Chief of Staff

Location: Based in London or Bath (Hybrid) - Flexible working arrangements can be considered

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) protects the natural world and defends our fundamental human right to a secure environment. We believe in equity and justice and a need to respect, defend, and empower communities most at risk from biodiversity loss and climate change.

We campaign for the protection and restoration of our natural world and environmental justice. We present film, research, and investigative findings to high-level decision-makers to shape systemic, durable protections for the natural world and associated human rights. We expose environmental abuses and support environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, independent journalists, and communities on the frontlines of environmental injustice. With over 115 staff, including grassroots mobilisers, filmmakers, investigators, and advocates in 16 countries, our high-impact campaigns include:

Ocean: Defending biodiversity and coastal communities dependent upon marine biomes. EJF campaigns to protect the ocean from illegal and unsustainable fishing, deep-sea mining, plastic pollution, and climate change and end the exploitation of fisheries workers.

Climate: We campaign for climate refugees, a green energy transition, and to protect Nature's carbon stores: wetlands, forests, and ocean biomes.

Environmental Defenders: EJF is committed to empowering grassroots environmental activists, Indigenous peoples, and independent journalists in the Global South.

The Role:

EJF seeks a confident, attentive, and highly motivated professional to provide diligent and effective support to Steve Trent, CEO, while actively enhancing the impact and effectiveness of a range of global high-profile advocacy campaigns and initiatives.

This is an incredibly rare and unique opportunity to engage and influence senior stakeholders, major donors, parliamentarians, and government officials and further EJF's agenda of addressing the challenges to our shared planet, biodiversity, and connected human rights. EJF has a culture of excellence and is driven by impact and outcome. Your contribution will be integral to our mission to protect people and planet.

Operating strategically and at a senior level, the role of Chief of Staff to the CEO extends beyond being Steve's sounding board and 'right hand'. You will oversee and report on key (some highly confidential) projects, collaborate extensively at an executive level as well as representing the CEO at crucial meetings, often in an international setting.

Reporting directly to the CEO, your remit of work will relate to EJF's global initiatives with teams based in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Therefore, you may be required to travel internationally, sometimes at short notice.

As a motivated, confident, diligent, and effective multitasker, you will harness your exceptional interpersonal and communicative skillset. You are an effective listener who is able to assimilate knowledge to productively advocate on key issues with high profile stakeholders, where strict attention to detail is paramount. With some experience in project management, you will quickly assess, synthesise, and utilise information to implement strategic priorities, track and report progress and outcomes, and develop bespoke approaches that optimise outcomes and mitigate challenges and risks.

Efficient in diary management and administration, we are seeking someone who is both thorough and proactive in their approach to identifying opportunities and managing conflicting needs as they arise. Over time, you may be asked to take on additional and more senior responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Sections listed in order of weighting.

1. Operational Oversight

• Ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of the CEO's office, managing workflows and addressing emerging priorities.
• Support the management of cross-departmental coordination for projects that require the CEO's input or oversight, working closely with the operations team to oversee key projects and organisational initiatives.
• Support the development and implementation of internal processes and systems to increase efficiency.
• Assist staff management and specific recruitment drives.
• Additional support-related tasks at the CEO's request.

2. Advocacy and Campaigning

• Support the CEO in the delivery of advocacy strategies on core environmental justice issues.
• Monitor relevant policy developments and provide analysis to inform organisational advocacy efforts.
• Support coordination of high-profile campaigns, ensuring effective collaboration across teams and setting and monitoring objectives and outcomes.
• Engage with policymakers, stakeholders, and networks to advance EJF's mission.
• Review individual country programmes, making objective assessments on whether local operations and staff are working well and delivering as expected.

3. Strategic Support to the CEO

• A trusted advisor, providing high-level administrative and strategic support.
• Act as a gatekeeper, reducing competing demands and workload for the CEO, including the first review of written materials.
• Assist in managing the CEO's workload, including scheduling, prioritising tasks, and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Coordinate and prepare briefings, reports, and presentations for internal and external meetings.
• Represent the CEO in communications and engagements when necessary.

4. Communications

• Promptly draft and edit high-quality content for public and internal communications, including press releases, speeches, articles, and social media posts.
• Oversee and coordinate the CEO's public engagements, media appearances, and interviews.
• Liaise with the communications team to ensure alignment between the CEO's messaging and organisational objectives.
• Maintain and enhance relationships with key stakeholders, including journalists, donors, partners, and government representatives.
• Provide support in identifying and building relationships with major donors.
• Assist in preparing budgets, monitoring expenditure, and ensuring financial accountability for CEO-led initiatives.
• Work with finance team to align operational budgets with strategic priorities.

Essential skills and experience

• Demonstrable experience providing exceptional support to a C-Suite Executive.
• Background overseeing projects, campaigns, and/or socially or environmentally impactful initiatives, and monitoring and reporting on project outcomes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and confident engaging professionally with senior, high-profile stakeholders such as government ministers and major donors.
• First-class communication skills and the ability to actively listen, assimilate complex information, and communicate with candour.
• Natural collaborator with the proficiency to build constructive working relationships within EJF with partners and other external audiences, including people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
• Excellent organisational skills with a background managing varying workstreams and prioritise effectively.
• Incredibly diplomatic, with ability to maintain confidentiality and strict discretion.
• Solutions-oriented, calm under pressure, and an independent worker who actively seeks feedback, direction, and challenges existing approaches to improve efficiencies.
• Motivated, enthusiastic, resourceful, attentive, and proactive.
• Some understanding of global environmental justice and the challenges that face our shared planet.
• Background working at an environmental or human-rights focussed charity or NGO.
• Experience influencing and liaising with senior stakeholders in government, and/or with high-net worth individuals.
• Proficiency in other languages.

As the position of Chief of Staff to the CEO holds significant potential for both professional development and career progression, EJF is seeking an ambitious and determined individual who is looking to thrive within a highly dedicated and impactful global organisation.

Candidates must have the legal right to live and work in the UK.

EJF is an equal opportunities employer committed to fostering diversity within the workplace and is committed to supporting our staff and making reasonable adjustments.

If you require support to apply for or fulfil the requirements of this role, please inform Louis.