HEAD OF INNOVATION AND RESEARCH
About the organisation
The International Business Leaders Forum works with business, governments and civil society to enhance
the contribution that companies can make to sustainable development. Founded by HRH The Prince of
Wales in 1990, we are an independent, not-for-profit organisation currently supported by over 100 of the
world’s leading businesses.
IBLF provides strategic counsel to companies to enable them to understand and respond to the development
challenges that they face, particularly when operating in transition and emerging economies. As well as
managing a number of programmes that provide businesses with opportunities to directly enhance their
impact on society, IBLF helps businesses connect with other organisations and develop successful crosssector
partnerships.
IBLF has worked in over 90 countries and has offices in Russia, China and India. Our work benefits from
long-term relationships with regional networks across the world, many of which IBLF has helped to establish
or strengthen.
About the position
IBLF is establishing an online research and ideas hub to drive and shape the agenda for responsible
business into the future. This ‘virtual think tank’ will bring together business leaders, academics,
entrepreneurs, commentators and practitioners from around the world via an online collaborative forum.
We are seeking a creative, dynamic manager to lead the development and delivery of this online hub. The
Head of Innovation and Research is responsible for ensuring that IBLF is on the cutting edge of sustainable
and responsible business thinking around the globe. This role needs to provide ideas that will challenge and
inspire business leaders and convert these ideas into useful thought pieces that can inform the work of IBLF
and its members. A core function will be to leverage the thinking of the Leaders Council, IBLF’s global group
of leaders from all fields who provide the guidance for IBLFs agenda. The Head of Innovation and Research
will do this by harnessing the ideas from the centre to create challenging thought pieces that can be used to
lead debate among the Council and hence contribute to their work guiding IBLF.
Reporting relationships
This position will report to a member of the Management Team. There are currently no direct reports, but it is
likely that the Head will supervise interns, junior staff and consultants on an ad-hoc basis.
Key deliverables and accountabilities
The focus for the first 12 months will be establishing the online think tank including website, securing
contributions from various sources around the world, developing the think tank’s profile and gaining
momentum and interest from target audiences. The key deliverables for the initial 12 month contract will be
to:
Role Profile
Page 2
August 2011
• Create a global network of partners and contributors from around the world, ensuring diversity and
balance between different geographies, fields and perspectives
• Deliver a stream of new ideas and thinking to the organisation, including at least three major policy
papers which can inform the Leaders Council and the rest of IBLF
• Work with other IBLF staff to ensure the success of the Leaders Council events
• Ensure the hub’s financial sustainability and relevance to business leaders and IBLF membership
On an ongoing basis (including in the first 12 months) this position will need to:
Research
In collaboration with think tank members and contributors, IBLF staff, other organisations and through own
research
• Scan relevant information sources daily, read extensively, attend conferences and events and follow
commentary from around the world
• Identify the most relevant, compelling and challenging issues and trends for business in
sustainability
• Generate and curate inspiring, intellectually rigorous, and interesting discussion and content on
these topics
Ongoing Management
• Establish and manage an online ideas hub focused on the latest thinking in responsible business
• Secure quality, timely and relevant contributions from members of the Leaders Council, leaders from
business, civil society and government, social entrepreneurs, researchers and academics from
around the world
• Increase its reach and impact through marketing and communications, including social media
• Lead fundraising efforts and meet annual fundraising targets to cover costs of the think tank
• Manage budgets, finances, IT development and staff as required
Integration into IBLF’s work
• Integrate the think tank into IBLF’s strategy and operations
• Ensure ideas generated through the think tank actively lead to and/or inform the work of IBLF and its
members
• Actively solicit, shape and develop ideas and material from within IBLF for dissemination on the
website
• Provide stimulus material to IBLF’s Leaders Council and synthesise outputs of meetings.
Skills and experience
• Relevant qualifications eg information management, communications, marketing, business,
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding of, and interest in, corporate social responsibility and
responsible business
• Clear compelling writing style, able to articulate diffuse arguments in a cogent and compelling way
• Relevant experience in creating, curating and promoting knowledge and opinion pieces to create
tangible business benefits, preferably for a similar organisation
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively with people at all levels, from different sectors eg
business, academia, non-profit, as well as different nationalities, backgrounds, geographies,
languages
• Demonstrable project management experience including financial, organisational, staffing
• Sufficiently literate in website content management, IT skills and social media
• Experience working in different country contexts and appreciation of the challenges and
opportunities for responsible business in emerging markets, especially China, India and/or Russia.
Knowledge of other languages would be an advantage, particularly Mandarin, Portuguese or
Spanish
Role Profile
Page 3
August 2011
Personal characteristics
• Creative, lateral thinker who is excited by ideas and can pragmatically turn ideas into challenges and
collaborative projects for IBLF and its partners
• High degree of drive, self motivation and initiative; a proactive problem solver not problem raiser
• High level of professionalism, able to handle and prioritise multiple tasks and competing demands,
maintain high quality standards and meet deadlines
• Flexibility and responsiveness to changes in demands, timeframes and scope
• Strong interpersonal skills including representation, negotiation, collaboration, client-focused attitude
and excellent networker
Remuneration
Salary will be up to £45,000, depending on experience. In addition, IBLF offers excellent staff benefits
including:
• Personal Pension Scheme (5% contribution)
• Life assurance
• Excellent annual leave
• Childcare vouchers
• 24 hour Employee Support Programme
• Travel and cycle loans
• Health & Society benefit – choice of two days paid volunteering leave or £150 towards a health
benefit
• Family-friendly policies
Send a covering letter and CV to Gillian Gurner, Head of HR at: gillian.gurner at iblf.org by 6 September 2011.
