Specialist, Social Innovation (Private Sector). Temporary

SCHWAB FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP (temporary 12-month contract)

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, working in partnership with the World Economic Forum, is looking for a Specialist, Social Innovation (Private Sector), with a target start date of 1 February 2025. The position is a full-time, on-site role in a growing team.

Why are we hiring

In partnership with the World Economic Forum, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is the foremost global community of pioneering social innovators driving systemic change. Since 1998, it has recognized leading social innovators through its annual awards with the categories of Social Entrepreneurs, Corporate Social Innovators, Public Social Innovators and Collectives.

In 2023, the foundation launched the Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) to increase engagement with the private sector, convening 40+ companies leading in social innovation. The council has introduced the Rise Ahead Pledge , a corporate commitment to boosting investments in social innovation, with numerous signatories dedicated to driving collective change.

We seek a Specialist, Social Innovation (Private Sector), to help advance our mission of driving social innovation in the private sector. Ideal candidates will bring the skills listed below and a commitment to the values of social innovation, believing that diverse perspectives, cooperation, and collective action can create lasting impact. If this aligns with your professional aspirations, we encourage you to apply.

Duties and responsibilities:

The Specialist, Social Innovation (Private Sector) will enable the Schwab Foundation’s mission to advance social innovation in the private sector by supporting the following activities:

• Private Sector Engagement: Coordination of the meetings of the Corporate Leadership Council (agenda planning, content development, coordination with co-chairs, etc.)
• Corporate Social Innovation Awards: Engagement management of the community of Corporate Social Innovators (CSIs) and supporting the annual selection cycle for CSIs;
• Ecosystem and community engagement: Management of the foundation’s relationship with ecosystem organizations, specifically the engagement of the 120+ members of the Schwab Foundation’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship
• Thought leadership: Support the foundation leadership in developing knowledge products on thought leadership, focusing on key emerging themes in social innovation

Private sector engagement

• Assist the Lead in managing relationships with key partners, predominantly private sector organisations, including preparing and scheduling meetings, communications, and logistics for calls and convenings.
• Track engagement levels of private sector partners (e.g. CLC members).
• Support the outreach to new, potential CLC members and potential signatories of the Rise Ahead Pledge.
• Help coordinate and prepare for executive-level meetings at key Forum events, aligning with the broader Schwab Foundation objectives. 
• Support the Lead in strengthening the Schwab Foundation’s private sector engagement in target regions such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia. 

Corporate social innovation awards and community

• Assist in the annual selection process for Corporate Social Innovators, coordinating with the Forum business teams and the Schwab Foundation team to prepare the annual pipeline and final candidates for the Corporate Social Innovation Awards to the Schwab Foundation Board. 
• Onboard newly awarded Corporate Social Innovators into the Schwab Foundation community and support the Lead in defining and communicating the value proposition for corporate awardees, enhancing engagement and recognition within the Foundation's initiatives. 
• Act as primary engagement manager for some of the world’s most renowned corporate social innovators, implementing engagement plans for each.
• Conduct research and assessments to identify potential new awardees and provide informed recommendations for community inclusion. 

Ecosystem and community engagement

• Oversee and engage a community of 120+ members of the Schwab Foundation’s Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship (including the management of CRM software) and serve as the primary contact for member inquiries.
• Collaborate with the Foundation’s Communications & Events Lead to manage engagement and online interactions with the community, including Forum’s community platform “Forum Spaces”.
• Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing virtual community events.
• Guide new members through an onboarding process, providing them with relevant information, tools, and contacts to maximise their involvement and alignment with the Schwab Foundation’s mission.
• Prepare and circulate a monthly newsletter for community members, summarising recent activities, upcoming opportunities, and relevant news in the social innovation space.

Thought leadership

• Occasionally conduct background research, draft sections, and support the development of thought leadership initiatives such as reports, whitepapers, and briefing papers on social innovation in the private sector. 
• Participate in the Foundation’s knowledge-sharing activities, contributing to products with hands-on research, writing, and editing tasks as needed. 

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated interest in (corporate) social innovation, corporate sustainability, or stakeholder economy with a minimum of 2 years of experience in the sector or related areas.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within cross-functional teams and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Social Sciences, Environmental Studies, International Business)
• Strong organisational skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. 
• Strong command of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and database management)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and fluency in spoken and written English. Additional languages would be an asset.
• Lived experience in low-income countries, ideally supporting the social innovation or development sector are a plus.
• Previous experience with Salesforce CRM, data collection tools (e.g. Airtable, Tableau, Qualtrics), and project management tools (e.g. Wrike) are preferrable.

What will you be assessed on?

• Ability to work and thrive in a team, contributing to a positive and enabling team culture
• Effective and efficient delivery on the above-mentioned roles and responsibilities, particularly improving stakeholder engagement and growing the community of corporate social innovators and members of the Corporate Leadership Council.
• Strength of presentation (written and verbal) of social innovation content.
• Feedback from internal team and external partners on quality and impact of delivery.

Why work at the Forum:

The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!