Reporting To: Chief Executive

Role Purpose:

Responsible Finance is the membership association for the UK’s Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). CDFIs are community lenders, committed to delivering positive social impact, and offer fair and affordable finance to businesses, social enterprises and to people unable to access it elsewhere.

This is a pivotal moment to be joining the CDFI sector. Responsible Finance and CDFIs are poised for exciting growth following two record-breaking funding announcements in late 2024 which has seen the sector backed by Government and leading financial institutions including the British Business Bank and JPMorgan Chase. This follows Lloyds Banking Group becoming the first mainstream lender to invest in the CDFI sector earlier in the year.

The Government has also announced it is backing Responsible Finance to develop a roadmap for growth, and a new APPG for CDFIs has been set up with the official launch set for May 2026.

We are seeking an exceptional candidate to ensure that CDFIs from all sectors receive the policy and regulatory support they need to thrive.

You will manage key aspects of Responsible Finance’s policy work including consultation responses, briefings, MP outreach and building a supportive network of MPs, and writing articles to highlight key issues with the Government and our stakeholders. You will also lead on the production of RF’s annual impact report.

No prior knowledge about CDFIs is required so long as you have a keen interest to learn about the sector and are passionate about increasing access to fair finance for businesses, underserved communities and people. Do not be discouraged from applying if you do not meet all the criteria listed in this job description. If you know how to deliver results at the policy level and are a committed team player, with a can-do attitude, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities:

We are looking for a candidate experienced in Policy to take forward our work with the Government and other stakeholders on supporting the growth and resilience of the UK’s Community Development Finance Institutions.

• Policy: Supporting Responsible Finance’s work with the Government including on key initiatives such as the CDFI roadmap, the new APPG for CDFIs, and managing relationships with key departments such as Department for Business and Trade, HM Treasury, and the Financial Conduct Authority, as well as relationships at a policy level with partner organisations.
• Representation: Attending events and roundtables representing Responsible Finance.
• Consultation responses: Identifying and responding to Government and other stakeholder consultations to advocate for the CDFI sector, working closely with members to inform your responses.
• MP Engagement: lead Responsible Finance’s programme of MP outreach to continue to build a base of supportive MPs and peers within parliament.
• Partnership working: Contributing to relevant campaigns and policy forums to strengthen Responsible Finance’s influence on policies that impact the sector.
• Communications: Write clear and engaging policy briefs, reports, and articles to communicate Responsible Finance’s priorities to the Government and other stakeholders. This includes writing a monthly stakeholder newsletter article.
• Impact report: Lead on Responsible Finance’s annual member Impact Report, published annually in May.
• APPG: Spearhead Responsible Finance’s role as secretariat for the new APPG for CDFIs.
• Horizon scanning: Monitor the latest research, track political debates and identify new policy developments in the areas of community finance, inclusive growth and financial inclusion.

This is a varied and dynamic role, and candidates will need to work closely with the wider team to align our policy work with our programme work. This description is not exhaustive; it outlines the key tasks and responsibilities of the post which are subject to change. Any changes will be made in consultation with the post holder.

Skills and Experience:

This role requires the following skills and experience:

• Strong demonstratable experience of delivering results in a policy role.
• Highly self-motivated and able to drive your own work forward, but equally a team player with a collaborative working style.
• Excellent communication skills including: 1) concise and plain English writing skills and ability to synthesise information into an easy to comprehend format/narrative; 2) public speaking in order to represent Responsible Finance at events.
• Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills. Must be comfortable working with stakeholders at a range of levels, and building buy-in.
• Experience analysing and synthesising data and presenting findings clearly and succinctly. Fluency with applications such as Word and Excel is essential.
• Proven ability to manage multiple stakeholders and get the information needed from busy people.
• Willingness to travel and represent Responsible Finance at events.

Working as part of a small organisation, you will need to demonstrate flexibility and willingness to pitch in to help other members of the team.

An understanding of CDFIs would be helpful but is not essential.

How to Apply

Equity and fairness are at the core of our organisation and we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their best.

To apply please click APPLY NOW below

Please send your CV and responses to the following questions below.

• What appeals to you about this job/Responsible Finance and why do you think you’ll do a great job?
• You are working on multiple projects including writing large consultation responses requiring input from RF’s members. The CDFIs you need information from are really busy. How do you ensure deadlines are met on time and meet quality expectations?
• You are tasked with coming up with a plan for Responsible Finance’s new APPG for CDFIs, how would you go about this?
• Identify two key current policy issues or trends you think may impact the responsible finance sector. For each, please outline:
  • Why Responsible Finance should be at the table.
  • A specific strategy or action you would take to ensure our members’ voices are heard

We recognise that the use of AI tools is widespread these days, and it is often obvious when it’s used. We will automatically reject applications where the use of AI without any editing or your original thoughts is evident. The ability to be thoughtful and tailor to your audience is crucial for being successful in this role.