Jobs for the Environment sector

This role is open to candidates based in the UK or Belgium.

UK

• Location: London-based or remote in the UK, as long as travel to the office in London for two consecutive days per month is feasible.
• Role: Permanent, full time or part time  
• Salary: £70,000 per annum plus 10% employer-contributed pension; 4 day full-time week (Monday-Thursday)

Belgium

• Location: Brussels-based or elsewhere in Belgium as long as regular travel to Brussels is feasible, with travel bimonthly to London
• Role: Permanent, full time or part time
• Salary: €6,106.32 per month plus 8% employer-contributed pension; 4 day full-time work week (Monday – Thursday)

About us

Established in 2021, Opportunity Green is a fast-growing not-for-profit organisation that helps to identify and unlock opportunities to tackle climate change. We build ambitious coalitions, support climate vulnerable countries in international negotiations and find innovative legal pathways to fight climate change.

What’s the role?

The Development Director will work closely with the CEO and the Chief Strategy and Impact Officer (CSIO) on all of Opportunity Green’s fundraising. We are looking for someone who truly gets what OG is trying to achieve, who can pull strands of our work together and turn it into cohesive cross-cutting proposals that funders want to be part of. You will draft and write compelling concept notes and proposals – not just edit them.

To date, the CEO and CSIO have overseen all of Opportunity Green’s fundraising, with the assistance of a Project Officer. We have been hugely successful in our fundraising to date; testament to the extraordinary talent of our staff and the impact they can make. However, as we continue to rapidly scale as an organisation, now is the right time for a Director to add capacity and further expertise to our fundraising.

This role is essential in Opportunity Green’s expanding team and organisation. You will work closely with OG colleagues across the organisation to understand their work, assist the CEO and wider team in managing our current donors and develop ambitious, strategic and innovative funding partnerships with trusts and foundations. You will have a specific focus on grants at the £1m+ level and increasing the number of unrestricted grants. It is important to note that we believe the following will not be a large part of the role in the short to medium term:

1. Searching new prospects – while in time this could become part of the role, we have multiple prospects that we are not currently pursuing due solely to capacity constraints.

2. Institutional or corporate fundraising – while this is a large source of potential funding, we are not currently pursuing it, or looking to secure any institutional or corporate funding from the UK / EU etc.

3. Individual giving – while there is an overlap between High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI) and philanthropic trusts & foundations, developing a HNWI giving programme is not, for now, a large part of our strategy.

You’ll be the kind of person who sees connections, chases opportunities, gets out from behind your desk to meet people, and influences internally and externally to achieve results. You will be driven, determined, tenacious and focused on solutions. You will not be someone who simply comments on proposals and ensures funder timelines are met, instead you will co-develop the strategies and projects that we will pitch to potential funders.

The Development Director will be our first fulltime fundraising hire, with continued support from the current Project Officer. There is huge potential for the right candidate to grow this role, working directly with the CEO, and a longer-term potential to expand into a fundraising team over time. As the organisation grows (we have grown to 35 people with a turnover of £5m in almost five years, with no sign of slowing down!) it is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in enabling Opportunity Green to achieve our ambitions and have an even greater impact. 

About the candidate

We are looking for a candidate with:

· A passion for using their fundraising skills to tackle climate change.

· Experience of philanthropic, not just institutional/corporate, fundraising in climate / environment / international development sector(s)

· Ability to, over time, understand Opportunity Green so well that they would be almost as comfortable in OG’s project teams as leading on OG’s fundraising.

Desirable skills and experience:

We do not expect any candidate to have all skills listed below but rather we look for transferable skills and potential as well as past experience. We are looking for someone who has:

· Excellent strategic relationship-building skills and proven ability to manage philanthropic donor income streams.

· Experience maximising opportunities and income with current and prospective donors by focusing on strengthening relationships and implementing creative engagement plans.

· Developed and secured new sources of income from trusts and foundations, with a strong focus on funders with a potential to give £1m+ annually.

· Executed a fundraising strategy and develop a strong pipeline, managing a portfolio of current donors at the same time.

· Experience of managing the complexities of restricted income projects.

· Ability to understand diverse donor motivations and deliver a bespoke relationship to meet these. Demonstrable skill in adapting written and verbal communications for a philanthropy audience.

· Engaging presentation and writing skills for tailored presentations, proposals and grant reports for donors.

· Confidence in working with senior stakeholders internally and externally, using tact and diplomacy.

· Organised and methodical approach to plan and deliver against a varied workload, managing competing priorities under your own initiative and to strict deadlines.

· Be financially savvy and able to work with the finance team to ensure new proposals support a full-cost recovery approach.

Diversity and inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are important principles at Opportunity Green. We believe that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective. We are committed to fair and equitable employment practices, and we are striving to ensure that a variety of voices and experiences are included in our organisation. Our commitment to diversity and our parental leave policy are available to view on our website, here.

