About the Company
Downing is dedicated to delivering investments that matter - for our economy, our health, our society, our local communities and our environment. As a certified B Corp, we take our responsibilities, to our investors, our stakeholders and society, seriously. We invest for return while always considering our impact on the world.
About the Role
The primary function of the Business Development Operations Associate is to support the activities of the Downing Strategic Partnership Sales Team in increasing panel positions and optimising business activity to develop new sales opportunities. This person will work alongside a busy sales team in a business development environment, contributing to meetings on a day-to-day basis.
The ideal candidate will possess exceptional customer service skills, whilst being highly efficient and adaptable, with strong interpersonal skills and effective administrative abilities. Paramount to this role is an individual who is organised and who can communicate effectively with advisers, clients, and internal sales and strategy teams. Various supporting administrative tasks are involved in this role, including creating/monitoring reports for fund raising activities, as well as team event planning and delivery execution. Where appropriate, travel to regional UK events and business meetings may be required.
Responsibilities
Inbound & Admin Support
- Managing the Sales Support inbound enquires and handling literature requests
- Responding to customer queries as first point of contact
- CRM system administration – updating records, logging activity, maintaining data hygiene
- Diary management or meeting coordination for the sales team
Sales Operations Enablement
- Producing illustrations or quotes for financial advisers
- Creating and maintaining call campaigns records
- Generating call lists/leads from events, centralised targets, or desk research
- Supporting region planning and team coverage logistics
- Drafting and updating a suite of email templates for business outreach
- Tracking business pipeline and reporting on progress
- Monitoring competitor activity and summarising insights
Data & Research
- Desk and data research for new business development opportunities (new prospect client firms) and to liaise with internal regional sales teams
- Creating lead lists from centralised targets or external databases
- Analysing event outcomes and generating follow-up actions
Campaign & Event Support
- Coordinating group mailings around specific business events
- Supporting roadshows campaigns – call lists, email follow-ups
- Assisting with event logistics or delegate tracking
Miscellaneous / Strategic Support
- Supporting region strategy and territory alignment
- Assisting with funds follow-ups once applications are received
- Liaising with internal teams (e.g. marketing, compliance) for campaign support
Qualifications
- Degree level or equivalent education
- Prior commercial experience, ideally within a business operations or sales support environment
- Experiencing in working within account management and knowledge of CRM databases
- Competence in Excel spreadsheets, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook
Required Skills
- Bright, driven and enthusiastic
- Sales focused
- Positive attitude
- Positive outlook toward problem solving
- Hard working and keen to go the extra mile
- Outgoing and gregarious
Downing’s values - Be bold and ambitious | Be straightforward | Support each other.
Our values serve as a guide that shapes every aspect of Downing. They extend far beyond the conduct of our employees and encompass our products, services, and relationships with our investors and their advisers. By upholding these values, we firmly believe that we can navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Our commitment to these values ensures that we make a positive impact in everything we do, leaving a lasting and meaningful imprint on the world around us.
Equal Opportunity Statement
At Downing, we work hard to create a safe space for everyone: an environment for people to be themselves, and to be straightforward, honest and candid. Diversity is important to us, and we are passionate about creating an inclusive culture that supports and celebrates this. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly throughout our recruitment process and every aspect of employment, irrespective of background, disability or any other protected characteristic.
