This is a fixed-term contract with a maximum duration of 24 months.
The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, working in partnership with the World Economic Forum, is looking for a Specialist, Social Innovation (Initiatives), with a target start date of 1 August 2025. The position is a full-time, on-site role in a growing team.
Why are we hiring
In partnership with the World Economic Forum, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is the foremost global community of pioneering social innovators driving systemic change. Since 1998, it has recognized leading social innovators through its annual awards with the categories of Social Entrepreneurs, Corporate Social Innovators, Public Social Innovators and Collectives.
Since 2020, the foundation has created premier platforms for engaging the social innovation ecosystem, the private, and the public sectors. This includes the Global Alliance for Social Entrepreneurship, the Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) on Social Innovation, the Rise Ahead Pledge, and the Policy Leadership Council on Social Innovation. Through the Global Alliance, the foundation drives thematic workstreams (so-called “Emerging Themes”) on key topics relevant to the social innovation ecosystem.
Amongst others, these themes include Youth & Social Innovation and Innovative Finance. In 2023, the foundation launched its innovative finance workstream, focused on mobilizing private sector capital for social innovation through outcome-based funding and tradeable impact. In 2025, in collaboration with its sister organization, The Global Shapers Foundation, the foundation is launching a Youth & Social Innovation initiative to address the challenges young social innovators and youth-focused social innovators face.
Ideal candidates for the Specialist, Social Innovation (Initiatives) position will bring the skills listed below and a commitment to the values of social innovation, believing that diverse perspectives, cooperation, and collective action can create lasting impact. If this aligns with your professional aspirations, we encourage you to apply.
Duties and responsibilities
The Specialist, Social Innovation (Initiatives) will report to the Lead, Social Innovation (Initiatives). It will enable the Schwab Foundation’s mission to advance social innovation by supporting the two workstreams Youth & Social Innovation and Innovative Finance in the following:
Stakeholder Engagement: Manage relationships with the key partners, private/public sector representatives, ecosystem organizations, the Global Shapers Community, youth-led organisations, and impact investors ensuring a that both initiatives convene key actors in order to balance the outputs of these initiatives.
Project Management: Oversee both initiatives by setting objectives, tracking progress, and ensuring timely delivery using project management tools and in-house CRM systems.
Thought Leadership: Manage the development of knowledge products, conducting research, identifying key trends, and producing high-quality insights.
Stakeholder Management
Manage relationships with
the Global Shapers Community and other youth-focused networks to ensure young changemakers drive the Youth & Social Innovation initiative and set key objectives.
the Advisory Group for the Innovative Finance initiatives, convening leading impact finance organizations, international organizations, NGOs, companies, and academics.
Build and maintain partnerships with sector organisations and ecosystem players working on key aspects of both initiatives.
Research potential partners and social entrepreneurs who should be engaged in the initiatives, ensuring regional representation and diversity of perspectives.
Project Management
Drive the implementation of both initiatives, setting clear objectives, tracking progress, and ensuring timely delivery of key milestones.
Utilise project management tools and in-house CRM systems to monitor engagement, track deliverables, and report on impact.
Coordinate virtual and in-person convenings, ensuring meaningful participation from social innovators and ecosystem partners.
Thought Leadership
Oversee the development of knowledge products, structuring insights, identifying key trends, and shaping recommendations.
Collaborate with internal teams and external experts to ensure high-quality thought leadership outputs.
Contribute to other external content, including articles, podcasts, and speaking engagements, to elevate awareness of youth-driven social innovation and innovative finance.
Skills and Qualifications
Some concrete skills and capabilities we are looking for are:
3+ years of experience in social innovation, innovative finance, youth engagement, or a related field.
Strong background in stakeholder management, with experience working with youth networks, impact investors, impact finance organizations / DFIs, social entrepreneurs, or grassroots organisations.
Strong organisational skills, with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Strong command of Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and database management)
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and fluency in spoken and written English. Additional languages would be an asset.
Lived experience in low-income countries, ideally supporting the social innovation or development sector are a plus.
Previous experience with Salesforce CRM, data collection tools (e.g. Airtable, Tableau, Qualtrics), and project management tools (e.g. Wrike) are preferrable.
What will you be assessed on?
Ability to work and thrive in a team, contributing to a positive and enabling team culture.
Effective and efficient delivery on the above-mentioned roles and responsibilities, particularly improving stakeholder engagement with youth communities and ecosystem partners to progress the initiative.
Strength of presentation (written and verbal) of social innovation content.
Feedback from internal team and external partners on quality and impact of delivery.
Why work at the Forum:
The Forum believes that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to improve the state of the world by building awareness and cooperation, shaping mindsets and agendas, and driving collective action. Join us and become a driver for positive change!