Interim Chief Executive Officer

Contract Type: 12-month contract, with a view to making this a permanent role for the right candidate

About Us

Pathway Fund was founded in 2022 to catalyse opportunities for Black and Ethnic Minoritised communities across the UK, through impact investment. We intend to raise a £65m-£100m fund, responding to the Adebowale Commission’s recommendation on the need for – and associated social and economic benefits – of creating a Black-led social investment wholesaler fund in the UK.

Pathway Fund is supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, City Bridge Foundation, Big Society Capital, Barrow Cadbury Trust, and Carnegie Trust UK. This collaboration of investors has seeded Pathway’s development and establishment as a Company Limited by Guarantee.

We have been using these resources to deploy and test our offer via a £500k Enterprise Development Programme, a £300k Emerging Fund Manager Incubator Programme, a £1.1m+ Cost of Living Support Programme, demand-side research and a racial equity scorecard. This year, we have also been delighted to have been able appoint Lord Michael Hastings as Chair, alongside Julian Blake, Tara Sabre Collier, Iqbal Wahhab OBE, Sarah Santhosham, Joel Buchanan Davis, as non-executive directors.

Our vision is for Black and Ethnic Minoritised-led organisations to have greater and better access to finance, create more positive and sustainable social impact, and ultimately lead to equitable and inclusive economic growth in the UK. We believe that a rising tide lifts us all.

About the Role

Pathway Fund is seeking an entrepreneurial, experienced, and visionary Interim CEO to lead our organisation through a transitional phase. The Interim CEO will be responsible for maintaining our strategic direction, managing day-to-day operations, and ensuring that our impact goals are met, whilst driving financial performance. This role will be crucial in steering the organisation during this interim period, ensuring stability, and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation.

We expect this role to become a permanent one for the right candidate. If the successful candidate delivers well in the role and the Pathway Board assesses they have the appropriate skills and experience for the permanent role, there is the possibility that they might be appointed into the full-time, permanent role. The permanent role will have a salary uplift.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Drive the Fund’s strategic vision and ensure alignment with the mission of impact investing.
• Ensure that the programmes are aligned with the overall mission and delivered to high quality.
• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to refine and execute long-term strategies.

Operational Management:

• Collaborate with fractional COO to oversee daily operations, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness across the core team.
• Implement policies and procedures that support operational excellence and compliance with relevant regulations.

Financial Oversight and Fundraising:

• Manage the organisation’s financial health, including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.
• Lead strategic conversations with prospective funders; and maintain relationships with existing funders.

Governance Management:

• Manage relationship with Chair and broader Board. Including setting annual board agenda.
• Ensure Pathway fulfil all relevant governance obligations.

Stakeholder Engagement:

• Cultivate relationships with key stakeholders, including intermediaries, funded organisations, community partners, policy stakeholders, and investors.
• Represent the Fund at industry events and forums to enhance our visibility and influence.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and inspire a diverse team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional development.
• Ensure continuity in leadership and organisational culture.
• Build a future organisational design for Pathway as it grows.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience as a CEO or in other managerial positions within the impact investment, social enterprise, or private sector; preferably in early-stage and start-up settings.
• Strong understanding of impact investment, social entrepreneurship, and racial equity issues within the UK.
• Lived experience of racial inequality within the UK.
• Experience in influencing, stakeholder management and ideally public speaking.
• Exceptional leadership, ethics and organisational skills, with a track record of managing diverse teams and working closely with non-executive Boards.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, including with government and policy stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Further information, including on how to apply, can be found here.