About the Organisation
The Foundation for International Law for the Environment (FILE) aims to change the systems that are responsible for climate change by ensuring those in power stop locking us into a high-carbon, destructive economy. They are committed to ensuring legal action can facilitate the transition to a post-carbon, regenerative society that upholds human rights and achieves climate justice. In addition to focusing on reducing climate impact, they want to ensure legal action supports a transition to a society that is democratic, cooperative and regenerative.
About the Job
This newly established role at FILE will provide thought leadership on land use and nature strategies, supporting partners to advance sustainable food systems, regulate transition mineral extraction, and safeguard global ecosystems, with a strong focus on the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. Working closely with senior leaders and portfolio teams, the role integrates strategies across funding portfolios while fostering external relationships with leading climate and biodiversity lawyers, campaigners, and philanthropies. The position primarily supports initiatives in biodiversity-rich regions of Africa, South America, and South East Asia, challenging harmful corporate practices and driving regulatory changes to secure finance for cleaner, fairer alternatives.
Note that this role is hosted through an Employer of Record and is fully remote within either South Africa or Brazil.
Key Responsibilities
Each of these is conducted in close collaboration with relevant colleagues across FILE’s strategy teams, as well as FILE’s Research, Impact, and Learning, Grant Management, and Philanthropic Partnerships teams:
Lead the development of FILE’s land use and nature strategies, including a focus on legal and narrative and movement-building approaches, as well as on enhancing and protecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities
These strategies will set out a well-considered approach to sectors and themes including exploitation of transition minerals, deforestation and biodiversity loss driven by industrial agriculture, addressing rights violations in global corporate supply chains, etc
Work in close collaboration with strategy, grant making and fundraising leads within FILE to increase access to funding sources and the resilience of partners working in the field
Developing, maintaining and convening external partnerships and networks with partners and practitioners working on and use and nature strategies
Provide leadership to the wider philanthropic and donor community on the need for legal interventions in pursuit of FILE’s land use and nature strategy, and support fundraising for FILE as well as directly for our partners
Key Outcomes:
FILE has a well-considered land use and nature strategy, including a focus both on legal and related narrative and movement strategies, which is integrated throughout our funding portfolios
Increased funding is made available to partner organisations working on land use and nature, via FILE or directly from other philanthropies
FILE colleagues and external partners have a trusted thought partner and collaborator on developing and implementing land use and nature legal strategies
Overseeing / establishing high quality convening(s), with support of FILE’s Convening Manager, and networks of civil society and relevant legal practitioners and peers working in this area, to catalyse innovation and strengthen connectivity
An engaged group of funders, ready to deepen their support for our partners’ work on land use and nature strategies
Requirements
Essential Criteria:
A strong commitment to protecting the environment, reforming corporate and financial governance, strengthening government ambition, and prioritising the rights of indigenous peoples, marginalised groups, and other communities most affected by climate change and environmental harms
Experience of and expertise in developing and / or delivering legal strategies to advance systemic change on land use and nature
Demonstrated experience in linking legal strategies to effective communications, campaign, and/or movement strategies to advance systemic change
An ability to strategically manage projects, including prioritisation and forwards planning
An ability to work equitably and effectively with multiple perspectives and build trust with diverse partners, and understanding of funder positionality and responsibility.
A willingness to travel from time to time (at least four times a year, more if working remotely) to meet FILE staff and partners
An ability to work flexibly as part of a team spread across many time zones, which will involve some meetings outside of standard working hours
A professional standard of written and spoken English
Desired Criteria:
A current or past qualification / bar admission as a lawyer
Experience of working as a lawyer on strategic litigation against governments, corporations, or financial institutions
Demonstrated experience of building and / or maintaining external networks, bringing expert practitioners and / or civil society together
Experience working with communities adversely affected by climate change, environmental harms, and/or related human rights violations, particularly in the Global South
Existing relationships with NGOs, lawyers, and / or philanthropic partners working on relevant land use and nature strategies
An ability to communicate with partners in other relevant languages, including Portuguese, French, Spanish, and Bahasa Indonesia, would be a bonus but not essential
We know that long lists of criteria can be discouraging and that some candidates will not apply for a role unless they feel they are 100% qualified. If you feel you meet at least some of the relevant 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.
To apply
To apply, email your application by Wednesday 1st October 2025 to callum@actionappointments.co.za
Please note that you only need to submit your CV at this stage. We do not require candidates to complete the biosummary form for their applications for this role.
