry and policymakers around the findings and recommendations of the report we delivered as part of the G7 Impact Taskforce, which identified specific instruments and policies to mobilise private capital for the SDGs and a Just Transition;

• A campaign with the pensions industry and with foundations to improve awareness of and competence in impact investing;

• The development of educational materials on impact investing for investment professionals, and engagement with key industry bodies to develop new professional training and qualifications;

• A research and engagement programme on mobilising more investment for place-based impact;

• Regular cooperation and knowledge sharing with our global network of National Advisory Boards on impact investment that now exist in 33 countries, under the umbrella of the Global Steering Group for impact investment (GSGII);

• Policy and advocacy work on impact investing in key regulatory forums in the UK and internationally.

More information on the Institute and our work programme can be found on our website: www.impactinvest.org.uk 

The Role

We are looking to appoint a new non-executive Director to add to the diversity of skills and experience on the Board. As a non-executive Director you will play a key role in developing the forward strategy of the Institute and be responsible for directing the administration and management of the Institute, in line with the Articles of Association. The Institute’s Board of Directors is chaired by Dame Elizabeth Corley.

As with any company, the Directors must always act in the best interests of the Institute and must act as a group and not as individuals.

The broad duties of a non-Executive Director are to:  

• ensure that the Institute complies with its governing document (the Articles of Association), company law, charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations;

• ensure that the Institute pursues its objects as defined in its governing document

• ensure the Institute applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects;

• contribute actively to the Board by giving firm strategic direction and support to the Institute, CEO and senior management team;

• setting the overall policy direction, theory of change, KPIs, and evaluating performance against agreed targets;

• safeguard the good name and values of the Institute; and

• ensure the financial stability of the Institute.

In addition to the above duties, all Directors (Trustees) bring their professional skills, knowledge and experience to help the Board reach sound decisions and share a passion for advancing impact investing.

In particular, we are looking to appoint a new non-executive Director to increase the experience on the Board in the area of international development and development finance, particularly in mobilising private finance to support sustainable development in emerging markets.

We expect that the new non-Executive Director will become the Institute’s Lead Expert on International Development, and will work closely with the Institute’s international development programme team to provide strategic leadership and guidance on how this programme can deliver on its objective of mobilising more private finance to support sustainable and inclusive development in the Global South.

We actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to join our board. We seek to better represent the rich diversity of players and communities working in impact investing, in the UK and globally, and welcome candidates that help us deliver a more inclusive organisation.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the direction and strategy of Impact Investing in the UK and globally.

 Time commitment

Non-executive Directors are expected to attend all board meetings. Board meetings are held four times a year during normal office hours and are usually three hours duration. In addition, there are up to two board calls each year.

• Papers are distributed around one week in advance of meetings

• There are sub-committees you may join (currently a Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (FRAC); as well as the Governance & People Committee (GAP Co) which meet four times a year

• Directors may claim reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in travelling to meetings

In addition, to fulfil their function of Lead Expert on international development, the successful candidate will be expected to provide strategic leadership and guidance on the Institute’s international development programme through two monthly calls (usually 45 minutes each), and maintain regular communication with the programme team to provide inputs to and review of key work programme documents (up to 2 hours per week).  Institute Lead Experts are also expected to regularly represent the Institute in external engagements and events.

Person profile

All Directors need to be able to demonstrate the following:

• a commitment to the mission of the Impact Investing Institute;

• a commitment to the Institute’s values of: inclusiveness, independence and integrity;

• ability to think strategically and contribute to shaping the Institute’s strategic vision;

• sound independent judgement;

• an ability to think creatively;

• ability to work effectively as a member of a team and actively contribute to board discussions;

• an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a Director; and

• ability to meet the time requirement.

Skills

The Board of Directors collectively needs skills and experience in the following areas:

• financial management, income generation and enterprise;

• start-up operations;

• public policy and public affairs;

• impact investing, social investing and wider ESG;

• national and local government and international policy-making;

• international development and development finance;

• digital strategy, communications and marketing;

• people management;

• charity governance;

• funding/foundations; and

• collaborative partnerships.
  

Impact Investing Institute’s values

We look for people who are committed to our values:

• Inclusiveness – the Institute is a welcoming place for practitioners, the public, volunteers and employees, which recognises and involves the voices of all involved in impact investment. It aims to have a diverse staff, Board and Advisory Council. It supports flexible working practices and, wherever possible, contracts for services from social enterprises.

• Independence – the Institute pursues an independent path in all its work, focusing on what is most useful to advance impact investing nationally and internationally, without regard to any one sector in the market. All the Institute’s output is available to other practitioners and the public.

• ·Integrity – the Institute’s staff, volunteers, Board and Advisory Council conduct their work and professional relationships with integrity, kindness and respect.

 
Our commitment to increasing diversity at the Institute

Diversity and inclusion are central tenets of our work of promoting best environmental, social and governance practice in organisations, and a core area where positive and negative impact can be delivered. As we seek to influence policy and advocate for positive impact, we recognise that to deliver on our project goals and amplify our voice within the industry we must lead by example.

The Institute has committed to undertake a number of actions by the end of 2024 and is actively seeking to increase the diversity of the board. We would therefore particularly welcome applications from:

• People from a black or ethnic minority background;

• Candidates from the Global South;

• Women;

• People with a disability; and

• Younger people.

Our full statement on our commitment increasing diversity at the Institute can be found on our website.

Information and how to apply:

All applications must be submitted via BeApplied. We are committed to equal opportunities and so will not be looking at your CV in the first stage of the application process. Instead, we will ask questions that are designed to test your suitability for the role. These form a fundamental part of our screening so please do take time to answer all questions fully. All responses are viewed anonymously and at random.