Director of Chair’s Grants

Position Title: Director of Chair’s Grants
Location: ERF Offices in West London, with some home-working flexibility, some UK/international travel
Reporting to: Executive Director

Background

The Ecological Restoration Fund (ERF) is an environmental charitable trust based in London. Our vision is a vibrant, healthy planet with thriving ecosystems where communities develop in harmony with nature. ERF aims to create transformational impact globally, focusing on initiatives that contribute to ecological protection and restoration while bringing dynamic economic, social, and cultural benefits to local communities. Since its inception in 2022, ERF has granted over £49 million to organisations worldwide.

The Fund is governed by its Founder and Chair, Daniel Hotz, alongside Trustees Dr. Sigrid Rausing and Dr. Lisbet Rausing, and currently employs four staff. The Fund's offices are located in West London. More details on ERF’s work can be found on our website Ecological Restoration Fund (www.ecorestorationfund.org).

The Director of Chair’s Grants role is designed to lead ERF’s discretionary grant-making streams. The Chair’s Grants fund initiatives aimed at advancing research, promoting arts, improving access to education, community development and tackling pressing social issues such as hunger, homelessness, and addiction. These grants are complementary to ERF’s core environmental grant-making areas and are not required to align strategically with our primary priorities. They exist to enable responsive, high-impact opportunities beyond ERF’s main focus areas that address emerging needs or innovative approaches, at the Chair’s discretion.

Working for ERF

ERF is committed to being a good practice employer. We offer staff development opportunities and flexible working arrangements, with a wide range of benefits including private health insurance, life insurance and an income protection policy. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

Role Overview

The Director of Chair’s Grants is a new role within our small but growing team, created to reflect ERF’s recent and future expansion. This position will lead the development, management, and oversight of ERF’s discretionary grant-making (Chair’s Grants). Responsibilities include designing and managing fast-track, high-impact grants, undertaking due diligence screening and ensuring all processes align with ERF’s values, governance standards, and statutory compliance. The role will, in consultation with ERF’s Chair, define priorities for specific discretionary funding areas, manage individual grants, conduct analysis and evaluations in support of ERF’s funding approach, and oversee discretionary grant planning and reporting. The post holder is also expected to stay informed on emerging thinking across key discretionary funding themes and more broadly across the philanthropic sector. While the role does not currently include direct team management responsibilities, it may involve supervising temporary staff or consultants and contributing to a collaborative, inclusive team culture.

Key Responsibilities:

Portfolio development

• Support the ERF Chair in defining priorities by providing insights and recommendations on key discretionary grant-making areas.
• Conduct research on issues relevant to ERF’s discretionary grant-making as needed.
• Lead and contribute to all aspects of ERF’s discretionary grant-making portfolio.
• Develop new grant-making concepts and recommendations; and prepare reports and presentations to advise the Chair (and occasionally Trustees) of ERF on their discretionary grant-making.
• Identify potential grant applicants by researching organisations in relevant fields, scoping opportunities, networking and attending events related to relevant grant-making areas.
• Undertake due diligence of applications and review submitted applications.
• Proactively maintain knowledge within own professional field and across sectors related to key funding themes.

Grants management

• Review reports submitted by grantees and evaluate the impact of discretionary grants; prepare reports as needed.
• Undertake or commission reviews, evaluations and analytical reports to track progress and promote learning that informs ERF’s discretionary grant-making approach.
• Manage the discretionary grant-making pipeline within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Maintain relationships and regular communication with grantees, including through virtual and in-person meetings, site visits and attendance at relevant events.
• Build and sustain relationships with other funders and key stakeholders across relevant fields.
• Represent ERF externally in relation to focus areas.

Teamwork

• Work collaboratively within the ERF team to share knowledge, encourage learning, and identify potential intersections between grant-making areas.
• Manage temporary staff and/or consultants, fostering a productive and inclusive team culture.

Other responsibilities

• Handle own administration, ensuring all documentation is recorded in line with organisational policies and protocols.
• Undertake other activities as reasonably required by ERF.

Relationships and Reporting Lines

• Works closely with the ERF Chair and reports to ERF’s Executive Director.
• Shares information and collaborates effectively with ERF colleagues.
• Builds relationships of trust and provide guidance, advice, and feedback to grantees and potential grantee organisations.
• Networks, builds relationships, and shares learnings with contacts in other charitable funds/foundations and relevant organisations.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Qualifications & Experience

• Postgraduate degree or equivalent experience in at least one relevant field, such as research, arts, education, hunger, homelessness, or addiction.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in civil society, philanthropy, or related sectors.
• Broad generalist knowledge base with a genuine interest in areas beyond personal specialism, relevant to ERF’s discretionary grant-making.
• Ability to engage with varied subject matters, synthesise information quickly, and make informed decisions on funding opportunities across multiple disciplines.
• Demonstrated curiosity, adaptability, and capacity to identify impactful projects in unfamiliar sectors.
• Knowledge of good grant-making practice, including due diligence, compliance, and monitoring.
• Experience with fast-track, discretionary grant-making in other philanthropic organisations is an advantage.

Competences & Skills

• Ability to think strategically about grant-making in areas relevant to ERF’s discretionary giving.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing demands to meet deadlines.
• Good judgment, demonstrating objectivity and self-awareness.
• Strong communication skills, including excellent oral and written English, with the ability to produce evidence-based reports and deliver presentations.
• Excellent research, analytical, and evaluative skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including the ability to build trust, work collaboratively, motivate others, and provide constructive feedback and support.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently, while also being an effective team player.
• Flexible, agile approach and willingness to support others in a small team environment.

Personal Qualities

• Commitment to respect and value equality and diversity and inclusion and understanding of how this applies to own area of work.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Integrity, humility, flexibility, and a sense of humour.

Other requirements

• ERF is only able to consider applications from candidates who already have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.
• The post will be based at ERF Offices in West London and may require some limited travel in the UK and internationally.

Closing date for applications is 19 January 2026. We expect to hold first round in-person interviews during the week of 23-27 February 2026.

We encourage applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, and marriage or civil partnership. Please let us know if you need any additional support to participate in the selection process. If your application is successful, we will make reasonable adjustments to enable you to fulfil the role.