Director of Sustainability and Just Transition - Interim Cover

Salary: £70,000 - £75,000 per annum

Location: Remote UK based. Our offices are in East London but we welcome applicants from across the UK who do not wish to relocate. Please note that travel to our London office for regular meetings would be at your own cost.

Hours: 4-5 days a week (flexible minimum 28 hours/ week)

Contract: Interim. circa eight months, from mid-March 2025

Secondments will be considered.

Benefits: 25 days annual leave, excluding bank holidays and three days off between Christmas and New Year. We currently offer a non-contractual 4.5 day working week, with staff having Friday afternoons off, subject to work demands.

About The Young Foundation

Today, The Young Foundation s mission is to shape a fairer, greener future. We support locally-led action, building knowledge around the issues people tell us they care about. We involve communities in research, and delivering programmes to shape a stronger, fairer society. We work collaboratively to improve lives and address shared challenges, driving social change for stronger communities and a fairer future.

Our strategy, the Power of Participation, sets out our ambitious, five-year plan.

About the role

As part of The Young Foundation s five-year strategy, this interim cover role will lead delivery of our distinctive function to support a fair and just transition to net zero for vulnerable households and communities across the UK. You will lead and support delivery of a portfolio of projects including our partnership with University of Manchester to deliver the JUST Centre; work with national government and devolved nations on public participation and environmental legislation; and pioneering policymaking and practice with local and combined authorities to build readiness, resilience and strategies to ensure a just transition.

This is a crucial moment in the UK s journey to net zero. We know that a fairer, stronger, green and digital economy can regenerate local places and improve people s lives. But, to achieve this, policymakers across the UK need to better-understand people s readiness for change, giving practical support, inspiring trust, and mobilising local action. Community engagement and participation is vital in a fair, sustainable, and socially transformative shift to net zero.

Leading a small team, and in collaboration with our external affairs, research and innovation teams, you will have the opportunity to drive forward a critical agenda for the UK, building practices, skills, thought leadership and innovation to drive a just and fair transition. You can read more about our work in this area on our Just Transition hub.

How to apply

With reference to the job description, please complete and return the application form, CV and additional information requested to us.

The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on 22 January 2025.

Successful candidates will be informed by Monday 27 January 2025 at the latest.

1. First round interviews will be held on Thursday 30 January online
2. Shortlisted candidates will have the opportunity to meet informally with the senior team and members of the Just Transition team on Monday 3 February online
3. Second round interviews will be held on Wednesday 5 February at Toynbee Hall, London

The Young Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and as part of our commitment to increasing the diversity of our team we actively encourage people from Black and Ethnic Minority or other under-represented groups to apply for this role. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

You must have the right to live and work in the UK. Applicants who require a work permit in order to take up employment will not be considered.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an automated response to say we have received your application.

Please note that we review applications after the closing date. All internal applications will be reviewed.