Title: Business Development Operations Associate
Location: London
Department: Sales
Downing is dedicated to delivering investments that matter – for our economy, our health, our society, our local communities and our environment.
For over 35 years, our highly experienced team and our entrepreneurial spirit has driven us to seek out long-term and unique opportunities that solve challenges faced by investors, companies and society.
From our headquarters in the City of London, and from offices in Cardiff, Glasgow, Helsinki and Stockholm, we structure and manage innovative investments that meet specific investor needs and look to the future with conviction. Our 200-plus employees drive our vision of long-term value creation, which we achieve by being bold, straightforward and ambitious.
Guided by these principles we have a broad range of investment opportunities. Our private market offerings include renewable energy infrastructure, private equity and private credit. In public markets, we have a boutique of specialist fund managers that provide a distinctive suite of investment mandates.
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.
Diversity is important to us, and we see the benefits that having a team with a range of backgrounds and perspectives can bring. We are bold and ambitious, straightforward and we support each other. These core values are vital to everything we do – from the businesses we invest in, to the people we hire.
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 will include:
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Coordinating group mailings around specific business events
• Supporting roadshows campaigns – call lists, email follow-ups
• Assisting with event logistics or delegate tracking
• 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
The ideal candidate will have the following:
• 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
• 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.
Downing operates a hybrid working policy whereby employees are expected to work from the office for a minimum of 3 days each week. If specific days are required in the office, this will be communicated during the interview process.
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.
We will make reasonable adjustments within our recruitment process (and throughout employment) where needed. If you need any adjustments at any stage of our recruitment process, please do not hesitate to speak to the hiring manager or Downing’s People Team (people@downing.co.uk).
To understand what information we collect about you, how we will use it and for what purpose, please read our privacy notice.
If you are a financial adviser, or discretionary fund manager please call us on 020 7630 3319 or email us at sales@downing.co.uk
If you are a private investor please call us on 020 7416 7780 or email customer@downing.co.uk