We will consider all applicants who meet most or all of the essential competencies regardless of their identity or background. That said, we know that diverse candidates may be reluctant to apply for jobs where they don’t meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the job description. We encourage anyone to apply who can demonstrate the variety of skills and experiences relevant to meeting the requirements of this role.

We recognise that many diverse experiences and perspectives are not represented in our current workforce, and are seriously underrepresented across the non-profit sector in general, and as such, we particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities, non-white people, people from marginalised backgrounds, and members of the LGBTQIA+ communities.

We also value flexible working and are open to those who would want to work part-time in this role. This could include for example, a 3-day week or working school hours over 4-day week.

To learn more about our application process and receive advice on how to prepare in such a way as to showcase your full potential, please find our Application Guide here.

What we offer - UK

The successful candidate will be offered an annual salary of £70,000 plus 10% employer-contributed pension. Please note that Opportunity Green has fixed salary scales, with the possibility of step increases with strong performance. When hiring we always hire at the bottom of a band and do not enter negotiations with new employees as negotiations have been historically shown to disadvantage women and minorities.

We take our team’s well-being and professional development seriously. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

· A commitment to work/life balance, with a 4-day work week at 28 hours.

· A generous holiday entitlement of 20 days’ holiday per year, plus bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year’s that does not count towards your holiday entitlement (and expectation that you fully disconnect when taking time off).

· A market-leading pension of 10%.

· A progressive family leave policy, including 26 weeks’ paid leave for the new parent, as well as other support.

· Lots of flexibility within a hybrid working arrangement, with regular opportunities to come together as a team.

· Support for your professional development as part of Opportunity Green, with a budget to support your learning & development plus opportunities to lead projects, publish content, learn from experts, work directly with policymakers and stakeholders, and take part in conferences and events.

However, it is important to note that while this role is permanent, employment is always reliant on Opportunity Green continuing to receive philanthropic support from our funders, which we expect every member of the team to play their part in working towards.

What we offer - Belgium

The successful candidate will be offered a monthly salary of €6,106.32 plus 8% employer-contributed pension. Please note that Opportunity Green has fixed salary scales, with the possibility of step increases with strong performance. When hiring we always hire at the bottom of a band and do not enter negotiations with new employees as negotiations have been historically shown to disadvantage women and minorities.

We take our team’s well-being and professional development seriously. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer:

· A commitment to work/life balance, with a 4-day work week at 28 hours.

· A generous holiday entitlement of 20 days’ holiday per year, made up of 16 legal annual leave days and 4 extra-legal holiday days, plus Belgian bank holidays. Additional office closure between Christmas and New Year’s that does not count towards your holiday entitlement (and expectation that you fully disconnect when taking time off).

· A market-leading pension of 8%.

· A progressive family leave policy, including 26 weeks’ paid leave for the new parent, as well as other support.

· Lots of flexibility within a hybrid working arrangement, with regular opportunities to come together as a team.

· Support for your professional development as part of Opportunity Green, with a budget to support your learning & development plus opportunities to lead projects, publish content, learn from experts, work directly with policymakers and stakeholders, and take part in conferences and events.

However, it is important to note that while this role is permanent, employment is always reliant on Opportunity Green continuing to receive philanthropic support from our funders, which we expect every member of the team to play their part in working towards.

How to apply

To minimise the risk of unconscious bias, we ask that applicants remove certain identifying elements from their CVs. If you do not remove these details, we reserve the right to withdraw your application from review.

· Photos

· Name – if needed, please use ‘Applicant’

· Age

· Email and/or phone number

We also reserve the right to withdraw your application from review if you use AI tools such as Chat GPT to complete the sift questions / write your CV.

Unfortunately, if you do not already hold the right to work in the UK or Belgium, Opportunity Green will not be able to consider your application at this time.

The closing date for applications is 29 June 2026 at 9am GMT.  

We actively encourage applicants to reach out if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to help them demonstrate their full potential in the hiring process. 

Please get in touch and we can discuss how to best make the recruitment process as accessible and comfortable for you as possible.

You can read our application guide here.

What happens next?

We will review applications after closing date. Over the last few months, we have been receiving between 100-400 applications per role. Our small team cannot manage such high volumes without impacting the delivery of our work. If we receive a large volume of applications for this role, we reserve the right to part-review your application. This would include reviewing CVs first, looking for match with essential job requirements as stated above. Only pre-shortlisted candidates will have their full application reviewed.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an online interview to discuss their experience and suitability for the role. After this, candidates that are most suitable for the vacancy will be invited for an in-person interview in our London office, for which there may also be a short task. Travel will be reimbursed for non-London-based applicants (within the UK) and for Belgium-based candidates.

Online interviews are likely to take place w/c 13th July. In person interviews will likely be shortly after this (w/c 20th July).

We reserve the right to ask for references during the recruitment process.

If you have any questions, or you need any reasonable adjustments at the application stage, please contact us.

Ashden’s mission is to showcase outstanding climate solutions and accelerate systemic change that unleashes their transformative potential. Our vision is of a world where everyone enjoys access to clean energy. Where people and nature thrive.

