Venture Associate - Northern Ireland (12m Fixed Term Contract)

Salary: £38,000 - £43,000 FTE

This is a 20+ hours per week PTE contract prorated

Diversity

We’re an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment, where everyone can thrive and be their authentic selves at work. We recognise that the climate crisis intersects with social and inclusion issues, and we’re particularly eager to receive applications from individuals who bring diverse perspectives, including people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, parents, carers, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We also value different experiences and encourage applicants whose backgrounds may not exactly match the criteria in the job description to apply.

About the role

We are expanding into the Isle of Ireland, building on our success in London, Manchester and Scotland, and have recently secured an exciting cleanteach cluster project in partnership with the exciting high potential cluster of climate tech startups in Northern Ireland. We are now looking for a purpose-driven Venture Associate to join us at this pivotal moment.

As our first team member based in the Isle of Ireland, you will play a foundational role in establishing and growing a cluster of 8-10 small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the cleantech sector. You’ll help shape the Northern Irish climate tech ecosystem by fostering collaboration, recruiting startups, and engaging key stakeholders across industry, academia, and government.

This role is central to delivering the Cleantech Cluster Accelerator Programme network, which aims to strengthen sector competitiveness and unlock global market opportunities. You’ll work closely with our Programmes team (based in London) and our Regional Development Associate (based in Scotland), acting as the local face of our mission in the Isle of Ireland.

This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a thriving but under tapped cleantech sector, with Phase 1 focused on establishing the cluster and Phase 2 opening the potential for the role to become full time and permanent.

Key responsibilities:

Build strong relationships with public, private, and academic stakeholders across the region.
Recruit cleantech startups and SMEs to join the newly forming cluster.
Facilitate the establishment and day to day operations of the Cleantech Cluster Network.
Serve as the primary local representative and ecosystem connector for the organisation in the Isle of Ireland.
Coordinate and deliver monthly cluster check-ins with member companies.
Plan and run roundtable sessions with relevant government stakeholders.
Attend and represent the cluster at events across the six counties of Northern Ireland.
Continuously map the cleantech ecosystem and identify key players in the Irish climate tech and startup landscape.
Track and map potential funding sources for cluster members and future development.
Document key insights, session outputs, and roundtable outcomes to feed into a comprehensive feasibility study.
Draft and regularly update the feasibility study and long term vision document for Phase 2 of the project.
Provide timely progress reports to InvestNI and ensure alignment with project timelines and milestones.

We expect you to have

Knowledge of, experience or passion for contributing to the sustainability sector.
Existing knowledge of, and connections with, relevant contacts/networks in Northern Ireland and beyond.
2+ years’ of relevant experience - our people have worked at high growth startups, investments, started their own businesses, been in the armed forces. We encourage you to demonstrate transferable skill sets;
Demonstrable attention to detail and organisational skills - you have previously been involved in planning and delivering projects with tight deadlines and delivered on time and with success;
Proven organisational skills for delivering and meeting deadlines;
Confidence in developing, and managing, client relationships.
Great interpersonal skills - you are comfortable dealing with internal and external stakeholders that have different motivations. Background in client-facing work is a plus;
Ability to take ownership of your work - you can demonstrate that you are a self starter, bring fresh ideas to the table and can complete tasks on time and on budget;

Desirable

An undergraduate degree in business, technology or sustainability-related field;
A postgraduate qualification in business, economics, technology or sustainability;
Business support programme management - you have previously planned and delivered business support programmes, such as incubators, accelerators, etc.;
Experience in venture development and/or sustainability innovation;

Additional details

Hours: 12 months part-time fixed contract, 20+ hours per week. There is potential for this role to become permanent and full time, depending on business needs. The successful candidate may be considered for this opportunity.
Salary: £38,000-£43,000 FTE per annum prorated to PTE

Based: Northern Ireland. This role requires regular travel to Belfast, and occasional travel to London and Glasgow.

Excellent benefits package include;

25 days Holiday + Bank Hols (pro rata to 12.5 days)
Monthly Wellness Day (time to rest & recharge) (pro rata)
Enhanced Pension Scheme

Recruitment process

Applications close on 1 June 2025
30 min phone screening interview
Two-stage, remote and in-person interview

About Sustainable Ventures

We’re Europe’s largest ecosystem of climate tech startups. Following our recent expansion of our Central London headquarters, we’re focused on our mission to develop 1000 new businesses by 2025, and expand our operations across UK regions.

Our impact on the planet’s climate and its natural resources is being felt more often and by more people than ever before. It is clear that significant changes must be made to achieve the targets set by the IPCC and reach Net Zero by 2050. This presents the world’s biggest challenge and it is something that SV has been addressing since 2011.

We believe in the power of commercial innovation to address the twin challenges of climate change and resource scarcity.

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