Interim Director of Grants and Philanthropic Partnerships (12-18 months)

The File Foundation is seeking an Interim Director of Grants and Philanthropic Partnerships for a 12-18 month contract, based in the UK. This full-time role allows remote work with occasional office travel. The position involves strategic leadership, team development, and enhancing grantmaking and fundraising efforts. The ideal candidate should possess strong relationship-building skills and a deep understanding of philanthropy to help shape the organization's future direction.
Job description

Interim Director of Grants and Philanthropic Partnerships
Location: United Kingdom - Candidates can work remotely with occasional travel to the office
Contract: 1 year FT contract with the possibility of extension
Salary: UK £120,000 to £135,000
Working pattern: Full-Time initially with the option to go to 4 days after 3 months if required.

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 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.


The Role
We are looking for an inspiring and strategic interim leader to join FILE during a period of organisational transition, as we shape our strategy for the next three years and review our long-term leadership structure.
This is a strictly interim appointment, created to provide visible senior leadership across our Grants and Philanthropic Partnerships functions while FILE undertakes a wider review of its long-term organisational design and permanent leadership arrangements.


As Interim Director of Grants and Philanthropic Partnerships, you will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, partnering closely with the Executive Director, Supervisory Board, and senior leaders to strengthen the connection between our fundraising, donor engagement and grantmaking activities. You will help build an integrated approach across teams, ensure our resources are deployed to maximise impact and long-term sustainability, and support the transition to a new permanent leadership structure.


This is an opportunity for someone who combines strong relationship-building and leadership skills with a deep understanding of philanthropy, partnerships and systems change, and who is excited by the chance to help shape FILE's future direction at an important moment in our growth.


The role spans five core areas: strategic leadership, team development and operational excellence, grantmaking strategy and portfolio oversight, strategic fundraising and partnership development, and external engagement and ecosystem stewardship.


Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership (20%)
As an interim Senior Leadership Team member during a period of change, you will support the development and delivery of FILE's Strategic Plan, contributing to collective SLT decision-making and accountability. You will advise the Executive Director, SLT and Board on grantmaking, philanthropic partnerships, ecosystem trends and strategic growth opportunities, and lead strategic planning and scenario analysis on funding and grantmaking priorities together with the Interim Finance Director.
Leadership, Team Development and Operational Excellence (25%)


You will provide integrated leadership across the Grants and Philanthropic Partnerships functions, acting as their ambassador within the SLT and ensuring their perspectives are visible in senior decision-making. This includes building leadership capability and succession across both teams, ensuring effective governance, performance and accountability frameworks are in place, and fostering a coherent approach to impact, relationship management and organisational learning across the two functions.


Grantmaking Strategy, Risk and Portfolio Oversight (20%)


You will provide strategic oversight of FILE's grantmaking approach, portfolio risk, due diligence and resource allocation, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and the evolving needs of the climate legal ecosystem. You will champion grant process improvements and innovative grantmaking approaches, embed JEDI principles throughout grantmaking policies and decision-making, and ensure robust oversight of portfolio performance, impact and learning.


Strategic Fundraising and Partnership Development (20%)


You will lead FILE's Philanthropic Partnerships function, co-developing and