Climate Partnerships & Product Development Manager in London

Starting Date: ASAP/ Mid April 2026

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: GBP 60,644

Location: London

Application closing date: 10th March 2026

About the Job

Better Cotton is the world's largest cotton sustainability programme. Our mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. Through our network of field-level partners we have trained over 2.5 million farmers - from the smallest to the largest - in 23 countries in more sustainable farming practices. A quarter of the world's cotton is now grown under the Better Cotton Standard.

The Challenge

Better Cotton is seeking a motivated and ambitious Climate Partnerships Manager to further develop the climate portfolio. This will include developing sales pipeline for scope 3 reduction projects, building reporting systems to address our member demands and building new carbon removal markets for Better Cotton farmers. Experience in delivering carbon credit and/or scope 3 inventory projects, commercial affinity and agriculture related programmes is considered an asset for this role. Better Cotton works across geographies and farmer types; the ideal candidate has international experience and recognises the diverse challenges different farmers face. This is an exciting role which has the potential to fundamentally shape how Better Cotton embeds climate action while also helping ensure that cotton farmers can survive and thrive in the face of a growing climate crisis.

Responsibilities

Reports to: Director Impact within the Impact and Development function. The Climate Manager has the following responsibilities:

• BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PARTNERSHIP BUILDING

• Develop and manage a pipeline of corporate clients for carbon reductions and removals projects (e.g. Biochar, Soil Carbon, Verra VM0042, Agricultural reductions).
• Negotiate agreements that balance client expectations with farmer benefits.
• Build partnerships with technical providers and impact investors to expand reach.

• Lead development and implementation of climate reporting frameworks aligned with SBTi, GHG Protocol, and corporate requirements.
• Translate complex climate and carbon accounting concepts into practical guidance for Better Cotton Members, Clients, partners and other industry stakeholders.

• Align project design with client needs, ensuring measurable and verifiable climate and social outcomes.
• Monitor project performance, identify risks, and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
• Understand the role of Climate in farmer business models and economic considerations in the decision making of cotton farmers.
• Direct and indirect management of staff to support this agenda.

Experience

We are looking for someone who has the following essential skills, knowledge, and experience:

• University degree, or equivalent higher education qualification, in a relevant field
• Demonstrated commercial experience in climate project development
• 7+ years of experience in managing carbon credit, climate reduction and reporting projects (e.g. carbon footprints, ESG reports, scope 3 incentives, carbon credits)
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively (in-person and through use of virtual tools) across different teams and cultures, strong relationship building skills and service-oriented attitude
• Commercial track record in brokering project delivery and meeting client expectations
• Proven ability to work autonomously with a high level of personal effectiveness
• Financial skills, particularly building and managing budgets
• Fluent in English - ability to communicate clearly and concisely
• Start-up, climate project development and/or multinational textile brand experience is considered very positive

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid working - One day in the central London office
• The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time
• Continuous learning and development
• Pension scheme
• A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home
• Enhanced parental benefits
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in London. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am - 4 pm. The position will require limited international travel.

Apply now

Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) via the application link. In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style - what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Better Cotton Initiative does not use artificial intelligence or automated screening tools in its hiring process. Every application is reviewed by our Talent Acquisition team and relevant hiring managers to ensure a fair and human-led assessment experience.

Our hiring process

• Initial Screening

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicants. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

• Interviews

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton Initiative may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

• Assessment and Testing

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

• Reference Checks

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton Initiative to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

• Offer stage

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world's cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)
• Integrity (including responsible, authentic)
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic)
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)

Being you @ Better Cotton Initiative

Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources. We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.