For over 25 years, Ashden has worked with enterprises and organisations in the UK and the Global South to find, champion and scale solutions to the climate crisis. We excel in storytelling that connects these solutions with the policymakers, funders and investors poised to help them scale and maximise their impact.  Our support is expanding access to affordable clean energy to farms, villages and refugee camps in the Global South. In the UK, we are helping create warmer homes, greener schools and accelerating climate action across our towns and cities.

Ashden is a highly regarded and well-connected organisation with a strong brand and a track record of building meaningful relationships with high value and high-profile individuals. We are excited to build on the good work already achieved to further scale fundraising in this area.

You will be joining Ashden at a pivotal moment. In 2024, we launched our Changemakers campaign to secure mission-aligned funding from donors making four and five-figure gifts and beyond - a programme you will personally lead and continue to shape and develop - an exciting opportunity to nuture an emerging initiative by stewarding and uplifting current donors whilst attracting new supporters. Working in close partnership with the Director of Business Development, you will also proactively support the prospecting, cultivation and stewardship of both new and existing donors to secure transformational seven-figure gifts. As our Major Donor Lead you will have the opportunity to define, refine and strengthen our major donor proposition more broadly, securing both unrestricted and restricted income to support our long-term impact.

We’re seeking an experienced fundraiser with a track record of securing major gifts and building strong relationships with high-net-worth individuals. While climate or environmental exposure is not essential, alignment with Ashden's values and passion for driving systems change is crucial. You’ll be supported by a collaborative team, including senior leadership and Trustees, and will have key strategic and operational input into the success of our fundraising, the growth of the team, and the broader impact of our charity.

This is a stimulating and rewarding opportunity for someone looking to develop their career within a highly collaborative, passionate and visionary organisation. It is also an outstanding opportunity for those keen to deepen their experience and insight in philanthropy at the highest levels, including meaningful exposure to pioneering venture philanthropy and innovative impact-led funding models.

Location: Hybrid, ideally 2 days in London, pending donor meetings and events

Hours: Full Time with flexible working agreed. Part time hours or compressed hours will also be considered.

To read more about the role and organisation, please download the full appointment brief below.

Closing Date: 11 June 2026

People Beyond Profit Conversations: 15-19 June 2026

Ashden Interviews: 25 June 2026 (online) and 2 July 2026 (in person).

Head of Grants

We are seeking an experienced grants leader to shape and deliver an ambitious funding strategy that expands access to outdoor learning, green skills and land-based education across the UK.

Position: Head of Grants
Salary: £50,000 to £53,000 per annum
Location: Quenington, Gloucestershire with hybrid working considered
Hours: 35 hours per week, full-time
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 17 June 2026

About the Role

This is a senior leadership opportunity to lead and develop a strategic grant-making programme focused on increasing equitable access to outdoor learning, land-based education and green skills.

Reporting to the Director of Learning, you will oversee the full grants lifecycle, ensuring funding programmes deliver meaningful impact while responding to environmental, social and educational priorities. You will also play a key role in building partnerships, influencing the wider sector and helping to shape future funding approaches.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and delivery of the organisation's grants strategy
• Overseeing grant programmes from design through to evaluation and learning
• Building strategic partnerships with funders, policymakers and sector organisations
• Developing collaborative networks that strengthen the voice and influence of the sector
• Embedding equitable, trust-based and relationship-driven funding approaches
• Championing youth participation and ensuring lived experience informs decision-making
• Using insight, learning and evidence to improve grant-making effectiveness
• Managing budgets, resources and operational planning
• Providing leadership, support and development to a high-performing team
• Contributing to organisational strategy as a member of the senior leadership team

About You

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative leader with significant experience in grant-making and partnership development.

You will have:

• Strong experience leading strategic grant-making programmes
• Excellent knowledge of land-based sectors
• Experience of youth engagement, participation or leadership development
• A track record of building successful partnerships and cross-sector collaborations
• Experience using evidence, learning and insight to inform decision-making
• Outstanding communication, influencing and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and reporting abilities
• A commitment to equity, inclusion and widening access to opportunities
• The ability to lead, inspire and develop teams

You will also bring a proactive, adaptable and solutions-focused approach, together with a genuine passion for creating positive change through education and connection with nature.

About the Organisation

The organisation is one of the UK’s leading outdoor learning charities, helping children and young people connect with nature, develop skills and improve life opportunities through learning from the land. Rooted in the conservation and stewardship of the countryside, the charity manages significant estates while supporting environmental sustainability, partnerships and community impact across the UK.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Head of Funding, Head of Programmes, Grants Director, Funding Director, Head of Partnerships, Director of Impact, Director of Programmes, Head of Philanthropy, Funding and Partnerships Manager, Strategic Programmes Manager, Trusts and Foundations Lead, Head of Social Impact. #INDNFP

If you are an experienced grants professional looking to influence strategy, build partnerships and create lasting impact through education and nature-based learning, we would love to hear from you.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People. 

