Deputy CEO

Location:

London or Bath (hybrid working at either location)

Contract:

Full-time, permanent

Salary range: £65,000 - £75,000 (dependent on experience)

EJF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

Environmental destruction and human rights abuses are rarely separate crises - they are cause and effect. The Environmental Justice Foundation was founded on this understanding, and for two decades we have fought to protect the natural world and the people whose lives and freedoms depend on it.

We are seeking an exceptional Deputy CEO to help lead EJF into its next phase of growth and impact. This is an extremely rare opportunity to take on a crucial leadership role at a highly respected international NGO at a pivotal moment.

As Deputy CEO, you will play a central role in shaping EJF's strategic direction, team leadership and operational excellence, working in close partnership with the CEO and senior team to scale our impact, strengthen our global presence, generate new income, and ensure the organisation continues to deliver courageous, evidence-led change.

The Deputy CEO will take on critical tasks to enable the CEO to focus on delivering the strategic vision, providing vital leadership and development of EJF's programmes and governance. You will assume specific, nominated areas of programme management, supervising and guiding campaign and communications teams and providing a clear line of decision-making and direction.

The role will work closely with the CEO and senior leadership to continually improve the organisation's efficiency and effectiveness, entrench the ethos, vision and values that define our working culture, and help deliver the positive impact for the natural environment and the human rights that depend on it.

From strengthening governance and organisational performance to driving innovation, growth, and collaboration, you will be instrumental in maintaining an agile, resilient, impact-driven organisation capable of confronting some of the world's most urgent environmental challenges.

This role calls for an experienced and confident manager and leader with strategic vision, operational rigour, communications acumen and a deep commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental justice. You will bring people together across cultures and disciplines, empower emerging leaders, and foster a high-performance, inclusive organisational culture. Externally, you will help represent EJF with credibility and influence, building alliances with funders, policymakers, partners, and frontline communities to accelerate systemic change.

1. Mission and Purpose

• Alongside the CEO and Founding Director, continuously reaffirm and embed EJF's Mission, Vision and Values, ensuring they are deeply embedded across all programmes and teams to foster cohesion and strategic alignment globally.
• Safeguard our core mission of environmental justice and strengthening grassroots capacity in the Global South, ensuring that the organisation, across its multiple geographies and jurisdictions, adheres to this core purpose and scope.
• Articulate and deliver the highest possible professional standards, working culture and practice across all aspects of EJF's work.

2. Campaign Delivery, Amplification and Impact

• In close partnership with the CEO, guide and oversee the organisation's strategic and tactical approach across its operations and campaigns.
• Provide additional guidance, recommendations and scrutiny on the planning, production and release of reports, films and other campaign materials.
• Help shape EJF's external positioning, ensuring coherence between evidence, advocacy, partnerships and communications.
• Strengthen EJF's visibility and reach by engaging the media, attending and presenting at high-level meetings, liaising with key contacts and major funders, and acting as a spokesperson in the CEO's absence.

3. People, Culture and Leadership

• Help to further develop and support a high-performing Senior Management Team (SMT), individually and collectively, fostering accountability, collaboration and strong leadership practice.
• Guide and mentor teams to ensure they remain focused on delivering EJF's mission and priority objectives with strategic impact.
• Ensure fairness and equity for staff across the organisation, alongside consistently high standards of management.
• As directed by the CEO, serve in his absence to ensure the campaigns and programmes continue uninterrupted, working closely with the Senior Management Team (SMT).

4. Operations and Funding

• Work with the Operations Team to ensure EJF's exemplary operational efficiency across all areas of its work, championing continuous improvement of systems, processes and tools to strengthen efficiency, resilience and internal knowledge sharing.
• Work with the CEO, Founding Director, COO, and other team members to secure funding to support all our operations. This will…