The International Business Leaders Forum works with business, governments and civil society to enhance
the contribution that companies can make to sustainable development. Founded by HRH The Prince of
Wales in 1990, we are an independent, not-for-profit organisation currently supported by over 100 of the
world’s leading businesses.
IBLF provides strategic counsel to companies to enable them to understand and respond to the development
challenges that they face, particularly when operating in transition and emerging economies. As well as
managing a number of programmes that provide businesses with opportunities to directly enhance their
impact on society, IBLF helps businesses connect with other organisations and develop successful crosssector
partnerships.
IBLF has worked in over 90 countries and has offices in Russia, China and India. Our work benefits from
long-term relationships with regional networks across the world, many of which IBLF has helped to establish
or strengthen.
About the position
IBLF is establishing an online research and ideas hub to drive and shape the agenda for responsible
business into the future. This ‘virtual think tank’ will bring together business leaders, academics,
entrepreneurs, commentators and practitioners from around the world via an online collaborative forum.
We are seeking a creative, dynamic manager to lead the development and delivery of this online hub. The
Head of Innovation and Research is responsible for ensuring that IBLF is on the cutting edge of sustainable
and responsible business thinking around the globe. This role needs to provide ideas that will challenge and
inspire business leaders and convert these ideas into useful thought pieces that can inform the work of IBLF
and its members. A core function will be to leverage the thinking of the Leaders Council, IBLF’s global group
of leaders from all fields who provide the guidance for IBLFs agenda. The Head of Innovation and Research
will do this by harnessing the ideas from the centre to create challenging thought pieces that can be used to
lead debate among the Council and hence contribute to their work guiding IBLF.
Reporting relationships
This position will report to a member of the Management Team. There are currently no direct reports, but it is
likely that the Head will supervise interns, junior staff and consultants on an ad-hoc basis.
Key deliverables and accountabilities
The focus for the first 12 months will be establishing the online think tank including website, securing
contributions from various sources around the world, developing the think tank’s profile and gaining
momentum and interest from target audiences. The key deliverables for the initial 12 month contract will be
to:
Role Profile
Page 2
August 2011
• Create a global network of partners and contributors from around the world, ensuring diversity and
balance between different geographies, fields and perspectives
• Deliver a stream of new ideas and thinking to the organisation, including at least three major policy
papers which can inform the Leaders Council and the rest of IBLF
• Work with other IBLF staff to ensure the success of the Leaders Council events
• Ensure the hub’s financial sustainability and relevance to business leaders and IBLF membership
On an ongoing basis (including in the first 12 months) this position will need to:
Research
In collaboration with think tank members and contributors, IBLF staff, other organisations and through own
research
• Scan relevant information sources daily, read extensively, attend conferences and events and follow
commentary from around the world
• Identify the most relevant, compelling and challenging issues and trends for business in
sustainability
• Generate and curate inspiring, intellectually rigorous, and interesting discussion and content on
these topics
Ongoing Management
• Establish and manage an online ideas hub focused on the latest thinking in responsible business
• Secure quality, timely and relevant contributions from members of the Leaders Council, leaders from
business, civil society and government, social entrepreneurs, researchers and academics from
around the world
• Increase its reach and impact through marketing and communications, including social media
• Lead fundraising efforts and meet annual fundraising targets to cover costs of the think tank
• Manage budgets, finances, IT development and staff as required
Integration into IBLF’s work
• Integrate the think tank into IBLF’s strategy and operations
• Ensure ideas generated through the think tank actively lead to and/or inform the work of IBLF and its
members
• Actively solicit, shape and develop ideas and material from within IBLF for dissemination on the
website
• Provide stimulus material to IBLF’s Leaders Council and synthesise outputs of meetings.
Skills and experience
• Relevant qualifications eg information management, communications, marketing, business,
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding of, and interest in, corporate social responsibility and
responsible business
• Clear compelling writing style, able to articulate diffuse arguments in a cogent and compelling way
• Relevant experience in creating, curating and promoting knowledge and opinion pieces to create
tangible business benefits, preferably for a similar organisation
• Demonstrated capacity to work effectively with people at all levels, from different sectors eg
business, academia, non-profit, as well as different nationalities, backgrounds, geographies,
languages
• Demonstrable project management experience including financial, organisational, staffing
• Sufficiently literate in website content management, IT skills and social media
• Experience working in different country contexts and appreciation of the challenges and
opportunities for responsible business in emerging markets, especially China, India and/or Russia.
Knowledge of other languages would be an advantage, particularly Mandarin, Portuguese or
Spanish
Role Profile
Page 3
August 2011
Personal characteristics
• Creative, lateral thinker who is excited by ideas and can pragmatically turn ideas into challenges and
collaborative projects for IBLF and its partners
• High degree of drive, self motivation and initiative; a proactive problem solver not problem raiser
• High level of professionalism, able to handle and prioritise multiple tasks and competing demands,
maintain high quality standards and meet deadlines
• Flexibility and responsiveness to changes in demands, timeframes and scope
• Strong interpersonal skills including representation, negotiation, collaboration, client-focused attitude
and excellent networker
Remuneration
Salary will be up to £45,000, depending on experience. In addition, IBLF offers excellent staff benefits
including:
• Personal Pension Scheme (5% contribution)
• Life assurance
• Excellent annual leave
• Childcare vouchers
• 24 hour Employee Support Programme
• Travel and cycle loans
• Health & Society benefit – choice of two days paid volunteering leave or £150 towards a health
benefit
• Family-friendly policies
Send a covering letter and CV to Gillian Gurner, Head of HR at: gillian.gurner at iblf.org by 6 September 2011.
Post a Comment