Investment Portfolio Manager - Joseph Rowntree Foundation : Job Details

About the role

Social investment is any investment activity which has an expectation of both a social outcome and a financial return.In 2015, JRF set aside 5% of its endowment for social investments and since then has committed £16m across a portfolio of circa 38 individual investments. More recently, JRF has begun to explore how we can extend principles and learnings from our social investment work into new blended finance approaches, as well as in managing our wider endowment. In 2025, we aim to actively take forward this expanded range of activities and increase the pace of growth in our Social Investment portfolio.

That’s where you come in!

We are now seeking an Investment Portfolio Manager. Reporting to the Head of Social Investment and working alongside the other team members, the post covers a range of activities including ongoing assessment and monitoring work for our social investment portfolio to ensure that the portfolio is managed effectively and evolving in line with our impact and financial goals. The Investment Portfolio Manager also supports development and assessment of new investments, internal reporting and sharing of learnings externally.

About you

You’ll have experience assessing business plans and financial models, such as the review of budgets, cashflow forecasts and other financial information and an understanding of the implications of these models on the business. This is a core competency of the role and may come from a background in finance, accountancy, business consultancy or another analytical field.

You’ll have knowledge and experience of data collection and analysis with strong working knowledge of Excel, including ability to review financial models and conduct scenario analysis. With strong analytical skills and the ability to present information in a simple way, you’ll have good written and verbal communication skills and good interpersonal skills; the ability to deal in a helpful, friendly and professional way with people from a range of different backgrounds.

With a strong interest in social investment and social enterprise, you’ll have good influencing and networking skills, with proven ability to work with others to achieve results. You’ll be able to work on own initiative and to work closely as part of a small team with the ability to prioritise and respond flexibly to work demands.

You’ll have an understanding of, commitment to and empathy with the work of JRF (including our ambitions on diversity, equity and inclusion and our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation) and ability to apply to this JRF’s social investment approach.

About us

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is an independent social change organisation working to support and speed up the transition to a more equitable and just future, free from poverty, where people and planet can flourish.

Founded in 1904, a substantial endowment from the family confectionery firm means that JRF does not need to fundraise. We make grants and invest extensively in projects and partner organisations which are working to achieve the same goals. Through research, policy, collaboration and practical solutions, JRF aims to inspire action and change that will create a prosperous UK without poverty.

For us, ending poverty in the UK is a moral cause: to ensure dignity and respect for everyone, and to address exclusion and powerlessness.

How to apply

If you share our passion and this role sounds like you, then we’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Please submit your CV and supporting information via our online application platform.

Closing date for applications is 2nd March 2025.

Interviews will be held in person in London on Tuesday 25th March, or in York on another day in the week commencing 24th March.

We reserve the right to bring the closing date forward should enough quality applications be received prior to the current closing date.

Additional Information

In support of our approach to flexible working, we are happy to receive applications from those seeking full-time employment, as well as those who may want to share the role on a part-time basis. When making your application, please state whether you want to be considered for either full or part-time work and, if part-time, the number of hours per week you would be looking for.

At JRF we’re at our best when we’re continually building on trust, showing we care and making a difference - and hope others will do the same. So, for those roles which allow it, we’re developing a more blended approach to how and where you work. This means you can expect to work flexibly between the office and home (with an expectation of two days a week in your home office).

Applications are welcome from all, regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socioeconomic background. We positively encourage applications from people from marginalised backgrounds, including but not limited to those with experience of living in poverty.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and operate an anonymised recruitment process so that bias is eliminated from the shortlisting process.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. This means that we are committed to the recruitment, progression and retention of disabled individuals. We shall also offer interviews to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the job. If you have a disability, please tell us if you would like to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.

If you have any additional needs and need reasonable adjustments to be made to the interview process, please let us know.