Associate, UK Dynamism
Renaissance Philanthropy is a not-for-profit organisation that is fuelling a 21st-century renaissance by increasing the ambition of philanthropists, scientists and innovators. In the first year, Renaissance Philanthropy catalysed more than £160m in philanthropic funding for science, technology, and innovation, launching 10+ initiatives across AI, education, climate, health, and scientific infrastructure.
Job Description
To achieve this 21st-century renaissance, we believe that the UK needs to build a positive-sum vision for a better future; a stronger sense of individual agency and responsibility; a greater acceptance of risk and reward; and a bias towards action and speed.
Despite the various economic, political and social challenges that the UK faces, there is a growing community of people and organisations who believe the country is simmering with potential and is ready to break out of its current malaise.
This includes organisations working on pro-growth and pro-science projects, e.g. YIMBY Alliance and ARIA; organisations working on policy and culture, e.g. Centre for British Progress and Works in Progress; and foundations and philanthropists who want to change the status quo.
To advance this agenda, Renaissance Philanthropy is incubating a fund to identify, connect, and fund more people and organisations who are committed to making the UK more dynamic.
As the Associate you will support the execution, operations, and growth of the fund’s activities. You will play a key role in building and managing the infrastructure to implement activities; end-to-end support with events; and the research and diligence of new opportunities.
This role is ideal for someone who thrives on operational excellence, is highly organised, and is motivated to convene and gather the most dynamic people in the UK working at the intersection of philanthropy, innovation, and social impact.
This position is based in the UK, with in-office work required 3 days per week in Kings Cross.
Role and Responsibilities
Programme and Events Coordination:
Assist in developing and maintaining detailed work plans, timelines, and milestones for key initiatives.
Support the delivery and implementation of initiatives such as prizes and fellowships
Coordinate events from end-to-end, including invites, agenda preparation, event communications and follow-ups and ensuring excellence of delivery.
Research and Diligence:
Conduct research to strengthen and diligence new ideas or initiatives through desk research, interviews, and analysis
Support the evaluation of ideas and opportunities sourced through open calls and inbound requests
Proactively identify new partners, grantees, and ideas aligned with the Fund’s mission
Operational Support:
Support the management of tools and systems (e.g., Airtable, CRMs, Google Sheets) for effective stakeholder tracking.
Maintain and track databases of talent, ideas, and opportunities.
Collaborate with the finance and operations team to manage contracts, honorariums, and vendor relationships.
Who You Are
You are high-agency and work at a fast pace
You have exceptional organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
You have familiarity with data tracking, reporting, and basic analytics
You have excellent written skills
You enjoy researching, evaluating, and analysing new ideas and opportunities
Outcomes
If you are successful in this role, in one year’s time, you will have:
Built the operational foundations which underpin several events each week, track 100s of ideas and opportunities, and a database of 100s of individuals and organizations
Supported 50+ individuals and organisations to be funded through the fund
Delivered on first-year goals through setting a gold standard for operational excellence and measurable outcomes.
Integrated and improved upon refinement of internal operational playbooks and wikis.
Values
You will thrive within our team if you:
Have strong mission and vision alignment: You believe in the power of science, innovation, and technology to create a brighter future for the UK.
Exhibit high agency: You can move mountains and break perceived constraints.
Inspire others and are highly collaborative: You can motivate others to join your mission and goals. You understand the value of going further by working with others.
Value exceptional talent and the power of networks: You can spot or nurture exceptional talent and believe in the value of building networks and the power law of talent.
Are comfortable working in fast-moving and ambitious teams: You are not afraid of ambiguity and enjoy working at pace.
Diversity
We encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply, regardless of whether you feel you meet 100% of the qualifications. The top candidates will bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds from a variety of industries along with many but not necessarily all the skills listed above.
Recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce is critical to our success. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Renaissance Philanthropy is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.