Global Affairs Associate

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 

The successful candidate will be responsible for supporting BII’s government relations activities – focusing on relationships with BII’s shareholder (the FCDO), other UK government departments, and partner governments overseas. You will work closely and collaboratively with colleagues across the Global Affairs team as well as colleagues across the business.

About the team

• The Global Affairs team is a high-performing team that sits at the centre of a dynamic policy agenda.
• The team performs three roles: i) monitoring and analysing external trends - identifying opportunities/risks; ii) managing shareholder and stakeholder relationships to build long‑term trust; and iii) informing the decisions, policies and opinions that matter most to the institution.
• The team is on the frontline of a diverse range of topics, issues and processes – spanning both public affairs and investor relations. These include: managing the shareholder relationship with the UK Government; overseeing engagement with Parliament and accountability bodies; engaging with the development finance industry on international policy issues.
   

About the role 

• Monitor key political and governmental developments (e.g. personnel changes, major policy announcements) in the UK and in BII’s priority investment countries and provide short, digestible briefings on key developments.
• Support the delivery of a proactive stakeholder engagement programme for BII’s senior team by arranging meetings, producing internal briefing notes, presentations, and meeting readouts with key stakeholders.
• Support the delivery of external relations activities including set piece events (e.g. roundtables, receptions), VIP visits, international events and coordination of public announcements.
• Produce materials and implement activities that ensure that UK government departments and embassies are updated on BII’s activities.
• Input into internal reporting materials such as the Quarterly Global Affairs Report for BII management and Board ensuring that data is robust, accurate and well-presented.
• Provide support to other areas of the Global Affairs team’s work at relevant times as identified by the Global Affairs Manager and the Director of Global Affairs.
  
  

About you 

• Successful candidates will have a background in public affairs and political engagement

Essential skills:

• Strong knowledge of how the UK government works across multiple departments especially FCDO, HMT, and DESNZ. An understanding of the multilateral system would be an advantage.
• Demonstrable understanding of international development policy, development finance and the financial sector would be an advantage.
• Effective communicator – exceptional writing skills and ability to distil complex scenarios into clear, understandable analysis
• Desirable skills:
• Rigorous and professional in their work - showing a “can-do” attitude that strives for excellence and can manage/adapt to competing priorities.
• Thoughtful and analytical approach to understanding issues and policies that impact on BII.
• Comfort in dealing with financial data for reporting purposes would be an advantage.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues with a readiness to roll-up sleeves to ensure that the team and the organisation succeeds.
• Diplomatic and patient in their approach, with the ability to build trusted relationships
• Candidates should be strongly motivated by BII’s development mission and ideally demonstrate some commitment to development or social goals through previous executive or non-executive activity.
  
  

Our cultural values

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

• Impact-led, 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. 

Please provide a cover letter with your application

Salary: Competitive