Executive Director

About Friends of the Earth

Our vision

Our vision for the future is one in which those most at risk are protected, the earth’s ecosystems are able to regenerate, and all are able to live healthy and fulfilling lives within planetary boundaries.

All our work is pointing towards delivering the Organisational Goal for 2030 – by 2030, the next generation will enjoy an environment that’s getting better: a safer climate, flourishing nature, and healthy air, water and food.

Our theory of change is still that grassroots power is the best way to change the politics and result in the policies we need. We are one of the few organisations that can be both on the ground in communities, and locking in change through campaigning, legal, planning and policy interventions.

Our emphasis now is that with a clearer understanding of the needs and priorities of those most affected by climate and ecological breakdown, we campaign by whatever (legal) means necessary to demand fair solutions to the crises, and clearly differentiate ourselves as an environmental justice organisation.

Our values

• Integrity: demonstrating integrity through everything we do, internally and externally, by honouring all our work commitments which are in line with our strategy, values and urgency of our mission.
• Impact: making the biggest impact we can through good analysis of judgements, insight, regular feedback and focus.
• Leadership: motivating others through our individual and collective actions, our compelling vision and our clarity on what work needs to be done.
• Focus on Friends: to build our power and influence, we put new ‘friends’ we want in Friends of the Earth at the heart of our work, as well as existing ‘friends’.
• Accountability: holding ourselves and others to account for work and how we work.
• Learning and Inquiring mindset: learning continuously, challenging our own assumptions and habits while expanding our horizons to enable us to improve the impact of our work.

Job Summary

Can you lead Friends of the Earth in our mission to achieve climate justice?

We are seeking to appoint an Executive Director to lead Friends of the Earth (England, Wales & Northern Ireland) at a crucial domestic and international moment for climate, environmental and social justice.

You will motivate, inspire and build the capacity of a growing and diverse network of people coming together to transform our environment into one which is flourishing, sustainable, and socially just.

You will do this as a passionate and effective advocate for an environment that’s getting better, a safer climate, abundant nature, healthy air, water and food. We work from the grassroots to the global in communities throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland to playing our part in the international network of our sister organisations around the world.

We are looking for someone with established credibility and standing within the environmental and/or social justice sectors, someone able to inspire our activists, staff and allies, and to attract funding and resources to enable our vital work; someone with outstanding strategic vision and organisational leadership as well as a collaborative approach to build and deliver transformative work internally and externally.

With exceptional communication and relationship skills and an empathetic approach, you will inspire and lead our engagement across the political landscape and with a widening range of communities.

Fostering equity, diversity and inclusion, including our commitment to becoming an anti-racist organisation, you will be key to our work in pursuit of a just and sustainable world for all.

Our staff body is currently under-representative of people of colour, LGBTQIA+ people and people with long term conditions or impairments. We are committed to eroding these historic barriers, so as to create a movement in which people from all walks of life see themselves included, and so we particularly encourage you to apply if you belong to one of these groups or sit at multiple intersections of disadvantage. We are committed to the Disability Confident standard and will guarantee an interview to any candidates who declare a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Strategic leadership and planning

• Lead and promote Friends of the Earth’s unique role in the urgent and critical context of the climate and ecological emergency
• Create and articulate a clear vision for the organisation, maintaining focus and strategic direction even when faced with competing priorities
• Bring our organisational strategy to life, maintaining relevance with external developments while at the same time ensuring delivery and impact through effective operationalisation
• Foster a positive, cross-functional team culture in which our people thrive and excel, across the organisation and the wider movement, prioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Build internal capacity for enabling campaigns and organising at local, regional and national levels

Organisational leadership and management

• Lead the Senior Leadership Team’s reporting to both Friends of the Earth boards on organisational strategy, annual business planning and budgets, quarterly campaign and activism reports, finance, people and operations
• Build an effective, cohesive and high performing Senior Leadership Team with a culture of accountability and ownership throughout the organisation
• Work closely with our Union partners to ensure a harmonious and equitable work culture in pursuit of our shared goals
• Play a leading role in generating sustainable income and oversee strategies for fundraising growth
• Ensure prudent allocation of financial resources to deliver the organisation’s goals
• Ensure Friends of the Earth operates in accordance with its legal responsibilities with effective systems of governance, risk management and control
• Support the Board and Trustees in meeting their governance responsibilities

Campaigns, advocacy and stakeholder engagement

• Provide leadership and direction for the organisation’s theory of change, ensuring its relevance, vibrancy and impact
• Serve as a compelling advocate and ambassador for Friends of the Earth, enhancing its reputation while protecting the integrity of its brand
• Build and maintain strong relationships with policymakers, funding partners, media and other influential stakeholders
• Champion diversity in Friends of the Earth’s voice and build capacity of external spokespeople from within the senior team and wider movement
• Ensure effective representation in the wider international Friends of the Earth movement
• Lead successful advocacy efforts within the UK political and policy environment, both in Westminster and the devolved nations and regions
• Build and steer shared agendas across the environmental sector through effective partnership building with peer organisations and through sector coalitions

Essential criteria

• Proven senior leadership experience in large or complex organisations, including successful campaign delivery, fundraising strategy, and charity governance
• Highly regarded for your contribution and leadership in the environmental, social justice or related fields, with deep commitment to Friends of the Earth’s mission
• Outstanding strategic vision with the ability to line up internal and external stakeholders behind a shared agenda
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, including public speaking, donor engagement, and ability to interact with diverse groups
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles, with strong track record in community engagement
• Strong understanding of UK political landscape with proven ability to deliver impact at multiple levels of influence (local, national, international)
• Highest levels of integrity with a commitment to transparent and inclusive decision making and a strong ethical approach to navigating complex situations.

Leadership and management

• Substantial achievement at senior management level in a related sector (non-profit, public sector or values-based private sector)
• Experience at a leadership level in an organisation of significant complexity and size
• Proven track record of building and leading high-performing teams
• Experience of charity governance and reporting to boards
• Strong understanding of leadership in devolved/grassroots organisations
• Demonstrated ability to build teams, inspire people and facilitate their optimal performance individually and as part of a wider organization

Environmental and social justice expertise

• Demonstrable shared values with Friends of the Earth’s mission of environmental justice
• Knowledge of a variety of change mechanisms with a deep understanding of one or more (e.g. community organising, legal advocacy, public mobilis ation)
• Experience in building anti-racist campaigns and organisations
• Understanding of the UK political and policy environment
• Track record of leading successful campaigns and achieving impact

Communication and relationship building

• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to inspire diverse audiences
• Media and communications expertise including public speaking fluency
• Ability to build relationships quickly with diverse groups of stakeholders
• Persuasive and diplomatic relationship builder
• Strong track record of successful advocacy and stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking and implementation

• Experience of strategic planning and building collective commitment to a vision
• Ability to analyse the external environment and be innovative in strategy design
• Strong analytical skills for complex data, performance appraisal, and risk management
• Track record of overseeing successful income generation and growing a committed supporter base

Values and personal qualities

• Deep commitment to and knowledge of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles
• Empathetic and approachable leader
• Comfortable with visibility and public-facing roles
• Self-aware and humble
• Honest and open
• Rigorous and responsible
• Innovative and curious
• Strategic and savvy thinker
• Timely and effective decision-maker
• Capable of working across political or cultural divides
• Ability to demonstrate understanding and apply our values.

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