Programme Officer - Environment

Purpose of the role

Are you passionate about providing grants to ground-breaking environmental charities around the world? This role offers the chance to develop and manage a portfolio of grants dedicated to this subject area. The broad themes of the programme are: the regulation and reduction of harmful chemicals and pollution; Protecting human health and biodiversity in environmental planning (including though promoting good environmental governance) and regulating harmful impacts of business and development projects. The Environment programme has a budget of approximately £7m in 2024.

Relationships and reporting lines

The Programme Officer will report to the Environment Programme Manager and will work closely with members of the Environment programme team, as well as the Executive and Deputy Executive Directors on matters of strategy. Additional key relationships include interaction with the Trustees, as well as collaboration with the Trust’s other programme officers and operations staff.

Working for the Trust

The Trust is committed to staff development. We offer various opportunities for staff to learn and develop, including an individual training budget, and management devoted to coaching and development of grant makers. We encourage staff to attend events such as conferences, expert and donor meetings, to keep abreast of the developments in the thematic and philanthropic fields.

The Trust is committed to being a good practice employer. We offer flexible working arrangements and are continuously reviewing staff benefits.

Main duties and responsibilities

The post holder will be expected to manage all stages of the grant making process, from invitation to application, award and reporting.

Programme Officer Duties:

• Making a contribution to the vision for and strategic direction of the Trust’s environmental grant-making portfolio;
• Identifying potential grant applicants by researching organisations in fields of interest to the Trust, networking and attending relevant events;
• Reviewing submitted applications, interviewing potential grantees, undertaking due diligence and preparing analytical reports and recommendations for Trustees;
• Reviewing reports submitted by grantees, evaluating and reporting on the impact of grants and signing off on grant payments;
• Managing the grant making pipeline to ensure efficiency of processes and an appropriate balance of recommendations across the Trust’s grant making meetings;
• Maintaining relationships and regular communication with grantees, including site visits and attendance at grantee events;
• Keeping informed of relevant developments including civil society activity, the regulatory environment and academic literature;
• Developing relationships with other donors and stakeholders in the field; and
• Representing the Trust externally at national and international conferences.

Other Duties:

• Carrying out similar duties for other programme areas as needed; 
• Conducting research into particular thematic or funding related issues relevant for the Trust as needed;
• Such other duties as the Trust may reasonably require.