Programme Lead- Nature

Programme Lead – Nature

Location: Hybrid · London, UK

Salary £40,000-£45,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Application Deadline: 20 July 2026 9am BST

About the UN Global Compact Network UK

We are a dynamic multi-stakeholder initiative, dedicated to connecting UK companies to the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest responsible business initiative. The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, rooted in UN treaties, provide a robust foundation and comprehensive framework for corporate sustainability and business action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Our mission is to champion sustainability leadership to create a world we want to live and do business in, by inspiring ambition, enabling impactful action, and collaborating to reshape the business environment for the better.

The UN Global Compact Network UK has over 900 participating companies, with a team of 26 people.

Our work is guided by the core values of the United Nations – Integrity, Respect for Diversity, and Professionalism – alongside nine additional values and behaviours of the UN Global Compact which can be found here. During a recent review, the team described our workplace as friendly, inclusive, supportive, passionate, and hard-working.

About the role

The Nature Lead acts as the primary thematic lead and subject matter expert for the UN Global Compact Network UK’s work on biodiversity and nature-positive business. The Lead is responsible for shaping and delivering high-quality programmes, thought leadership, and practical guidance that support businesses in understanding and addressing their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities.

Working closely with member companies, partners, and external stakeholders, the Nature Lead translates evolving scientific frameworks, investor expectations, and policy developments into actionable insights and business-relevant solutions. The role convenes key stakeholders to drive knowledge sharing, peer learning, and collective action, helping organisations integrate nature considerations into strategy, operations, value chains, and decision-making.

This role requires strong expertise in biodiversity, nature, or environmental sustainability, combined with excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to a wide range of business audiences.

We are looking for someone with…

• Demonstrable subject matter expertise in biodiversity, natural capital, and nature-positive business strategy. Knowledge of nature-related disclosure and target-setting frameworks, including TNFD and SBTN, is essential.
• Experience in educating and mobilising audiences on nature, biodiversity, or environmental topics, whether through external programme delivery, member engagement, or internal capability-building within a corporate, NGO, or consultancy environment, and in promoting organisational goals and mission through external engagements.
• Experience in or familiarity with policy engagement or advocacy, including the ability to monitor regulatory developments, identify advocacy opportunities, and contribute to credible, evidence-based policy positions on nature and biodiversity.
• Excellent research and analytical skills, with the ability to systematically analyse challenges, generate thought leadership outputs, evaluate programme evidence, and produce clear, high-quality written reports and briefings for a range of audiences.
• Highly-developed communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to adapt tone and language for different audiences; confident in presenting and moderating sessions with senior and expert audiences.
• Skilled at building and maintaining relationships across a complex multi-stakeholder environment, including corporate members, scientific institutions, environmental NGOs, and regulatory bodies.
• Collaborative and inclusive approach, with the ability to lead and provide day-to-day guidance and feedback to project managers working across the portfolio, demonstrates leadership in project delivery and motivates team members.

Key Responsibilities - after onboarding, we will expect you to:

Project Management

• Develop, plan, execute, and oversee programme tasks, projects, and events within the Nature programme, including multi-stakeholder convenings, peer learning roundtables, and capacity-building workshops, overseeing everything from agenda setting and speaker recruitment to technical logistics and impact evaluation.
• Develop and maintain detailed workplans, budgets, and risk registers for all programmes and initiatives within the nature portfolio, ensuring delivery to agreed milestones and quality standards.
• Carry out appropriate due diligence on speakers and partner organisations to ensure alignment with programme topics and the values of the UN Global Compact.
• Summarise key takeaways from project activities and ensure their dissemination to relevant stakeholders, including members, GCO colleagues, and external partners.
• Actively identify funding opportunities and grant prospects relevant to the programme area, and contribute subject matter expertise and programme evidence to funding proposals, with support from the Director of Impact and relevant colleagues.

Regulatory Intelligence and Topic Stewardship

• Monitor and assess the implications of emerging regulation and policy developments for member organisations (including TNFD, SBTN, UK Biodiversity Net Gain) and ensure that programme content reflects the most current and relevant regulatory context.
• Support member organisations in incorporating nature into their decision-making and business strategy, helping them develop credible and impactful nature strategies — including nature-related disclosures, science-based target-setting, and place-based action — aligned with leading voluntary and regulatory frameworks.
• Generate thought leadership reports, briefings, and policy papers related to nature-positive business, biodiversity, ecosystem services, natural capital accounting, and supply chain nature risk.

Partnerships

• Liaise with the UN Global Compact Office (GCO) and other country networks participating in nature-related initiatives, ensuring alignment with the global agenda on nature
• Act as the primary point of contact with the GCO’s Biodiversity team, ensuring the Network UK's nature programmes are connected to, and informed by the global agenda
• Establish and nurture partnerships with key stakeholders and organisations to enhance the impact and reach of the accountability and transparency portfolio, including relevant civil society organisations, regulatory bodies, and business networks.
• Work closely with member organisations on nature-related dependencies, impacts, and disclosure, identifying opportunities to deepen their commitment.

Team Collaboration

• Collaborate and support assigned Project Managers, ensuring subject matter rigour and content quality throughout the delivery cycle.
• Work collaboratively with the Impact Team, sharing relevant updates and contributing to the coherence of our wider programming.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of team practices by sharing constructive feedback and suggesting practical solutions.

What we offer:

• Hybrid working – After onboarding, a minimum of two days in the office per week, working from home up to 3 days per week.
• Flexible working, once discussed with your line manager. Our core/active hours are 10 am to 4 pm.
• Compressed hours of 9-day fortnights in Summer.
• Employee Assistance Programme for you and your immediate family.
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, increasing with length of service.
• Three additional days off between Christmas and New Year, offered at the organisation’s discretion.
• Menstruation and menopause leave.
• Three additional days off for mission-related volunteering or sustainable travel.
• Enhanced pension scheme after probation.
• Enhanced sick leave.
• Season ticket loan.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Bike-sharing Cycle Scheme.

This is a full-time position (37.5 hours per week).

Before applying for this role, please note the following:

• Our hiring process aims to eliminate bias by using a software called Applied. To do this, we do not engage candidates outside the Applied programme until the final stages.
• The UN Global Compact Network UK is not able to sponsor work visas. We will only consider applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK.

While this role is within the UN Global Compact Network UK Secretariat, the successful candidate will not be formally employed by the United Nations. Learn more about the UN Global Compact Network UK's governance here.

Next Steps:

The application process includes the following steps:

1. Complete an equal opportunities questionnaire and provide essential admin information.
2. Upload your CV and cover letter highlighting the skills and experience you would bring to the role.
3. Longlisted candidates will be asked to complete a written test which includes questions designed to test your ability to excel in this role. Your answers will be scored by people, not AI tools.
4. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.
5. Final candidates will be invited to an informal, in-person meeting.

Application link: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/gizcwy6j1f