Managing Director (UK)

BIT is a world-leading applied research and innovation consultancy which combines a deep understanding of human behaviour with evidence-led problem solving to improve people’s lives.

We work with governments, companies, and organisations around the world to tackle some of the most pressing issues, from improving public health outcomes to reducing environmental impact. Our team is driven by the desire to make a positive impact on society through rigorous experimentation and research.

We are hiring an experienced and dynamic UK Managing Director to lead our UK research and advisory business. As UK MD, you will be responsible for managing the performance, development, and wellbeing of BIT’s UK research and advisory team. You will shape the strategic direction of the business, maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, and oversee the successful delivery of projects. You will also play a pivotal role in scaling the business to exceed our commercial targets, developing new opportunities, and enhancing BIT’s influence in the UK policy space.

Reporting directly to the Global Managing Director and supporting them with their responsibilities to the BIT Board, this role will provide leadership across the UK, to deliver our core corporate aims: social impact; financial sustainability; cutting edge and high-quality delivery and supporting the implementation of BIT’s 2024-27 strategy.

Key Responsibilities

1. Provide visible and accessible leadership to the UK team, motivating the team to deliver great work, keeping the team connected to each other and fully up-to-date on company initiatives, and championing BIT’s global strategy.
2. Set the vision for BIT UK, motivate performance towards this vision and take action to drive the achievement of it.
3. Manage BIT’s UK-based advisory directors, as well as the heads of the UK Growth team and UK training team (approx. 8 people in total).
4. Build the capability of the UK advisory team ensuring we have the right skills and talent to deliver top quality work.
5. Help maintain a happy team, boosting motivation and engagement and keeping BIT the sort of place where people are proud to work.
6. As a member of BIT’s Global Leadership Team, create the conditions for BIT to be the best it can globally, offering our clients and partners high quality, innovative and impactful services, operating effectively and navigating any challenges we may encounter.

Projects and Clients:

1. Ensure the successful delivery of large-scale, high-impact projects for clients, balancing quality, methodological innovation, and financial sustainability.
2. Oversee BIT UK’s business development and bidding activities, including through line management of BIT UK’s Head of Growth, and by directly supporting the team in securing new clients and expanding BIT’s portfolio of projects.
3. Develop and maintain long-lasting and productive senior-level relationships with government bodies, public sector agencies, private sector partners, and philanthropic organisations. Lead the team to mirror these relationships through all levels of the organisation.
4. Represent BIT in external forums, conferences, and thought leadership events, positioning the company as a leader in the behavioural insights space.

Positive social impact and commercial success

1. Drive positive social impact in BIT UK’s work, ensuring we maintain a focus on how our work can help the world.
2. Make sure BIT thrives commercially by:
1. Ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.
2. Ensuring the UK team is effectively utilised on client projects.
3. Managing expenditure in line with budget.
4. Maintaining a healthy pipeline of upcoming work.
3. Ensure the UK team complies with all regulatory requirements and internal policies, maintaining BIT’s reputation for integrity and high standards.
4. Significant senior leadership experience in relevant sectors like behavioural science, public policy, consulting, or research.
5. Experience in driving commercial success, managing change & transformation, including managing revenue, profit, and P&L responsibilities.
6. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams that achieve social and business outcomes.
7. Strong alignment with the values of BIT and a commitment to social purpose businesses.
8. Ability to empower and coach other senior leaders in problem-solving.
9. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and motivating employees in a matrix organisation.

Why Work with Us?

At BIT, we offer a challenging yet rewarding environment where you can make a real difference. You will have the opportunity to lead a world-class team and work on impactful projects that positively affect society. We are committed to professional development, and you will have the chance to grow your career within a forward-thinking, mission-driven organisation.

How to apply

We use a great platform called Applied to reduce bias in the recruitment process. You will need to answer a few experience-based questions which will be anonymously marked by members of our team. Our selection is based on performance in these questions and your CV.

Candidates with the highest scoring answers and most relevant CVs will be invited to a structured interview where you will get to meet some of the team. At the interview stage, you will be asked questions that reflect the role and may also complete a couple of work-based tasks or a presentation, so you have the chance to demonstrate your skills. We always give all applicants feedback, no matter what stage your application reaches.

Start your BIT journey here!

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we will close the advert once a candidate has been appointed.

Office UK - London

Contract type: Permanent, Full-time (39 hours). Flexible working options include flexible start and finish times, home working, and compressed hours.

Deadline: 1st Dec 2024

Application link: Apply now