Managing Director/Director, Head of Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Forestry

About BII

British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution, owned by the UK Government. With a mission to solve the biggest global development challenges, we aim to create a virtuous circle of investment and impact. Your contribution will be essential. 

It won’t be easy: we do the hardest work in the most complex markets. Be prepared to test your skills, get creative and say your piece as you take on high-profile work as part of a diverse team of exceptionally smart, passionate people. 

In return, you can take your career to all-new places in a culture that rewards curiosity and collaboration, and balances high performance with wellbeing.

BII at a glance

75 years supporting sustainable business growth in developing and emerging markets

£8.1 billion in net assets

1,400+ businesses invested in

950,000 workers in the businesses we support

£9 billion in new investments planned in the next 5 years

600+ people in our diverse global team

3 key development objectives: Productive | Sustainable | Inclusive

The pitch

We’re looking for an experienced leader with a proven track record of high-quality investments and excellent investment judgement within private equity. This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior investment professional who is able and motivated to ensure a thoughtful balance of investment impact, risk and return on BII’s Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Forestry Sector portfolio.

Join our mission where your expertise will drive strategic oversight of equity, debt, and fund investment within the sector. With your keen eye for risk management and portfolio optimization, you'll guide our initiatives towards sustainable growth and impactful investments. Join the mission in shaping how BII’s invests while making a tangible difference across our markets.

About the team and the role

BII’s investment activities are organised across 3 principal groups: 

• Industries, Technology and Services Group (ITS) – this group oversees our investment activity in sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, consumer services and social infrastructure, technology, and telecommunications. 
• Financial Services Group (FSG) – this group oversees our investment activity via financial institutions and into financial services companies 
• Infrastructure and Climate Group (I&C) – this group oversees our investment activity in energy sectors and wider infrastructure sectors such as transport. 

The Head of Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Forestry (MAF) sits within our ITS Group and will have global oversight of our investment strategy in the Manufacturing, Agriculture and Forestry sectors, across Private Equity, Debt and Funds, spanning origination, execution, portfolio management and exits. In addition, they will be expected to work in partnership with colleagues across ITS where applicable to ensure BII adopts a fully joined-up approach which brings the right type of finance to meet individual clients’ needs and our impact mandate.

Key responsibilities include:

• High level oversight of equity, debt and fund investment within the sector and restructuring activities across the Manufacturing, Agriculture and Forestry sectors.
• Direct portfolio management and value creation.
• Ensure that the comprehensive strategy has a five to ten-year future view of the Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Forestry Sector investment team including all key considerations around portfolio direction, impact, and talent development.
• Help to set direction for the sector investments creating increased client focus and a one-stop shop across all products.
• Support deal sourcing and execution
• Provide guidance to the Investment Committees and Sector Investments Team in developing and executing BII’s Services investment strategies in Africa and South Asia
• Recruiting and developing talent

About you

The ideal candidate will be recognised and respected within the investment industry for making high quality investments and showing excellent investment judgment.

Well suited candidates will also have:

Proven investment track record:

• Deep and long record of investing in private equity within the Sectors covered by the Services Sector.
• Experience with Funds and Debt investment is an advantage.
• Experience in emerging markets (but not necessarily Africa/South Asia).

A global perspective:

• Able to understand cycles (economic and investing) with a record of adjusting investment priorities and objectives accordingly.
• High focus on client experience and relationship management with good awareness of different cultural norms.
• The desire to spend time in the countries in which BII invests.

Strategic leadership:

• Evidence of clarity of thought in a complex world (where to invest, what to invest in and when)
• Strong influencing and people management skills in a multi-cultural organisation.
• Candidates should be strongly motivated by BII’s development mission. This requires:
• An awareness of and appreciation for BII’s objectives, and to be strongly motivated by these aims.
• The highest degree of moral and ethical standards and commitment to BII’s business integrity standards.
• A history of working with 'best in class’ employers in their respective fields.

An aptitude for: 

• Risk management.
• Strategic thinking (value creation thesis) on individual transactions.
• Quality due diligence.
• Deal/pricing discipline.

Our cultural values

We look for team members who aspire, as we do, to work at our best and to be:

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

British International Investment is committed to diversity and inclusion and welcomes all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or educational background. 

How to apply

We have partnered with Spencer Stuart to help us meet the very best suited and qualified candidates for this job. If you would like to be formally considered, please submit your CV and Cover letter to BII-MAF@spencerstuart.com from the 1^st July.