Lead Strategist, Methane (Maternity Cover)

Job Title: Lead Strategist, Methane (Maternity Cover)  

Location: United Kingdom - Candidates can work remotely with occasional travel to the office

Remuneration: £70,000 - £80,000 

Contract: Fixed Term Maternity Cover (ideal start date 23 February 2026 until 23 November 2026) 

Hours: Full-Time or Part-Time Pro Rata (5 or 4 days per week) 

The Role 

Catalysing support for high-impact legal strategies on methane mitigation by mapping opportunities, aligning stakeholders across the legal ecosystem, and strengthening the ecosystem’s capacity for collective action on methane emissions with systemic-change potential in a shifting legal and political landscape. Supporting colleagues in relevant FILE grant-making portfolios to make well-informed decisions with respect to funding partners working to address methane emissions. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategy development:  Leading the design and evolution of innovative funding and convening strategies to support legal action aimed at reducing methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction processes, agriculture and waste, working in close collaboration with legal and grantmaking experts, and supporting civil society to build capacity, to address the contribution of methane emissions to the climate, health and biodiversity crises. 

Collaboration and movement strengthening: Organizing knowledge-sharing sessions between ecosystem actors across regions, sectors and expertise, acting as a coordinator for the established communities of practice working on legal interventions targeting methane emissions, and coordinating activities related to methane legal interventions at major climate convenings. 

Grantmaking, impact and learning: Producing research notes on emerging trends and upcoming initiatives that can benefit the ecosystem, and liaising with academic and research organizations on expanding insights useful for practitioners in the field.  

Supporting colleagues in relevant FILE grant-making portfolios to make well-informed decisions with respect to funding partners working to address methane emissions.  

Philanthropic engagement:  Engaging with the broader philanthropic ecosystem as an expert thought partner, to deepen understanding of strategic approaches and outlining the potential collective and complementary opportunities, and organizing donor-engagement touchpoints through both bilateral meetings and annual roundtables or group sessions. 

Key Outcomes 

A document outlining strategic opportunities to address methane mitigation through legal actions. 

In-person convenings with a sectoral, regional or thematic focus. 

Ongoing ecosystem collaboration efforts through circulating updates, organizing workshops or knowledge sessions.  

Engagement with philanthropic community via an annual roundtable and regular bilateral touchpoints  

An established community of practice.

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 feel they meet all of the criteria. 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 sound and in-depth understanding of the legal frameworks for accelerating action on climates.  

Strong analytical and strategy development skills, including in particular an understanding of how to catalyse change in complex systems. 

An ability to work equitably and effectively with multiple perspectives and build trust with diverse partners, and understanding of funder positionality and responsibility. 

An understanding of principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and a developed ability to apply them within delivery of role’s outcomes and wider working relationships. 

A professional standard of written and spoken English.

Desirable 

Legal qualifications in a relevant jurisdiction.   

A sound and in-depth understanding of the legal frameworks for regulating and challenging methane emissions in relevant jurisdictions. 

Experience of building and / or maintaining external networks, bringing expert practitioners and / or civil society together   

A professional standard of major languages other than English could be useful, but is not essential. 

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. 

Location 

We are advertising this role for candidates based (and with the right to work) in the UK and in the Netherlands. Please note that you will see this role advertised in multiple locations but that we are only hiring for one position based in either location, and that we are able to offer collaborative working spaces only in the Netherlands and the UK. 

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 strategic, innovative and collaborative, and open to growing in line with the Foundation. 

FILE is committed to challenging systemic injustice. Our ability to do so is strengthened by the diversity of our partners and staff. Our mission, work and impact is global, with staff and partners from across the world and a range of lived experiences. We are actively working to create a 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 offers a generous annual leave policy and additional time-off work to support wellbeing. Amongst other benefits, FILE offers private healthcare, enhanced maternity, paternity and shared parental leave, enhanced sick leave, flexibility working remotely and also abroad and a matching contribution to a pension scheme. 

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 three weeks from the date of advertisement until 8 February 2026. Should you have any questions, please email [email protected]. 

Representation and Culture 

FILE recognises the under-representation of historically marginalized communities and individuals in climate, nature and philanthropy spaces. We are committed to developing an organization that represents the world we are looking to protect and building a culture that supports such. 

In doing so, FILE is committed to building policies and practices that ensure no current or prospective employee is discriminated based on disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.