Location: London (remote working within the UK is possible)
Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (5 days or 4 days per week pro rata)
Remuneration: £80,000 -£100,000 depending on experience
Role overview
This is a new role within FILE, providing dedicated thought leadership internally and externally with respect to our land use and nature strategies. You will support our partners to accelerate a transition to sustainable food production, secure and enforce sustainable frameworks for extraction of transition minerals, and contribute to safeguarding key global ecosystems, including through enhancing and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
You will work closely with the Director of Program Strategy, Regional Directors, and other portfolio leads to ensure land use and nature strategies are developed and integrated throughout our funding portfolios. Externally, you will build and maintain relationships with some of the world’s leading climate and biodiversity lawyers and campaigners, as well as with aligned philanthropies.
Our land use and nature work mainly supports partners working on protecting habitats in biodiversity rich areas of Africa, South America and South East Asia, including by challenging harmful practices of corporations based in the Global North. Its scope may shift over time, including as the successful candidate refines our strategy going forwards.
We seek to protect the rights of, and support partnerships with, indigenous people and local communities. Key strategic outcomes pursued include confronting supply chains of major corporates that drive greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, and violate the rights of local communities, and securing regulatory changes to drive finance towards cleaner, more equitable alternatives.
Key Responsibilities
Each of these is conducted in close collaboration with relevant colleagues across FILE’s strategy teams, as well as FILE’s Research, Impact, and Learning, Grant Management, and Philanthropic Partnerships teams:
- Lead the development of FILE’s land use and nature strategies, including a focus on legal and narrative and movement-building approaches, as well as on enhancing and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities
- These strategies will set out a well-considered approach to sectors and themes including exploitation of transition minerals, deforestation and biodiversity loss driven by industrial agriculture, addressing rights violations in global corporate supply chains, etc
- Work in close collaboration with strategy, grant making and fundraising leads within FILE to increase access to funding sources and the resilience of partners working in the field
- Developing, maintaining and convening external partnerships and networks with partners and practitioners working on and use and nature strategies
- Provide leadership to the wider philanthropic and donor community on the need for legal interventions in pursuit of FILE’s land use and nature strategy, and support fundraising for FILE as well as directly for our partners
Key Outcomes
- FILE has a well-considered land use and nature strategy, including a focus both on legal and related narrative and movement strategies, which is integrated throughout our funding portfolios
- Increased funding is made available to partner organisations working on land use and nature, via FILE or directly from other philanthropies
- FILE colleagues and external partners have a trusted thought partner and collaborator on developing and implementing land use and nature legal strategies
- Overseeing / establishing high quality convening(s), with support of FILE’s Convening Manager, and networks of civil society and relevant legal practitioners and peers working in this area, to catalyse innovation and strengthen connectivity
- An engaged group of funders, ready to deepen their support for our partners’ work on land use and nature strategies
About you
We know that long lists of criteria can be discouraging and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the relevant criteria, we still encourage you to apply.
We also recognise that skills and experience can be gained in unexpected places, so we welcome applications from candidates who feel they have relevant skills for the role, gained from a wide range of professional, lived and learned experiences.
Essential criteria
- A strong commitment to protecting the environment, reforming corporate and financial governance, strengthening government ambition, and prioritising the rights of indigenous peoples, marginalised groups, and other communities most affected by climate change and environmental harms
- Experience of and expertise in developing and / or delivering legal strategies to advance systemic change on land use and nature
- Demonstrated experience in linking legal strategies to effective communications, campaign, and/or movement strategies to advance systemic change
- An ability to strategically manage projects, including prioritisation and forwards planning
- An ability to work equitably and effectively with multiple perspectives and build trust with diverse partners, and understanding of funder positionality and responsibility.
- A willingness to travel from time to time (at least four times a year, more if working remotely) to meet FILE staff and partners
- An ability to work flexibly as part of a team spread across many time zones, which will involve some meetings outside of standard working hours
- A professional standard of written and spoken English
Desired criteria
- A current or past qualification / bar admission as a lawyer
- Experience of working as a lawyer on strategic litigation against governments, corporations, or financial institutions
- Demonstrated experience of building and / or maintaining external networks, bringing expert practitioners and / or civil society together
- Experience working with communities adversely affected by climate change, environmental harms, and/or related human rights violations, particularly in the Global South
- Existing relationships with NGOs, lawyers, and / or philanthropic partners working on relevant land use and nature strategies
- An ability to communicate with partners in other relevant languages, including Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Bahasa Indonesia, would be a bonus but not essential
About FILE
The Foundation for International Law for the Environment (FILE) is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation working to accelerate legal action on climate change.
Through grant-making and in-house legal expertise, we empower our partners to deliver strategic, innovative legal interventions and we support lawyers in their own countries to bring their own cases.
