Interim Director – Government Engagement and Policy

This is a three-month interim role covering the Director – Government Engagement and Policy during a planned sabbatical. The postholder will keep momentum on BSC’s priority government relationships and programmes, and help build out the team’s relationships with regional government, so that BSC’s 2027 objectives stay on track and work is handed back smoothly at the end of April.

The role sits in BSC’s Government Engagement and Policy team, which builds relationships across national and devolved government and positions BSC as a trusted partner on social impact investment, with the goal of unlocking more capital for social impact. The cover period falls during the first quarter of BSC’s 2027 business plan, when several key results are due.

What you will do Government relationships Maintain and develop BSC’s senior relationships with officials, special advisers and ministers, particularly across DCMS (including the Office for the Impact Economy), HM Treasury, and No 10. Develop BSC’s senior relationships with government at a regional level, including in Mayoral Strategic Authorities. Represent BSC at senior external meetings, forums and events, as required. Support colleagues across BSC to manage their own relationships with government, Parliament and other political stakeholders.

Priority government programmes Provide senior oversight of BSC’s engagement on the Better Futures Fund, including the next phase of the fund and the working relationship with DCMS. Lead BSC’s engagement on dormant assets policy and on new government Social Outcomes Partnership propositions, working with BSC colleagues across the Investment and Engagement Teams. Support BSC’s work with government on homelessness and rough sleeping, working closely with the Policy Director leading on this and the Investment Team. Ensure government engagement stays delivery-focused and aligned with BSC’s Opportunity Areas.

Sector convening and influence Represent BSC in the Impact Economy Collective, including its Policy Labs, and other sector alliances such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Social, Cooperative and Community Economy, where relevant.

Internal coordination Work closely with Opportunity Area, Investment, Communications and Investor Engagement colleagues, keeping them informed of government developments and coordinating BSC’s engagement. Brief the Managing Director and ExCo on key political and policy developments.

What success looks like by the end of April 2027 Priority relationships across DCMS, HM Treasury, No 10 and MHCLG have been maintained, with no gaps in engagement. Q1 2027 key results for the team have been progressed and reported on. The team has been well supported and managed throughout the period. A clear handover note sets out progress, open issues and next steps on return.

What you will bring Qualifications & Experience Essential: Extensive experience working with or within UK Government, locally or regionally, ideally including Mayoral Strategic or Combined Authorities, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office or DCMS. A strong track record of building and sustaining senior political, policy and official relationships. Knowledge of social investment or impact-led finance and where it intersects with government. Experience operating at a leadership level within a complex organisation. Experience managing multiple stakeholders across internal teams and external partners.

Skills, Abilities and Attributes Essential: Able to get up to speed quickly and make sound judgements in a fast-moving political context. Structured thinker, able to deal with complexity and uncertainty. Strategic and creative approach to problem solving with multiple stakeholders. Excellent interpersonal skills and able to build relationships at all levels. Confident and effective communicator, both written and verbal. Supportive manager and collegiate team player.

Embody Better Society Capital values: Ø We do hard things that matter: Our mission is ambitious and multi-faceted. We believe significant change at scale is possible and it's our job to help deliver it. Ø We bridge worlds: Our cross-sector position and the unique breadth of capabilities within our team give us the ability to collaborate and co-create both within our organisation and with partners. We grow with purpose: The context we operate in constantly evolves. To deliver our mission, we need to grow and adapt alongside it. Don’t meet every requirement? Studies have shown that women and people from racialised communities are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

How to apply Closing Date: 11.59pm on Wednesday 18th November Please apply with your CV and a short cover letter that outlines your interest in the role and in the work that BSC does, this should be sent to [email removed - click apply for more details] NB You’re welcome to use AI tools to support small edits, such as improving grammar, structure or clarity, but your CV and supporting answer should reflect your own experience, knowledge, skills and motivations. Applications that feel authentic and genuinely personal are most likely to receive a high score. Please do not include hidden prompts, instructions, code or other content intended to manipulate AI-assisted recruitment tools or gain an unfair advantage. Where we identify attempts to interfere with or circumvent our assessment process, your application will be rejected. Interviews Round 1 interviews will be held w/c 23 November 2026 Round 2 interviews will be held w/c 30 November 2026 If you have a disability or other access needs and require any support to assist you through the recruitment process, please get in touch with Krystle De Guzman (Talent Acquisition & Development Officer) at [email removed - click apply for more details]