VP/SVP, Business for Impact Specialist, DBS Foundation

DBS Foundation, Business for Impact Team
DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods by helping vulnerable communities across Asia become more socially and financially resilient. In its next decade, the Foundation is sharpening its focus on addressing essential needs, fostering financial inclusion, and nurturing innovative Businesses for Impact that improve the social and financial resilience of vulnerable communities.
The Business for Impact team focuses on supporting and scaling social enterprises and SMEs that use business as a force for good. Through grants, awards, capacity-building programmes, and partnerships across the DBS ecosystem and broader impact sector, the team nurtures purpose-driven businesses, strengthening their commercial models while deepening their impact on communities in need.
This role requires someone who can bridge impact and business: a candidate with experience in social impact, grantmaking or ecosystem building, combined with strong business acumen, the ability to assess business models, and the strategic thinking required to develop and execute impactful initiatives. The individual should be comfortable working with founders, investors, internal business teams and external stakeholders to scale impact.
Responsibilities
Lead and support DBS Foundation’s Business for Impact initiatives, including grants, awards and capacity-building programmes for social enterprises and other Businesses for Impact.
Identify and assess Businesses for Impact with innovative, financially sustainable and scalable models that improve the social and financial resilience of vulnerable communities across Asia.
Apply both an impact and business lens to evaluate applicants and portfolio enterprises, including their impact thesis, beneficiary outcomes, commercial viability, revenue model, leadership quality, growth strategy and ability to scale.
Design and deliver support for Businesses for Impact, including mentorship, learning opportunities, market access, ecosystem connections and partnerships with DBS business units, clients and employee volunteers.
Build strong relationships with external and internal stakeholders to create opportunities for collaboration.
Track portfolio performance and impact outcomes, working with partners to strengthen measurement, reporting and insights that inform funding decisions and programme improvements.
Support advocacy, content and engagement initiatives to inspire others to create impact.
Requirements
Recognised degree in Business, Finance, Social Impact, Public Policy, Communications, Technology or other relevant disciplines.
Minimum 5 years’ relevant experience in grantmaking, venture philanthropy, impact investing, SME/start-up ecosystems, consulting, finance, business development, or related fields.
Good understanding of impact models, beneficiary outcomes, impact measurement and the challenges faced by vulnerable communities, especially in areas such as essential needs, financial inclusion, employability, healthcare, education, nutrition and ageing.
Strong business acumen, with the ability to assess business models, financial sustainability, revenue drivers, market opportunity, scalability and leadership capability.
Experience working with social enterprises, SMEs, start-ups, investors, accelerators, incubators, or ecosystem partners will be an advantage.
Purpose-driven, resourceful and comfortable operating in a lean team, with the independence to manage multiple priorities and the judgement to engage senior internal and external stakeholders.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex business and impact considerations into clear recommendations, reports and stakeholder communications.
Location:
DBS Asia Central
Job:
Marketing and Communications
Schedule:
Regular
Employee Status:
Full time