The Role:

This is a pivotal moment for Dialogue Earth. As news organisations continue to retreat from climate coverage and the funding landscape for independent journalism becomes more challenging, we are looking for a Director of Development who can help us strengthen existing funder relationships, build new partnerships and shape our funding strategy for the years ahead.

You will work closely with the CEO, senior colleagues, and trustees to develop a clear funding strategy, identify new opportunities, lead high-quality proposals and ensure funders understand the value and impact of Dialogue Earth’s work.

The Director of Development will be a key member of the senior management team, and share responsibility for delivering Dialogue Earth’s mission. 

What we are looking for:

Essential

• Commitment to our mission – the search for shared global solutions to climate change and the environmental crisis. 

• Dedication to our values of openness, dialogue, ecological and informational integrity, and justice. 

• Significant senior leadership experience in partnerships, philanthropy or income development, with a strong and demonstrable track record of securing and growing funding from a range of sources. 

• You will possess both strategic insight and hands-on experience, be networked across the charitable funding sector, and combine commercial thinking with a deep understanding of the NGO and fundraising landscape.

• Strategic judgement and strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to communicate clearly, analyse complex information and influence a range of stakeholders.

• A proactive and collaborative approach, with the ability to navigate complex funding landscapes and deliver against ambitious targets.

Main responsibilities: 

• Develop and execute a clear income growth strategy with defined targets, milestones, and measurable outcomes.

• Oversee the development of an updated funding pipeline.

• Lead and develop Dialogue Earth’s small focused fundraising team with clear objectives and accountability.

• Lead on Dialogue Earth’s engagement with existing and potential funders.

• Ensure funding reports are prepared and delivered on time.

• Lead on the submission of funding proposals, ensuring they are in line with editorial priorities and budgeted appropriately.

• Provide strategic oversight of key income generating events, ensuring they are leveraged effectively to cultivate and secure high value support.

• Support Trustees to act as effective ambassadors and introducers.

• Contribute actively to the senior management team, ensuring fundraising is embedded within wider organisational strategy and decision making.

Essential experience, knowledge and skills: 

• Proven track record of securing significant funding commitments.

• Experience of creating an organisational fundraising strategy and enacting a strategic plan

• Experience building and converting a strong major donor pipeline, including multi-year commitments.

• Demonstrated ability to lead high value partnership or funding conversations and personally secure significant commitments.

• Experience setting and delivering against ambitious income growth targets.

• Experience of leading and developing a small team 

• Experience of contributing as part of a senior management team, with the ability to help shape organisational strategy 

• A natural relationship builder, able to establish trust quickly and sustain long term partnerships with high value supporters.

• Comfortable with accountability and transparent performance measurement.

• Self-aware, pragmatic, and calm under pressure.

• Demonstrates alignment with the values of Dialogue Earth and a commitment to collaborative, high-performance working.

Head of Challenge Events and Community Fundraising

£57,986 pa + Excellent benefits

Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working (minimum 40% in person collaboration per month)

To avoid missing out, we encourage you to apply as early as possible, as this vacancy may close before the deadline in the event that the right candidate has been found.

About the role

We’re looking for a strategic and results-driven Head of Events and Community Fundraising to lead and grow one of WWF-UK’s most important fundraising income streams.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver an ambitious Events and Community Fundraising strategy, driving sustainable income growth across a diverse portfolio of challenge events, mass participation products and community fundraising activity.

You’ll lead the development and evolution of the existing portfolio while identifying and delivering new fundraising products, partnerships and opportunities that engage supporters and grow impact. Working across the organisation and with external partners, you will play a key role in ensuring WWF-UK continues to build strong supporter relationships and deliver excellent fundraising experiences.

As an experienced and inspiring leader, you will lead a high-performing team, creating a collaborative, ambitious and supportive environment where people can thrive and deliver strong results. You’ll work closely with senior stakeholders across WWF-UK and externally, building trusted relationships that support innovation, growth and delivery.

This role requires a strong combination of strategic thinking and operational delivery.

You’ll oversee complex budgets, performance reporting and planning, using insight, evidence and supporter feedback to drive decision-making, continuous improvement and long-term growth.

We’re looking for someone who brings strong fundraising expertise, commercial awareness, creativity and a proactive mindset, alongside a genuine passion for delivering meaningful supporter engagement and impact.

