Head of Impact, Learning

Vitol has a long history of charitable giving, making its first charitable grant in 2002. The Vitol Foundation was established in 2006, registered in Switzerland and operating independently from Vitol's business interests. Since then, the Vitol Foundation has funded over 2000 projects in more than 120 countries around the world.

The Vitol Foundation aims to make a difference in the lives of people around the world trapped in poverty. They are passionate about supporting organisations and programmes that can take children and their families in the poorest of countries across the world out of the vicious cycle of multi-dimensional poverty.

Their work is focused on six core areas: education, health, enterprise and livelihoods, humanitarian relief and emergencies, water, sanitation and hygiene and local giving through Vitol's offices worldwide.

By providing different types of financing to non-governmental organisations and social enterprises, they aim to:

1. Fund transformational, efficient, sustainable, scalable and replicable investments to support and strengthen government, private sector and community systems to provide sustainable health, water, sanitation and hygiene, education and employment opportunities.
2. Address the systemic issues that make humanitarian crises more acute, by funding resilience and preparation in addition to recovery.
3. Share models of evidence-based best practice that can be scaled by government, private sector and/or communities.
4. Act responsibly with diverse partners with sensitivity to their circumstances and cultural contexts.
5. Increase engagement and leverage the knowledge base of the Vitol Group worldwide.

The Head of Impact, Learning, and Strategy will play a strategic, influential role in driving the foundation's mission and maximizing the impact of our philanthropic work. This individual will oversee all aspects of impact measurement, strategic learning, and portfolio alignment, ensuring that the foundation's work remains both agile and grounded in evidence-based insights. Working closely with leadership, program teams, and partners, this role will develop and execute frameworks that support thoughtful risk-taking, data-informed decision-making, and meaningful learning across the organization.

The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with an aptitude for analytics and a passion for building and operationalizing systems that drive sustainable impact. They will have proven success in the field of measurement and evaluation, both in a technical and leadership capacity. They will have experience with quantitative and qualitative research methods and experience working with data and evidence to inform strategy, policy and management decisions. This role requires someone adept at fostering collaborative learning environments, providing clear, actionable insights to senior leadership, and identifying trends and emerging opportunities within the social sector to inform our long-term strategy. Above all, they will demonstrate a strong commitment to the vision, mission and values of the Vitol Foundation and improving the lives of people.

They will be part of a small but enthusiastic team of people committed to making a difference. The position is based at the Foundation's office in London, United Kingdom.

Impact Measurement and Analysis

1. Impact Frameworks and Dashboards: Develop a comprehensive, foundation-wide impact framework that supports strategic alignment across portfolios and tracks progress against our mission. Lead the design and implementation of a dynamic impact dashboard, creating tailored insights at foundation, portfolio, and organizational levels to empower evidence-based decision-making.
2. Impact Assessment and Reporting: Regularly provide high-level impact assessments to the executive team, board, and key stakeholders, ensuring strategic alignment and clarity on organizational achievements, risks, and growth areas.
3. Risk Management Strategy: Work with program leads to refine the foundation's approach to risk, ensuring that risk is strategically managed and aligned with the foundation's objectives, values, and mission.

Learning and Strategy Implementation

1. Learning Cycles and Reflection: Drive structured learning cycles around the foundation's strategy, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and enabling real-time adaptation based on strategic insights and feedback.
2. Knowledge Capture and Synthesis: Develop and manage systems to systematically capture and distil lessons learned across the portfolio, creating actionable insights that shape programmatic and strategic adjustments.
3. Research Commissioning: Identify areas where external research is required to deepen understanding or evaluate impact, then manage the commissioning process to engage qualified research partners.
4. Strategy Review and Strategy Development: Design and lead a process of reviewing progress against the Vitol Foundation Strategy; oversee the process of developing a new Strategy for the Foundation (probably starting 2028).

Partner Support

1. Partner Support Strategy: Work collaboratively with foundation partners to identify opportunities for learning and evidence generation, providing resources or training when needed to strengthen their impact.
2. Resource Development and Knowledge Transfer: Develop tools, guides, and templates that help partners implement effective measurement, learning, and strategic planning practices.

External Trends and Sector Insights

1. Trends and Insights: Conduct regular landscape scanning to stay updated on trends, opportunities, and risks in the foundation's focus areas and inform strategic decision-making.
2. Research and Thought Leadership: Commission and manage targeted external research to inform strategic planning and establish the foundation as a thought leader in areas critical to our mission.
3. Network Engagement and Collaboration: Cultivate strategic relationships and represent the foundation at sector gatherings, contributing to broader conversations around impact, learning, and innovation.

Qualifications:

1. Educational Background: Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., public policy, social impact, business administration) preferred.
2. Experience: 12+ years of progressive experience in impact measurement, strategic learning, or program evaluation in philanthropy, non-profits, or social impact sectors.
3. Strategic Insight and Analytical Rigor: Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex data and strategic insights; proven record of shaping high-level organizational strategies.
4. Facilitation and Communication: Strong skills in facilitating discussions, presenting insights to senior leadership, and translating complex data into accessible, strategic information.
5. Project Management and Adaptability: Track record of managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders; able to balance strategic oversight with hands-on implementation.

Preferred Skills and Qualities:

1. Adaptability: Ability to navigate and influence within a fast-paced, evolving organizational landscape.
2. Curiosity and Learning Orientation: Strong interest in learning, adapting, and refining processes based on emerging insights and research.
3. Collaborative Spirit: A proactive, collaborative approach to working with cross-functional teams and foundation partners.

1. Vitol is an international company with offices across all continents.
2. You will work in a flat and approachable organization.
3. We are a great place to work. We have an excellent working atmosphere and we offer a competitive compensation and benefits package.
4. Staff are required to work at least 4 days per week in the office in London Victoria.