Director, SV Manchester

About Sustainable Ventures

Our impact on the planet’s climate and its natural resources is being felt more often and by more people than ever before. It is clear that significant changes must be made to achieve the targets set by the IPCC and reach Net Zero by 2050. This presents the world’s biggest challenge and it is something that Sustainable Ventures has been addressing since 2011. We believe in the power of commercial innovation to address the twin challenges of climate change and resource scarcity.

As entrepreneurs we initially conceived and scaled 10 startups, and over time we have evolved to primarily support other sustainable entrepreneurs. Our services now include: Investment, we are the most prolific climate tech investor in the UK with 43+ investments; Workspaces, we have 100+ organisations and 1000+ innovators collocated, and have directly supported over 500 businesses through our programmes and specialist business support services. The businesses we have supported have raised over £1bn of investment, employ over 5500 people and many have gone to be acquired by corporates such as: E-Car Club to Europcar and Zeigo to Schneider Electric.

We are Europe’s largest ecosystem of climate tech startups and have recently opened our new HQ at County Hall London, as we continue on our mission to develop 2000 sustainable businesses by 2028. We are now working on expanding our operations across other key city regions in the UK and beyond, starting with Manchester. Manchester is the fastest growing region in the UK with numerous world class Net Zero R&D assets, world class culture and has been recognised as the UK's most livable city.

Director, SV Manchester

Sustainable Ventures is seeking a commercially-minded, results-driven Director for SV Manchester with a track record of outstanding leadership in business development ideally in the sustainability and climate tech space. As the the largest tech outside of the South East, Manchester is the natural choice for Sustainable Ventures’ initial workspace and the successful candidate will be responsible for the launch and operation of Manchester as a new city region. The Director, SV Manchester will initially report into the Chief Development Officer James Byrne, and will be supported by the development team, Manchester Non-Executive Chairman and group Chief Executive Officer.

The Role

The Director, SV Manchester will be entrepreneurial and will develop a new business and team in Manchester covering workspaces, consulting and business support programmes. The role will suit a personable and driven professional with experience setting and delivering against budgets, and identifying and developing new revenue streams. They will have the ambition to make a mark in the sector, and the experience to deliver one.

Requirements

Tasks will include, but are not limited to:

• Build out Manchester team and manage meet or exceed targets for new business and customer retention
• Direct responsibility for growing relationships with public sector business support programmes clients
• Focus on building Sustainable Ventures ecosystem in Manchester and concentrating activities at new workspace location
• Developing and delivering against annual budgets
• Identification of new service opportunities in GM city region and wider Northern Powerhouse
• Developing regional marketing strategy with support from SV specialists

/ We expect you to have:

• 10+ years sales/business development experience in a relevant sector
• 5+ years leadership experience, an excellent general manager with experience leading a varied and growing team
• Experience in flexible workspace sector particularly valued
• Highly professional with a credible and engaging manner
• An excellent general manager with experience leading a varied and growing team
• An excellent communicator – in writing, by phone and in person
• Ambitious, with a desire to learn from the executive team and develop as a thought-leader in the sector
• Educated to degree level (preferred)
• Experience in the sustainability/climate tech or related sector (preferred)
• Travel to London 1-2 times per month

Benefits

/ Additional Details

• Remuneration: £85k OTE pa (including commission/bonus) w/ LTIS eligibility
• Hours: 40 hours per week, core hours 10:00-16:00
• Holiday: 25 days per year (pro-rata) + Bank Holidays + 1 day per month can be taken as a Wellness Day
• Location: Manchester, Oxford Road, M1

/ Diversity

Our people are what make Sustainable Ventures great. They infuse the business with fresh ideas, turn plans into actions and are the backbone of providing outstanding support to our ecosystem. As such, Sustainable Ventures is an equal opportunity employer; we are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce, celebrating differences and creating an inclusive environment so that everyone can be themselves at work.

The climate crisis is a social and inclusion issue, as well as an environmental one, and we are especially keen to encourage applications from individuals underrepresented in the climate space. We also welcome applicants who may have different but relevant experience to those exactly specified in the above job description. This is a full-time role, however, we will seek to accommodate requests for a flexible working schedule.

/ Application Instructions

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

/ Recruitment process

• 30 min phone screening interview
• In-person interview with a member of the senior management team