At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team in delivering impactful RFPs and presentations for fundraising.
- Company: Join HarbourVest, a global leader in private markets with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid work flexibility, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive environment that values diversity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in institutional marketing while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in proposal experience, strong communication, and project management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
For over forty years, HarbourVest has been home to a committed team of professionals with an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to deliver impactful solutions to our clients and investing partners. As our global firm grows, we continue to add individuals who seek a collaborative, open-door culture that values diversity and innovative thinking.
In our collegial environment, that’s marked by low turnover and high energy, you’ll be inspired to grow and thrive. Here, you will be encouraged to build on your strengths and acquire new skills and experiences. We are committed to fostering an environment of inclusion that promotes mutual respect among all employees. Understanding and valuing these differences optimizes the potential of both the individual and the firm.
This position will be a hybrid work arrangement. You will receive 18 remote workdays per quarter to use at your discretion, subject to manager approval. For example, you may choose to work in the office 4 days per week and take one remote day weekly (typically 13 weeks per quarter), leaving 5 additional remote days to be used as needed.
HarbourVest is seeking an experienced individual to join our Institutional Sales Enablement team in London. The Director, Sales Enablement, will lead London-based resources for RFP/DDQ and pitch deck requests and materials. This individual will support fundraising activities at the Firm by collaborating with Product Specialists, Investor Relations, and Product Marketing and ensure materials are timely, accurate, and on-brand. The role balances people leadership (mentoring, prioritization, and resolving blocking issues) with operational excellence. This includes leading intake processes, quality control, and continuous improvement. The role works closely with cross-functional experts and Investor Relations.
Key proficiencies include:
- Getting results
- Ensuring accountability
- Communicating effectively
- Collaborating
- Developing strong teams
- Optimizing work processes
This role brings a continuous-improvement perspective to scaling requests for proposal/due diligence questionnaire and presentation delivery while incorporating the perspectives of EMEA investors.
The ideal candidate is someone who demonstrates:
- Strong institutional fundraising enablement expertise (preparing RFPs and DDQs along with presentation development)
- Effective communication translating complex investment/data topics into clear, client-ready messaging
- Collaboration in building strong partnerships across product PODs, regions, and functional teams
- Ability to build effective teams, coach talent, ensure accountability, and drive scalable execution
What you will do:
- Lead a London-based team that delivers RFP/DDQ responses and presentations, supporting the Firm’s fundraising with Investor Relations, Product Specialists, and other functional teams.
- Ensure accountability for intake, prioritization, and delivery, providing hands-on leadership, project oversight, and resolving blocking issues in support of team results.
- Optimize work processes by scoping requests up front, confirming objectives, key messages, and reviewing paths to reduce rework.
- Support quality control, peer review, and marketing/compliance standards across written replies and visual materials.
- Demonstrate sound judgment leading client, regulatory, reputational, and operational risk.
- Drive continuous improvement scaling delivery through templates, reusable content, and tool adoption; share guidelines across products PODs and regions.
- And other responsibilities as required.
What you bring:
- Strong project management; confirmed ability to get results across end-to-end RFP/DDQ delivery and pitchbook development.
- Optimal communication; strong writing/editing skills and the ability to tailor messaging for different investor audiences, including EMEA.
- Collaboration; partners cross-functionally, influences without authority, and resolves issues in time-sensitive environments.
- Optimisation of work processes; comfortable with proposal/content management (Loopio and Seismic, a plus) and workflow tools to create, track, and reuse materials.
- Talent development; coaches teams, reinforces consistent standards, and supports a scalable operating model.
Education Preferred:
- Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) or equivalent experience.
Experience:
- 10+ years of proposal experience in a financial services capacity preferred.
Director, Sales Enablement - Institutional Marketing employer: Harbourvest Partners (U.K.) Limited
Contact Detail:
Harbourvest Partners (U.K.) Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director, Sales Enablement - Institutional Marketing
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Director role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their values, recent projects, and the specifics of the role. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in HarbourVest.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll need to communicate complex ideas clearly, so rehearse how you’d explain your experience and how it aligns with the role. Get a friend to give you feedback on your delivery.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at HarbourVest.
We think you need these skills to ace Director, Sales Enablement - Institutional Marketing
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Director, Sales Enablement role. Highlight your experience with RFPs and DDQs, and show how your skills align with our collaborative culture.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since effective communication is key in this role, use clear and concise language in your application. Demonstrate your ability to translate complex topics into client-ready messaging right from the start.
Emphasise Team Collaboration: We love a team player! Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated across different teams or departments. This will show us that you can build strong partnerships, which is crucial for this position.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Harbourvest Partners (U.K.) Limited
✨Know Your RFPs and DDQs
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and Due Diligence Questionnaires (DDQs). Be ready to discuss your experience in preparing these documents, as well as how you ensure they are accurate and on-brand. This will show that you understand the core responsibilities of the role.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Since this role requires translating complex investment topics into clear messaging, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with different investor audiences, especially in a time-sensitive environment.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Spirit
Collaboration is key in this position, so think of specific instances where you've successfully partnered with cross-functional teams. Be ready to share how you’ve influenced others without authority and resolved issues collaboratively, as this will highlight your ability to work within a team.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement
Prepare to discuss how you've driven continuous improvement in your previous roles. Think about processes you've optimised or tools you've adopted to enhance efficiency. This will resonate well with the firm's focus on scaling delivery and improving work processes.