Connect with a cause that needs you!

Business Development Lead (maternity cover)

63,491 per year
London
Full-time
30th July 2026
Listed today

Business Development Lead (maternity cover)

We are looking for an experienced and strategic

You will work closely with ClientEarth’s global programme and leadership teams to contribute to organisation-wide fundraising strategy, oversee effective fundraising processes, cultivate new relationships, oversee the development of winning proposals, and ensure a growing and diverse funder base for ClientEarth.

Business Development Lead to join us on a10-month maternity cover contract, leading critical fundraising and partnership development efforts that support our global mission. At ClientEarth, we use the power of the law to protect life on Earth.

You will work closely with ClientEarth’s global programme and leadership teams to contribute to organisation-wide fundraising strategy, oversee effective fundraising processes, cultivate new relationships, oversee the development of winning proposals, and ensure a growing and diverse funder base for ClientEarth.

Important dates to Note: Applicationsclose on 30 July 2026andif you are requested to submit additional information, the deadline to have this submittedis the 3rd of Augustfor your application to be fully considered. Please also remember to check our recruitment process section at the bottom of the advert to get acquainted with our recruitment process for this role.

Key Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement fundraising strategies that reflect the medium-long term growth and sustainability needs of ClientEarth
  • Develop new funding opportunities that are aligned with ClientEarth’s strategic programmatic priorities and budgetary needs
  • Cultivate new and existing funding contacts to nurture and build a portfolio of relationships, representing ClientEarth at high level events and meetings
  • Make strategic decisions within the Business Development team’s remit, develop annual and quarterly plans, feed into strategy meetings, and present updates as required

See the job description for a full list of duties for this role.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

  • Significant experience of working in a fundraising or business development role
  • Demonstrable experience of building high-value pipelines, cultivating relationships with prospects and securing six and seven-figure multi-year grants
  • Strong knowledge of foundation, institutional and statutory income streams and financial processes
  • Knowledge of and/or interest in environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity, air pollution

See the job description for a full list of duties for this role.

Job Benefits

Flexible working: We are proud to be a

Flexa accredited Employer. Visit our

Flexa Employer page for more information on our approach to flexible working. Our flexible working policy allows our people the choice to decide to work from home/another location in the country where their contract of employment is issued for 80% of their month, with the other 20% of their month being office-based. See our benefits page for more:

Benefits | ClientEarth Careers

as well as our flexible working FAQ

.

ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds.

See ourEquity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at ClientEarth | ClientEarth journey page for more.Please note that ClientEarth is only able to employ those who have the pre-existing legal right to work in the UK.

ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.

About ClientEarth

We are a non-profit using the power of the law to bring about end-to-end systemic change: informing, implementing and enforcing the law, drafting and advising decision-makers on policy, building legal expertise, and ensuring citizens’ access to the laws that defend them.

We take governments to court – and win. We force polluting industries to shut down. We protect irreplaceable forests and vulnerable species. We empower people and NGOs with the legal rights to bring forward environmental battles of their own. Using the law means that we create real, long-lasting and embedded change.

We’re working to secure a lasting civilisation in which people and nature thrive together. We work in partnership across borders, systems and sectors, ingeniously using the law to protect life on Earth.

We take governments to court – and win. We force polluting industries to shut down. We protect irreplaceable forests and vulnerable species. We empower people and NGOs with the legal rights to bring forward environmental battles of their own. Using the law means that we create real, long-lasting and embedded change.

We’re working to secure a lasting civilisation in which people and nature thrive together. We work in partnership across borders, systems and sectors, ingeniously using the law to protect life on Earth.

Documents

Our Hiring Process

Register Your Interest