Legal action can unlock the systemic changes in finance, policy and social systems needed to protect all of us from climate change. The power of the law is both direct (changing policy and practice) and indirect (signalling the wider shifts taking place across these systems).
FILE is a ‘regrantor’ - this means we do not bring legal action in our own name. We receive grants from our philanthropic donors (a small group of like-minded climate foundations) and make onwards grants to partners who align with FILE’s charitable aims and purposes. We do not seek to make any profit from our activities either in a relevant financial year or in the longer term.
Working for FILE
FILE is a collaborative community of individuals who share a passion for climate, nature, and justice. We bring together knowledge and experience to support our mission.
Our people are empowered to lead their work both individually and as part of a wider team in order to make impactful change. As a relatively young organisation with the ambitious mission to change global systems, our roles are ideally suited to those who are highly strategic, flexible and adaptable, and open to growing in line with the Foundation.
FILE is committed to challenging inequality and values diversity, equity and justice in all areas of life. Our mission, work and impact is global, with staff and partners from across the world and a range of lived experiences. We firmly believe that we are strengthened by the diversity of our partners and staff.
At FILE, we actively work to create an inclusive culture where colleagues feel welcomed, heard and supported to succeed and thrive.
Location
FILE has offices in London and the Netherlands. We are advertising this role for candidates based (and with the right to work) in the UK, the Netherlands, Brazil or South Africa but will also consider applications from other locations where we are able to do so.
Please note, therefore, that you will see this role advertised in multiple locations but that we are only hiring for one position. Please apply to the job post for your preferred location.
How FILE supports its staff
FILE is committed to creating a workplace that supports our staff to do their best work and develop professionally. FILE offer a generous annual leave policy and additional time-off work to support wellbeing. Amongst other benefits, FILE offers private healthcare and a contribution to a pension scheme.
FILE is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and encourage candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our team to apply.
Join us in making a tangible difference in the fight against climate change by creating spaces where diverse voices come together to drive impactful solutions.
Applications
Please apply on our website and upload your CV. This role is open for applications immediately and we accept applications on a rolling basis. If you are interested, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. The role will remain open for at least four weeks from the date of advertisement.
Diversity & Inclusion
As an equal opportunities employer, FILE is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join FILE. We are committed to continually learning and improving our diversity and inclusion practices, which can best be done if we are as diverse as the people of the world we’re working to protect.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Full time and permanent from London office
Salary: £40,500 full time and permanent from London office
Benefits: 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), generous workplace pension, wellbeing support, resources for learning & development, and we can offer a modest relocation fund
Join us: You’re curious about how technologies affect power and shape the future. You’re an advocate who wants to speak out for change with a voice that is both nuanced and engaging. You want to help build an organisation that is always learning. You want to cooperate closely with colleagues and partners across the world on a tapestry of topics, developing and sharing diverse skill-sets along the way. You’re keen to explore new multidisciplinary and resourceful methods to achieve meaningful change.
Working together: You’ll join an organisation of 23 people in our Central London office from diverse backgrounds, collaborating, building and learning together. We are delivering our multi-year strategic plan to protect democracy and civic spaces from authoritarian technologies, defend people’s dignity as they seek access and protection, challenge companies who profit from exploitation, and hold governments accountable for the extraordinary powers they amass. We engage stakeholders, institutions, and adversaries with tact and persistence. We target systems-level change and establish safeguards for people across the world so that freedom and privacy will be the foundations of tomorrow’s societies.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
What you’ll be doing
The Legal Officer will conduct advocacy to achieve PI’s goals. This will include legal, policy, research, outreach and public engagement initiatives as PI formulates new and creative ways to demand change globally, including working with our partners across the world.
Essentials
Experiences
- Experience working with international human rights standards and/or national rights frameworks, including enforcing them.
- Experience working with data protection regulations, including enforcing them or ensuring organisational compliance.
- Law degree or equivalent postgraduate diploma in any jurisdiction.
- Admitted/qualified to practice in any jurisdiction.
- Experience in a legal role post admission/qualification.
- Understanding of and experience working within a variety of local, national, and international jurisdictions, including those governed by common law or civil law.
- Experience taking creative approaches to novel legal challenges.
- Experience in NGOs/human rights organisations.
- Knowledge of legal issues related to data and privacy, including data protection and surveillance, or the legal concerns raised by techniques such as the use of artificial intelligence, automated decision-making, data brokerage and profiling.
- Experience mitigating legal risks faced by organisations.
- Passion for technology and its interaction with human rights.
- Proven track record of communicating complex issues to diverse audiences.
- Experience in engaging in strategic advocacy regarding conduct of state or non-state actors.
