Senior Advisor, Climate Justice

The Senior Advisor, Climate Justice at File Foundation, based in London, focuses on advancing climate justice through legal action and advocacy. This fixed-term role (3-6 months) involves supporting transnational strategies and partnerships, particularly in Europe, the Pacific, and the US East Coast. The position allows for remote work within the UK and offers flexible hours, aiming to enhance the climate and biodiversity legal movement globally.
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Location: London (remote working within the UK is possible)
Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time (5 or 4 days per week), alternative arrangements could be considered upon request
Remuneration: FILE salaries and benefits are benchmarked appropriately to the location where our staff are based
Contract: Fixed Term 3-6 months
Reports to: Director Program Strategy
About FILE
The Foundation for International Law for the Environment (FILE) was set up in 2018 to be the major philanthropic re-granter scaling up legal action globally to tackle the climate and the biodiversity crises.
We work as movement enablers, campaign strategists, and impact funders, using the law in pursuit of three interconnected system-level goals:
Reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to protect the climate
Safeguarding nature
Delivering climate and environmental justice
We pursue these goals not just by supporting legal action directly. We believe in growing the strength of the climate and biodiversity legal movement globally, and in enabling people and movements to use legal action to shift narratives.
As movement enablers, campaign strategists, and impact funders, we at FILE do not ourselves bring litigation. As a regrantor, FILE is not an endowed foundation, but rather we engage in fundraising to secure resources to support our partners globally.
The Role
This role is a rare opportunity for an experienced, knowledgeable expert and strategist to join FILE on a fixed term contract to apply their understanding of how civil society can drive legal action in pursuit of climate justice, globally, with a particular focus on transnational legal action and legal advocacy in international fora.
FILE's climate justice work is partly integrated into our regional portfolios, led by our Regional Leads and Directors. We also support climate justice strategies that cut across multiple regions and relate to international fora. This transnational work has to date been led primarily by two key staff, one of whom has recently departed.
The Senior Advisor, Climate Justice is being recruited urgently, on a fixed term basis, to support our transnational climate justice strategies whilst we consider how best to recruit and fill this role on a permanent basis.
The Senior Advisor will apply their legal and movement building expertise to guide FILE's support for and engagement with partners in the climate justice space. A significant proportion of the work relates to supporting partners based in Europe, the Pacific, and US East Coast, with other partners located around the world.
They will also represent FILE with funders and our aligned re-grantors.
This is an important strategic role within FILE, and will work with staff across FILE's strategy team, as well as FILE's Research, Impact, and Learning, Grant Management, and Donor Relations teams.
Key Responsibilities
Supporting ongoing development of FILE's Climate Justice strategies, with a particular focus on strategies that pursue justice across multiple geographies or in international fora
Identifying potential new, and supporting existing, grantees, shaping grant-making priorities, and stewarding grantees through the grant-making process
Developing and maintaining external partnerships and networks with partners and practitioners working on climate justice
Convening meetings of strategic partners to discuss key justice-related priorities
Supporting donor engagement, engaging expertly and compellingly with FILE's donors, and attending relevant funder and regrantor coordination meetings and convenings
Key Outcomes
FILE has a well-considered Climate Justice strategy that reflects our organisational priorities
FILE colleagues and external partners have a trusted thought partner and collaborator on implementing FILE's Climate Justice strategies
FILE's Climate Justice grant-making is supported and guided with cutting-edge strategic expertise
High quality convening(s) of Climate Justice-focussed civil society and relevant legal practitioners and peers, to catalyse innovation and strengthen connectivity
An engaged group of funders, ready to deepen their support for our partners' work in pursuit of climate and environmental justice
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 essential 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 climate justice, including in particular to supporting individuals and communities most affected by the climate crisis to protect their rights
Experience of, and expertise in developing and / or delivering, legal strategies in one or more of the following domains, on climate, environmental, and / or human rights grounds:
Litigation against corporations and / or financial institutions
Litigation against governments / public bodies
An understanding of risks that may arise, for funders and plaintiffs, when supporting or bringing legal action through the courts
Experience in linking legal strategies to effective communications, campaign, and/or movement strategies to advance systemic change
Experience of project management, prioritisation and planning
An ability to work equitably and effectively with multiple perspectives and build trust with diverse partners
A willingness to travel from time to time (at least once a quarter) 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
Desirable criteria
Experience of assessing and managing litigation risks for diverse stakeholders, when supporting or bringing legal action through the courts and other fora
Experience of building and / or maintaining external networks, bringing expert practitioners and civil society together
Location
FILE has offices in London and the Netherlands, and a small hub of staff in Australia, US East Coast, South Africa and Brazil. Otherwise, we look to employ staff remotely in the regions where our partners are based. We are advertising this role for candidates based (and with the right to work) in the UK, or the Netherlands 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.
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.
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. but we hope to interview before then so please do apply sooner rather than later. If you have any questions about the role please
careers@filefoundation.org .
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.
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