About the UN Global Compact Network UK

We are a dynamic multi-stakeholder initiative, dedicated to connecting UK companies to the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest responsible business initiative. The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, rooted in UN treaties, provide a robust foundation and comprehensive framework for corporate sustainability and business action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our mission is to champion sustainability leadership to create a world we want to live and do business in, by inspiring ambition, enabling impactful action, and collaborating to reshape the business environment for the better.

The UN Global Compact Network UK has over 850 participating companies and we are growing quickly. The Network Secretariat Team has expanded to 28 people and is growing.

Our work is guided by the core values of the UN – Integrity, Respect for Diversity, and Professionalism – alongside nine additional values and behaviours of the UN Global Compact. Find out more here. During a recent review, the team described our workplace as friendly, inclusive, supportive, passionate, and hard-working.

About the role

We are seeking a Participant Engagement Manager to join our dynamic team. In this role, the chosen candidate will work with our member companies to maximise the impact of our programmes, driving sustainable business operations and enhancing the value they receive from their UN Global Compact participation.

The position will manage and keep track of the priorities, needs and challenges of our participating companies and ensure our offerings remain relevant and impactful for them by collaborating with our programme teams.

This role will exist alongside another individual working collectively to fulfil the responsibilities outlined below. The workload will be shared, ensuring a balanced distribution of tasks.

The Participant Engagement Manager will report to the Head of Operations and Participant Engagement. We offer a flexible hybrid working environment, with a minimum of two days per week in the office.

Who we are looking for:

• Someone excited about our mission, sustainability, and the pivotal role business can play in overcoming the environmental and social challenges the world is facing. Understanding business interests and the ability to promote our unique value proposition will be key to boosting engagement with our programmes.

• An effective communicator with a customer-focused mindset. You will engage regularly through email exchanges, calls, and meetings with representatives from participating businesses to build and nurture strong relationships with them and ensure high levels of engagement. Your ability to listen to their needs and provide relevant and timely support will be key.

• An experienced professional with a track record in account management, business development, or a similar role. Familiarity with Salesforce and Asana is highly desirable.

• Someone with experience working with SMEs would be highly desirable.

• Someone who is an organised team player, who enjoys collaboration and thrives in a fast-paced environment.

• A proactive and adaptable individual who is ready to take on a variety of activities and rapidly gain responsibility as the Network’s team, programmes and members are constantly evolving.

In your first 6 months:

To help you settle quickly, we will provide a thorough and comprehensive onboarding. Through meetings with key colleagues and online training, we will help you to become familiar with our way of working and our value proposition.

Key Responsibilities - after onboarding, we will expect you to:

• Take the lead in planning and delivering our monthly members’ breakfasts, initially with support from your line manager.

• Support the team in organising and delivering our annual Kick-off event, taking place in January.

• Support the team in organising and delivering our Annual General Meeting, taking place in June.

• Contribute to implementing our Light Key Account Management (KAM) plan by responding to participant queries, catering to their needs as well as scheduling, joining, and eventually leading calls with a subset of our participating companies to nurture strong relationships with them and ensure high engagement.

• Oversee onboarding of new participants and deliver regular onboarding webinars.

• Be the main contact point for Communication on Progress matters. This includes supporting participants with their submissions but also engaging with our global team to stay informed about/provide feedback on updates to the CoP.

• Develop and launch an SME Buddy Network to help connect SME participants and give them an opportunity to ask questions specific to their needs in a 'safe environment'.

• Coordinate engagement around high-level events organised by the global team including the Leaders Summit, Private Sector Forum, and COPs.

• Track priorities, needs, and challenges of participants and collaborate with the team to ensure our offerings remain relevant.

• Measure participant engagement levels and provide recommendations for continuous improvement.

What we offer:

• Hybrid working – After onboarding, 2 days in the office per week, working from home 3 days per week.

• Flexible working once discussed with your line manager. Our core/active hours are 10 am to 4 pm.

• Employee Assistance Programme for you and your immediate family.

• Three days off in December in addition to annual leave.

• One additional day off for mission-related volunteering.

• Enhanced sick leave.

• Compassionate leave.

• Season ticket loan.

• Cycle to Work Scheme.

This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week).

Before applying for this role, please note the following:

• We value originality and encourage all applicants to answer questions without using AI.

• Our hiring process aims to eliminate bias by using a software called Applied. This is a 'blind' hiring approach which aims to preserve the impartiality of the hiring team. To do this, we do not engage candidates outside the Applied programme until the final stages.

• The UN Global Compact Network UK is not able to sponsor work visas. We will only consider applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK.

• While this role is within the UN Global Compact Network UK Secretariat, the successful candidate will not be formally employed by the United Nations. Learn more about the UN Global Compact Network UK's governance here.

Next Steps: 

The application process includes the following steps:

1) Complete an equal opportunities questionnaire and provide essential admin information.

2) Upload your CV.

3) Longlisted candidates will be asked to complete a written test which includes questions designed to test your ability to excel in this role. Your answers will be scored by people, not AI tools.

4) Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview with the Head of Operations and Participant Engagement, HR, and another member of the team.

5) Final candidates will be invited to an informal, in-person meeting with the Head of Operations and Participant Engagement and HR.