RFP Writer - Business Development Executive London, England
Job description
We're one of the UK's leading investment management companies, with responsibility for over £44 billion of client assets. We've worked closely with clients and their trusted advisers for many years and gained a unique understanding of the specific needs of our clients.
Investec Wealth & Investment seeks to deliver exceptional levels of customer service and has been trusted to meet the needs of private investors for almost 200 years. But our eyes are focused on your future.
Right now we're a team of over 1400 dedicated professionals located across 14 sites in the UK. We're looking to strengthen our team and need you to come on board and make a difference.
Embedded in our culture is a sense of belonging and inclusion. This creates an environment in which everyone is free to be themselves which helps to drive innovation, creativity and ultimately business performance. At Investec we want everyone to find it easy to be themselves, and to feel they belong. It's a responsibility we all share and is integral to our purpose and values as an organisation.
Research shows that some candidates can be reluctant to apply to a role unless they meet all the criteria. We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit here and welcome you to do the same – if the role excites you, please don't let our person specification hold you back. Get in touch!
Team Description
An exciting opportunity to join the Investec charities business which oversees over £3.5bn of funds under management. The team specifically look after charity and not for profit clients across the UK, and the opportunity exists to join the team as it enters an exciting growth phase.
You would be joining a growing team of eight Investment Managers and a Business Development Director with many years of experience in the sector. The team have a passion for sustainable investment and focus on working with charities to help them invest responsibly in a way that is aligned with their investment goals.
Description of role and key responsibilities
This role is responsible for helping drive business development within the Investec Charities team.
The demands of RFP writing can flex between 100% of time allocation to much lower eg: perhaps just 20% - depending on the timing and flow of proposal requests.
While RFP writing and support activities will be the focus of the role, the successful candidate will also be required to input into a wide range of general business development activity.
Some experience of RFP writing would be helpful but not essential. Candidates will need to evidence their strong writing skills during the interview process (there will be specific skills tests).
Strong stakeholder management, excellent communication skills, an eye for detail and the ability to work under pressure and deliver to consistently high standards are essential.
The role will be responsible for:
- Reviewing and evaluating Request for Proposals that we receive from a wide range of charities.
- Discussing and agreeing the key aspects of each proposal request and working with individual IMs to deliver the highest quality RFP, ensuring all content is relevant to the charity and the document has been made bespoke to their needs.
- Setting a clear timetable for completion, allowing sufficient time for both individual Investment Manager and final compliance approval.
- Ensuring all content is high quality and adheres to our brand guidelines.
- Develop new content in support of the proposal process eg: FAQ document.
- Reviewing and advising on the best way to improve the RFP process and content. This could include evaluating and advising on specialist software that could improve our processes.
- Helping Investment Managers with preparations for presentations in support of the RFP once we are shortlisted, including:
v Booking rehearsal slots.
v Researching and providing briefing information on the charity and trustees we will be seeing.
v Helping in development of the presentation.
Other requirements of the role include:
- Helping the Business Development Director in monitoring and tracking leads, including updating the Salesforce lead tracking system, and producing Management Information.
- Researching and preparing briefs ahead of meetings with charities and industry events that we are participating in eg: initial meetings; Charity Awards; Conferences.
- Conferences – helping BD Director in preparations for our participation at events and potentially attending some of them eg: industry conferences.
- Deputising for the BD Director at relevant meetings and during holiday absence.
- Any other duties that support the overall Business Development aims of Investec charities.
Technical skills and experience
- Some experience in a similar RFP role would be desirable (though it is not essential).
- Previous relevant experience in financial services/investment management would is desirable (though not essential).
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with people and influence successful outcomes.
- Good understanding of the financial services sector and a natural interest in market trends, the needs of charities and current affairs.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong PowerPoint, Word and general computing skills.
- Awareness of and desire to fully understand the compliance requirements related to the role.
- Ability to tailor messages so that the final offering is bespoke to the needs of each individual charity.