Skills and experience

You’ll bring the skills and experience needed to succeed in this role, including:

Essential

· Extensive experience in Events and/or Community Fundraising, with a strong track record of delivering and growing income

· Significant experience of developing and delivering successful fundraising strategies and plans that achieve measurable results

· Experience of driving growth across fundraising products, events, partnerships or community fundraising activity

· Proven experience of developing, launching and scaling new fundraising products, events or income-generating initiatives

· Strong experience of leading, motivating and developing high-performing teams

· Experience of managing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders, priorities and deliverables

· Significant experience of setting, managing and delivering large-scale income and expenditure budgets

· Experience of managing senior-level internal and external relationships, including corporates, sponsors, suppliers or strategic partners

· Strong understanding of supporter acquisition, retention and lifetime value approaches

· Experience of leading effective fundraising marketing or supporter engagement activity across multiple channels

· Strong commercial awareness and ability to use insight, evidence and performance data to drive decision-making and continuous improvement

· Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills

· Experience of working collaboratively across teams and functions to deliver shared organisational goals

· Good understanding of fundraising regulation, compliance, GDPR and supporter data responsibilities

· Strong organisational, planning and prioritisation skills

· Ability to lead through change, bring people with you and create clarity and focus within teams

· Results-focused, proactive and solutions-oriented approach

Desirable

· Experience working within the charity or not-for-profit sector

· Experience of negotiating and managing contracts or supplier agreements

· Experience of community-led fundraising or mass participation campaigns

· Confident and engaging public speaking or presentation skills

· Experience of working across complex or matrix organisations

· Understanding of innovative fundraising trends, products and audience engagement approaches

What we offer

We believe in rewarding our team with more than just a salary. Here’s what you can expect:

• Annual leave starting at 26 days a year pro-rated, rising one day each year to 31 days plus bank holidays

• Flexible working options, to support your work life balance

• 5% employer contribution to pension, rising to 10% with employee contribution

• Learning and development opportunities to help you grow

• Regular wellbeing initiatives to support your health and happiness.

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

This role is hybrid with a minimum 40% of your contracted hours spent at our beautiful UK head office, the Living Planet Centre in Woking, Surrey, where you’ll hot desk among trees and gardens.

About WWF-UK

We're a global conservation charity with millions of supporters and hundreds of projects around the world.

At WWF-UK, we’re bringing our world back to life. Protecting what’s left isn’t enough. We’re racing to restore nature and prevent catastrophic climate change. And it’s a race we can win with everyone’s help.

We’re courageous, passionate, and driven by science. For more than 60 years we’ve been at the forefront of global efforts to protect wildlife and the natural world. We work with integrity, collaboration and deep respect for those we partner with.

How to apply

Click the link to apply via our website. You’ll be asked to complete an application form and upload your CV and a supporting statement that tells us why you’ll be a great addition to WWF-UK.

Application closing date

10/06/2026

Our Diversity Promise to You

At the heart of our mission is a simple truth: the planet needs everyone. That means you - in all your uniqueness, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or how you choose to express yourself.

We don’t do stereotypes. We work together with purpose, driven by passion and enhanced by respect, courage, and integrity. We pull together from all walks of life to fight for a better future, and we want you to feel supported every step of the way.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels they belong. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

So, if there’s anything we can do to make your application or interview experience more comfortable or accessible, just give our Talent Acquisition Team a shout via our website.

Safeguarding Commitment

Just as we celebrate diversity in all its forms, we are equally dedicated to creating a safe environment for every person we work with or encounter.

Our commitment extends to children, adults at risk, and individuals experiencing any form of vulnerability, whether temporary or permanent.

We proudly stand behind CAPSEAH (Common Approach to Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment) and put this commitment into action through clear policies, thorough training, and recruitment checks tailored to each role, which may include external vetting.

If you ever have a concern, however big or small, know that there are confidential channels ready to support you at WWF-UK. We promise to respond promptly and with care, because protecting every individual is at the heart of everything we do.

NEF are looking for a talented Senior Economist to lead policy and research work on social policy issues, with a particular focus on labour markets, social security, and incomes.

In this role, you would conduct research and advocacy on labour markets, and help NEF to make the case for an adequate and supportive social security system, both to reduce poverty but also to improve conditions in the labour market and help more people into good jobs. Alongside this, you will also support with wider work on housing and public services.

This role will manage an exciting programme of work at a critical time. You will use your outstanding technical expertise and project management experience to design and deliver quality, cutting-edge research capable of winning changes in policy and public opinion.

You will be a passionate champion of our work – influencing policy and decision makers in government, the civil service political parties, as well as civil society organisations and media who are shaping the debate. This will be a fantastic opportunity for someone who can demonstrate progressively senior responsibility and impact in an economist role, and who is looking for their next challenge.

You will bring outstanding technical skills and subject knowledge, as well as a good understanding of how to effect changes in policy and practice. You will have excellent verbal and written communication skills, and be an effective project manager, line manager and fundraiser.

Role: Senior Economist – Labour Markets and Social Security
Hours of work: Full Time (32 hours per week under NEF’s Shorter Working Week)
Salary: £54,470 - £60,480
Location: London (in-office minimum two days per week)
Contract type: Permanent

How to apply

Deadline for applications: midnight, 14th June 2026
Interviews:  First stage interviews 25th June with second stage in person interviews on the 7th July

Start date: ASAP

Please send your CV (no longer than two pages) and covering letter (no longer than two pages) outlining how you meet the person specification in Word format.

Please also complete the Equality and Diversity monitoring form.

You must be eligible to work in the UK, as we are unable to sponsor visas.

Inclusivity at NEF:

NEF wants to be an inclusive workplace with a diverse body of staff. We don’t want to conform to the traditional think-tank model where people from certain backgrounds are hugely under-represented. We know we have some way to go in this and are therefore genuinely keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; women; neurodivergent people; disabled people; people who identify as LGBT+; people with experience of mental health problems; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.

Accessibility and Equal Opportunity:

We value all candidates and are committed to equal opportunity. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the application process, or would like information in an alternative format, please let us know.

We actively promote positive action to advance fairness and tackle underrepresentation within our workforce.

A rare chance to build something from zero — and see your work move millions of pounds to the world's most effective charities.
 

The opportunity

In recent years, some of the biggest problems in the world have gotten worse.

• The decades-long decline in extreme poverty has slowed.
• Factory farming continues to grow, with 13 billion farmed animals killed annually in the U.S. alone.
• The rapid deployment of increasingly powerful AI systems raises questions about safety and alignment that remain largely unresolved.

What gives us hope is that research-backed, scalable, but grossly underfunded ways to make progress on these problems exist.

More than 11,000 people have pledged at least 10% of their income to the world's most effective charities through Giving What We Can's 10% Pledge. Our global community gives over £63 million every year, funding malaria prevention, poverty reduction, animal welfare, AI safety research, and more.

GWWC has over 5,000 UK donors. £12.5M came from the top 300 alone in 2025. Despite this, there has been virtually no proactive relationship management. We believe there's huge potential to increase this figure with dedicated, high-quality donor stewardship.

London is GWWC's largest concentration of community members: over 2,600 CRM contacts and over 500 active pledgers. It's the natural centre of gravity for events and in-person engagement, with a rich ecosystem of high-net-worth individuals aligned with effective giving.
 

What you'll do

Build deep, lasting relationships with donors and pledgers. You'll proactively manage a portfolio of GWWC's highest-value community members through 1:1 meetings, calls, and thoughtful follow-up. Expect 8 to 10 meaningful conversations per week: coffees, dinners, calls.

Guide donors toward the highest-impact giving. Think of it as philanthropic advising. You're helping people think through where their giving goes furthest, directing generosity toward GWWC-recommended, evidence-backed charities. You'll also inspire people to give more, helping them see why giving more significantly and effectively can transform the impact they have with their donations.

Run high-quality donor events. Intimate dinners, networking evenings, and community gatherings. You'll have an events budget and the freedom to experiment with formats that build connection.

Re-engage lapsed and non-reporting donors. When someone takes a pledge with GWWC, they commit to giving 10% of their income to effective charities. Some donors give through our platform (where we can track it), while others give directly to charities and report it back to us. Over time, many stop doing either: our data shows recording rates drop from 60% in year one to just 22% by year five without any proactive engagement. These aren't necessarily people who've stopped caring; many have simply drifted without anyone checking in. A single outreach test to 369 lapsed donors recovered $2.3M in reported donations. You'll do this systematically, bringing recording rates to around 70% for the group of people you're engaging with.

Inspire warm leads to take a giving pledge. Follow up with people who've attended events, expressed interest, or sit in our CRM but haven't yet committed. We expect approximately 80 new pledges per year from this work.

Build the strategy. You'll build the strategy in partnership with your counterpart in the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a joint endeavour: together you'll develop the model for how GWWC does donor engagement, then adapt it for each geography to replicate globally.
 

What we're looking for

A social chameleon with high EQ. You can read a room and calibrate, holding your own at a black-tie dinner or a casual coffee with equal ease. Different donors need different things; you instinctively know which register to use.

Energised by getting out there. You're the kind of person who'd rather have ten meetings in a week than five. You want to be out in the world, meeting people, opening doors, and building relationships. Some weeks half your outreach will go unanswered, and that doesn't slow you down.

Highly organised and strategic. You're able to use a CRM to maximise the number and quality of interactions you have, thinking strategically about how to invest the most time on the highest-potential opportunities, whether that's inspiring new donors or stewarding existing ones to give more.

Super agentic. Give you KPI targets and a CRM and you'll build the strategy from there. You're the kind of person who doesn't need to be told what to do next, you just see what needs doing and get on with it.

You really care deeply about these issues. You find the core questions of effective giving compelling. You can talk about why cost-effectiveness matters without sounding robotic, and you come across as authentic because you actually care about these issues.

5+ years of relevant experience. In fundraising, philanthropy, donor stewardship, major gifts, high-touch relationship management, or senior sales and partnerships. We care about what you can do, not credentials, but this is a senior role that requires demonstrated experience.
 

Nice to haves

We definitely don't expect any candidate to have all of these.

• Experience or familiarity with global catastrophic risks, global health and wellbeing, or animal welfare as cause areas
• Experience in the effective altruism or effective giving ecosystem
• Experience running or hosting donor events
• Experience with HubSpot specifically (CRM proficiency is essential, but HubSpot experience is a bonus)
• Understanding of UK tax-efficient giving (Gift Aid, share donations via ShareGift, payroll giving)
• Being a GWWC pledger yourself
• People management aptitude (you may grow a small team over time)
   

Compensation and benefits

• £77,000 – £89,000 depending on experience You can see how we calculate pay in our public salary calculator. 
• Contract: One-year fixed-term contract with a three-month probation period. We're open to exploring making it permanent if the first year is successful.

Benefits include:

• Fully remote work (with regular in-person donor meetings and events as part of the role)
• 25 days paid leave + public holidays
• 10% employer pension contribution and private health insurance
• £4,000 annual professional development budget
• £4,000 annual mental health support budget
• The knowledge that your work moves millions of pounds to the world's most effective charities
   

About us

Giving What We Can is working towards a world without preventable suffering or existential risk, where everyone is able to flourish. We do this by making giving effectively and significantly a norm among those who can afford it.

Founded in 2009, we are best known for the 10% Pledge, where over 11,000 people have committed to donating at least 10% of their lifetime income to highly effective charities. Our larger community of ~20,000 pledgers and donors currently gives ~£63M annually, of which GWWC processes and grants £24M+ yearly through our own donation platform.

We're a lean, remote, performance-focused team. Our impact evaluation shows a 7x multiplier: every $1 spent on our operations generates $7 in donations to highly effective charities. We're committed to a high level of transparency. And we're growing fast, on track for more than 40% year-over-year growth on donations in 2026.

You'll report to: James Rayton, Director of Community & Partnerships
 

How to apply

You can apply by filling out the form linked in this job ad. We review applications on a rolling basis and will move quickly when we find the right person. Our process typically includes: application review → screening call → paid work test → interviews with James (line manager) and cross-functional team members → paid work trial → reference checks and interview with the CEO. We provide compensation for all work tests and trials.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Giving What We Can is committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourages applications from people of all backgrounds.

A rare and newly-created opportunity to join David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) as Director of Development at a pivotal moment of growth. As part of the Senior Mangement Team (SMT) you will help shape the future direction of the Foundation, leading its fundraising strategy, inspiring support and delivering significant and sustainable income growth.

We are looking for a collaborative team player, who leads with integrity, warmth and passion. Experience in the conservation sector is an advantage but not a prerequisite. The right candidate will be the person who can prove that they are able to ignite action, build lasting relationships and generate meaningful growth in support of the DSWF’s mission.   

Throughout the interview process we’ll be keen to hear about your track record in fundraising at a leadership level and your experience of making an impact on an organisation of our size or larger. You will demonstrate how you develop strategies and implement them successfully, show an understanding of DSWF’s existing development portfolio, and a view on where you see you might help to take us over the next 3 years and beyond.

Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Director of Development (DoD)
Reports to: CEO
Works closely with: CEO/COO/CFO as part of the SMT
Line manages: Development Team: Development Manager, Trust and Foundations Manager, Development Executive, CRM Executive
Hours: Part-time, 28 hours per week (4 days)
Location: Hybrid working between the DSWF Shalford Office (GU4 8JU) for a minimum of two days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and home with occasional travel
Annual Leave: 25 days per annum pro rata. Bank Holidays are also provided, and at DSWF’s discretion the office usually closes between Christmas and New Year (additional to annual leave)
Salary: Competitive executive-level salary dependent on experience and breadth of impact. Please ask for salary range on application.
Start date: Asap.

Summary of the Role
The Director of Development (DoD) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all fundraising income and supporter engagement activity at DSWF. The role is accountable for delivering sustainable, diversified revenue growth aligned with DSWF’s mission across conservation, education and art, while building lasting relationships with major donors, trusts, foundations, corporate partners and senior supporters.

Working in close partnership with the CEO, COO, CFO, and Board of Trustees, the DoD translates organisational strategy into compelling Cases for Support, effective fundraising plans and measurable outcomes. The postholder leads and develops a high-performing Development team, ensuring strong delivery and continuous improvement.

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Director shares responsibility for shaping the Foundation’s overall direction, contributing to governance, organisational culture and high-level strategic decision-making.

This is a pivotal position combining senior management with hands-on major gift fundraising and team leadership. Central to enabling the Foundation’s long-term impact and growth, the DoD is a driving force behind DSWF’s ability to successfully deliver its mission to protect endangered species in Africa and Asia.

Key responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
•Lead on the development, implementation, delivery and continuous refinement of DSWF’s multi-year Development strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long-term financial sustainability.
•Advise the CEO and Trustees on fundraising performance, trends, risks and opportunities.
•Own and articulate the organisational Case/s for Support, ensuring a clear, compelling narrative that integrates conservation impact, education outcomes and artistic heritage.
•Working closely with the rest of the SMT, embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation, enabling all team members, Trustees and ambassadors to actively support income generation.
•As part of SMT, be jointly responsible for over-arching decisions regarding the direction of the Foundation, its mission, strategies and culture.

Major & Strategic Fundraising
•Working closely with the CEO, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of DSWF’s most significant donors and prospects, including major individual donors, trusts and foundations, legacy campaigns and strategic partners.
•Responsible, alongside the CEO, for the overall management of all corporate partnerships and sponsors.
•Design and lead bespoke solicitation strategies for new high-value prospects, involving the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues as appropriate.
•Oversee the development of structured approaches to major giving, trusts & foundations, legacy giving and corporate partnerships.
•Have strategic oversight of lower-level individual giving programmes including appeals, regular individual giving and adoption schemes.
•Be responsible and ensure best practice in prospect research, due diligence, stewardship and ethical fundraising.

Team Leadership & Management
•Lead, manage and develop the Development team, setting clear objectives, KPIs and income targets aligned to the overall strategy.
•Ensure the structure, resourcing and capabilities of the team are fit for purpose and scalable as income grows.
•Coach and support all those within the organisation that are responsible for fundraising, providing professional leadership, mentoring and performance management.
•Lead on all training and offer career progression for all staff within the Development team.
•Foster strong collaboration between Development and all departments, including; Policy and Programmes, Marketing and Communications, Education, Art, Finance and Operations.

Supporter Engagement
•Represent DSWF externally with senior donors, partners and sector peers, enhancing the organisation’s profile and credibility.
•Oversee a high-quality supporter journey across all touchpoints, ensuring donors feel valued, informed and connected to impact including lower-level individual giving.
•Champion systematic all level stewardship, donor care and impact reporting to maximise retention, lifetime value and advocacy.
•Ensure accurate, GDPR-compliant data capture and effective use of CRM systems (Beacon) to drive insight-led fundraising.

Events
•This senior role will have overall responsibility for any fundraising or donor profile events (at present this would include the Wildlife Ball which is an annual fundraising/profile raising event that takes place at the Dorchester Hotel).
•Working closely with the rest of SMT, this role will direct the Development team to ensure that all events deliver optimum, high level donor experiences and are run professionally (with logistics and operational support from the COO and team).
•This role will have overall responsibility for ensuring the CEO has all information required to support engagement with donors at all events.

Governance & Reporting
•Report on Development performance to the CEO, SMT and Trustees, providing clear analysis against agreed targets.
•Work closely with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting and long-term income planning.
•Work closely with Finance and legal advisors in relation to all legal matters pertaining to legacies and bequests.
•Ensure all Development activity aligns with regulatory, governance and ethical standards.

Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
•Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising and development within complex, mission-driven non-profit organisations, at Director level or equivalent, where philanthropy is critical to organisational impact and growth.
•Significant experience in leading and delivering long-term development strategies, with a demonstrable track record of translating organisational ambition into clear, costed and achievable fundraising plans.
•Proven ability to set strategic direction across multiple income streams, establish measurable objectives and KPIs and use data and insight to monitor performance, evaluate impact and adapt approach over time.
•Experience of driving sustained income growth, strengthening donor pipelines, and delivering measurable outcomes aligned to organisational priorities and long-term sustainability.
•Deep understanding of the UK philanthropic landscape, with well-established networks across major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates and high-net-worth individuals and the ability to build credibility and influence rapidly at national and international levels.
•Demonstrable experience of leading and scaling fundraising income through periods of organisational change, growth or strategic transformation.
•Proven track record of securing transformational gifts and long-term partnerships from individuals, corporates, trusts and foundations.
•Strong history of inspirational leadership, team building and talent development, with the ability to motivate teams towards ambitious shared goals.
•Experience of working with public sector stakeholders and cross-sector partnerships to advance organisational objectives.
•Experience of implementing and embedding robust CRM systems and donor stewardship frameworks to support data-led decision making and excellent supporter journeys.

Personal Skills, Qualities and Attributes
•Exceptional interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage, influence and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
•A collaborative team player who values partnership working and shared success.
•Strategic, visionary thinker with the confidence and credibility to operate at senior leadership and Board level, influencing internal and external decision-makers.
•A strong personal commitment to wildlife conservation, environmental protection and the role of philanthropy in driving long-term change.
•Clear alignment with DSWF’s mission, vision and values, and a genuine passion for advancing David Shepherd’s legacy through impactful fundraising.
•Entrepreneurial and opportunity-led mindset, with the confidence to set and pursue ambitious income and growth targets.
•Resilient, adaptable and resourceful, with the ability to navigate complexity, manage ambiguity and maintain momentum in a fast-evolving environment.
•Credible and compelling ambassador for DSWF, able to represent the organisation confidently with major donors, partners and at public-facing events.
•Willingness to travel and attend events as required to support donor engagement, stewardship and organisational visibility.
•Commitment to being actively engaged in the life of the organisation, contributing to its culture, leadership and long-term success.

Please note that as part of a small team, the role may include occasional additional duties to help meet the charity’s wider needs.

Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.