- Experience in designing and delivering learning and education activities and content, i.e. trainings, workshops, etc
Skills
- Ability to work with and manage relationships with partner organisations, coalitions and counsel.
- Proactive and self-motivated, capable of working unsupervised and taking responsibility for managing relationships with key partners, stakeholders, and adversaries.
- Capable to deliver projects, working collaboratively through delegation and coordination, and incorporate critical reflections into future planning.
- Thoughtful interpersonal skills for engaging with colleagues and stakeholders from experientially, demographically, cognitively, and culturally diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrable excellent written and oral communication skills, with attention to detail and audiences.
Desirable experience and skills
- Knowledge of and experience advocating for the protection of social, economic and cultural rights.
- Record of stakeholder engagement, promoting or enabling meaningful participation of communities and civil society in advocacy.
- Deft at speaking publicly, including with the media and at conferences and high-level stakeholder meetings.
- Experience in identifying, researching, monitoring and documenting technologies and technology-related policies and practices of state actors, companies, and other third-parties.
- Willing and able to travel internationally.
- Fluency in a language other than English, with one of the other 5 UN languages (Spanish, French, Russian, Arabic and Chinese) an asset.
HOW TO APPLY
We want to encourage applicants with diverse experiences, backgrounds and talents. And you might be reading this page and thinking ‘they won’t want someone with my unusual background’. Well, you’d be wrong. Each of us here have followed our unique paths. PI is built on genuine diversity, and we would encourage you to apply if you think you can meet the criteria of the role based on your life experiences.
To apply please send:
- a CV (not more than two pages)
- a covering letter (not more than two pages)
The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 7 May 2025 at 11:59pm BST.
Please send the requested material in one email to recruitment email. Only complete applications will be considered.
The candidates who we choose to interview will be contacted by the end of the day on Monday, 12 May 2025.
Interviews will take place between 19 and 21 May – please reserve these days for a possible interview by video conference.
We may conduct a second round of interviews, which will be decided only after the first round of interviews takes place.
For information about how Privacy International will use your data during recruitment please see the policy on our website
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Salary range £27,000 – £30,000 per annum | 35 hours per week (Full-time) | Fixed term contract to March 2026 with possibility of extension
Hybrid work model involving home and weekly office-based working in Bethnal Green
Do you want to be at the forefront of national reforms improving access to justice for sexual violence survivors?
Women and Girls Network (WGN) and Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) are seeking a committed paralegal with feminist values to join its Legal team and play a part in this ground-breaking new work.
The successful applicant will work as part of WGN, supporting survivors of sexual violence to access high quality legal advice relating to their rights as survivors of sexual violence within the criminal justice system.
About the role
We are seeking a motivated and empathetic Sexual Violence Paralegal to join our Sexual Violence Legal team and support the delivery of our pioneering Sexual Violence Legal Pilot. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic, survivor-centred legal service committed to improving access to justice for those affected by sexual violence.
As a key member of the legal team, you will assist lawyers with casework, support client care, and ensure the smooth operation of our legal advice service. Your role will be integral to ensuring survivors receive high-quality, compassionate, and informed legal support.
About you
You are highly organised, detail-oriented, and committed to working in a trauma-informed, survivor-focused manner. You bring a strong interest in legal issues affecting survivors of sexual violence and are eager to learn and contribute meaningfully to the work of the team. Experience working in a legal or support services setting is desirable.
About us
Women and Girls Network (WGN) was established in 1987 and has spent over 30 years supporting women and girls across London affected by gendered violence. This includes childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, prostitution (including trafficking and sexual exploitation), female genital mutilation (FGM), and so-called ‘honour’ based crimes such as forced marriage. Our goal is to promote, preserve, and restore the mental health and wellbeing of women and girls, to empower them to make a total and sustainable recovery from the experiences of violence.
The Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) aims to help women and girls who are subject to male violence get better access to legal remedies to defend and enhance their rights; CWJ’s mission is to hold the state to account and challenge discrimination in the justice system around male violence against women and girls.
How to apply
Please visit our website for more information and to download an application form. Completed application forms and equal opportunities monitoring forms should be submitted by 9am on Tuesday 27th May 2025.
Interview details
Interviews are expected to take place on 17th June 2025, however, please note that dates may be subject to change.
Further information
We welcome and encourage applications from women of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Ethnic communities.
WGN’s employee benefits include: 3% pension contribution, enhanced leave entitlement and an Employee Assistance Programme, as well as the opportunity to work with a leading multi-cultural, women-led feminist charity.
This post is subject to satisfactory references, DBS check, and social media check.
WGN is an equal opportunities employer.
The above post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1
Registered Charity
51 - 100
We promote social change that transforms societal attitudes, practices, and policies to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.