Impact Operations Lead

About Acumen

Acumen is a global impact investment firm founded in 2001 by Jacqueline Novogratz with the vision that business, when cultivated with moral imagination, can break the cycle of poverty. The organization operates as a force of entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and social innovators working collectively to build a world based on dignity and inclusive growth. Acumen’s investment philosophy centers on identifying transformational companies that create sustainable solutions in underserved markets while generating measurable social impact alongside financial returns. The organization invests in companies operating across critical sectors including energy, water, health, agriculture, financial services, and education, with a focus on reaching the world’s poorest populations. Since its establishment, Acumen has scaled companies and shaped markets in some of the most challenging-to-reach communities globally, impacting over half a billion lives. The firm manages a diversified portfolio across multiple geographic regions with dedicated regional investment teams that drive local market development and sustainable economic growth. Acumen’s operational structure includes the Chief Investment Officer function, which oversees portfolio management, analytics, impact discipline, and strategic coherence across the investment portfolio. The impact function, a critical component of this structure, leads on impact strategy, alignment with external funders, impact measurement and management, and impact systems technology. The organization works closely with development partners, philanthropic funders, and market actors to maximize social impact while maintaining rigorous financial and operational standards.

About this Role

Acumen is seeking an Impact Operations Lead with 8-10 years of experience to lead the operations of Impact Measurement and Management and support the organization’s regional investment teams in delivering sustainable impact. This position reports to the Director of Impact and involves managing impact leads and touchpoints across the organization. The role is based in London with a hybrid work arrangement requiring three days per week in the office. The Impact Operations Lead will manage Acumen’s impact measurement and management across regions and initiatives, leading the implementation of an updated impact toolkit to leverage information from portfolio companies through systems and technology. The primary objective is to understand and improve Acumen’s impact across various global regions and initiatives. The successful candidate will ensure that Acumen builds evidence, delivers quality reports to a range of funders, and drives organizational learning based on impact data. This position requires a proactive operational professional with technical impact expertise who can identify what is most needed to evidence impact, execute effectively, and bring internal and external stakeholders along on the impact journey. The ideal candidate thinks analytically like an engineer, communicates clearly, and manages execution effectively. They understand impact frameworks and can translate requests between those holding information and those needing to manage impact. The successful candidate thrives on collaboration, coordination, and cross-functional teamwork, building impact evidence while managing complex grants across multiple regions. This role will manage direct reports as the impact function expands.

Responsibilities

• Own Global Impact Operations by implementing frameworks and standards, maintaining and optimizing Acumen’s impact operations workflows
• Lead the deployment of all core impact tools, ensuring they are user-friendly and fully integrated into daily investment and reporting operations
• Bridge Investment and Funding Lifecycles by partnering directly with Regional Investment, Development & Partnerships, and Finance teams to embed impact practices both per deal and across portfolio management
• Govern Data Collection & Quality Assurance by collaborating with direct reports and regional investment teams to manage and audit incoming data, resolve bottlenecks, and ensure data integrity across diverse geographies
• Translate Data into Insights by leading analysis and learning processes to ensure evidence drives insights and actions
• Turn raw metrics into strategic assets by aggregating portfolio data and leading analysis
• Build clear dashboards and data packages that deliver actionable internal insights and audit-ready external reporting
• Support Funder Engagement and Communication by serving as the technical expert alongside the Development & Partnerships team during grant management
• Directly shape impact reporting frameworks and renegotiate metrics with funders where adaptation is required
• Enable Regional and Portfolio Impact Management by building frameworks, training, and tools that allow regional deal teams to independently manage their own impact targets, ensuring local ownership over data and performance

Requirements

• 8-10 years of operational management in an international, cross-functional role
• Experience in impact measurement and management
• Experience in impact investment
• Experience in private sector context
• Self-reflective and aligned with Acumen values
• Permanently authorized to work in the United Kingdom
• Ability to think analytically and understand impact frameworks
• Clear communication skills
• Effective execution and project management abilities
• Ability to collaborate, coordinate, and work cross-functionally

Benefits

• Hybrid work arrangement with three days per week in office
• Performance-based bonus in addition to base salary
• Equal pay policy ensuring fair compensation based on market cohort comparison
• Opportunity to manage and develop direct reports as the impact function expands
• Work with a global organization impacting over half a billion lives
• Alignment with purpose-driven mission focused on dignity and poverty alleviation