Global Head of Venture Capital, Office for Investment

Job description

About the job

Job summary

The Office for Investment (OfI) is the Government's investment promotion organisation for the UK. It operates at the heart of government, as a joint unit of HM Treasury, 10 Downing Street, and the Department for Business and Trade, to unlock the private investment which will be the foundation of the Prime Minister and Chancellor's commitment to growing the economy.

The Office for Investment's Venture Capital Unit (VCU) is the UK Government's centre of excellence for international venture capital. We work directly with more than 300 international venture and institutional investors, connecting global capital with high-potential UK companies and venture funds while helping leading venture capital firms establish and expand their presence in the UK.

The team's core objectives are to:

Unlock capital for the UK's most innovative and strategically important companies.

Strengthen the UK venture capital ecosystem in partnership with the British Business Bank and international LPs.

Attract and anchor leading global venture capital firms in the UK.

Position the UK as the premier destination for venture capital investment.

Mobilise government, industry and investor networks to accelerate growth and innovation.

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Grade 6 to lead the VCU. The ideal candidate will bring exceptional problem-solving skills, strong commercial and political judgement, and the ability to build effective relationships with industry leaders, investors, key stakeholders and colleagues across Government. They will lead a high-performing team of experienced civil servants, shape and deliver the VCU's strategic priorities, and drive engagement with domestic and international investors.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to a team of two Grade 7s and two SEOs, alongside virtual leadership of the venture capital agenda across priority international markets, including North America, the Gulf and Asia, ensuring effective coordination and delivery across the global network.
• Lead delivery of the VCU's business plan, overseeing a programme of high-profile activities designed to attract investment into the UK, including sector-focused showcase events, inward and outward investor delegations, and strategic overseas engagement programmes delivered in partnership with international posts and wider Government stakeholders.
• Drive the team's efforts to increase both co-investment and limited partner (LP) investment into the UK venture capital ecosystem, helping to mobilise international capital in support of high-growth UK businesses.
• Oversee the interface between investors and high-potential technology companies, ensuring an investor-led approach to origination, relationship management and commercial engagement.
• Maximise the impact of major technology and investment events, including London Tech Week and Life Sciences Week, leveraging these platforms to strengthen the UK's position as a leading destination for venture capital and innovation.
• Build and manage relationships with senior stakeholders across the venture capital ecosystem, including leading VC funds in the UK and internationally, as well as key ecosystem partners such as the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA), British Business Bank, Innovate UK, Barclays Eagle Labs and HSBC Innovation Banking.
• Ensure the team's activities align with wider Government priorities relating to venture capital, innovation and economic growth, with a particular focus on life sciences, deeptech and climate technologies.
• Oversee the development and delivery of the team's external communications and branding strategy, including marketing campaigns, digital content and social media activity, to enhance the UK's investment proposition.
• Maintain a strong understanding of trends, opportunities and emerging developments across the global venture capital landscape, translating market intelligence into actionable insights, strategic engagement plans and compelling narratives for investors and stakeholders.
• Coordinate engagement with Ministers and senior Government stakeholders on venture capital issues, overseeing Ministerial interactions with investors and industry leaders, and contributing to policy development where relevant.

Person specification

Essential criteria

The below criteria are essential and will be assessed at the application stage;

• Demonstrable experience of leading high-performing teams, networks or complex programmes of work in a fast-paced environment, successfully balancing competing priorities while setting strategic direction, driving performance and maintaining a strong focus on delivery.
• Experience of designing and delivering complex programmes, partnerships and stakeholder engagement activity, with a track record of achieving impactful outcomes through collaboration, influence and effective resource prioritisation.
• Experience working within the innovation and investment ecosystem, with a strong understanding of the needs of high-growth businesses, venture capital investors and the role Government can play in supporting growth and investment.
• Strong commercial acumen and strategic judgement, with the ability to translate market intelligence into effective engagement strategies and delivery priorities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distil complex issues into clear, concise and compelling briefings, and to communicate confidently and credibly with senior stakeholders, investors, Ministers and industry leaders.
• Outstanding stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across Government, industry and the investment community, navigate complex and politically sensitive environments, and secure outcomes through persuasion.
• A resilient and adaptable approach, with the ability to perform effectively under pressure, foster collaborative working across diverse teams and stakeholders, and deliver results in a dynamic and evolving environment.

Desirable criteria

The below criteria are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates;

Deep understanding of the UK and global venture capital ecosystem, including venture capital funds, institutional investors, limited partners, accelerators, and the financing needs of high-growth businesses.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £73,025, Department for Business and Trade contributes £21,155 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
• A Personal Statement of up to 750 words, explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential criteria.

Your application will be sifted against the Experience criteria of the Civil Service Success Profiles.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Candidates who pass the sift will be invited to interview, where we will assess you on the Success Profiles elements of Behaviours.

As part of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a short oral presentation, details will be provided prior to your interview.

It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date, though this is subject to change.

Further Information

Please note, following a recent change to the Machinery of Government, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will be renamed to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (BIST) as of 20th July 2026. BIST will connect the UK's world-class science and technology base directly to the businesses, places and workers that will drive good growth across the country. Such changes will not affect the selection process for this campaign; however, we wanted to take this opportunity to advise you of the recent changes to our department.

You can find further information here regarding recent governmental changes Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet - GOV.UK.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment:

Complete the 'Assistance required' section on the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process.

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department.

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.
• New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
• Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty. Any applicant who has details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
• A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
• Terms and Conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note - the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.
• Candidates that do not quite meet the standard for this role may be offered a position at a lower grade.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email [email protected]

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Shoma Jamil
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DBT by email: [email protected].
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.
For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints.