At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead BirdLife's global engagement with the private sector and develop impactful business collaborations.
- Company: Join BirdLife International, a leader in global conservation efforts for nature and biodiversity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous pension, flexible working, and 25+ days of annual leave.
- Other info: Work in a dynamic environment with opportunities for growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by influencing business strategies for a sustainable future.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in business engagement and sustainability, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 65000 - 65000 £ per year.
Application deadline: Friday 21 August 2026– 23:59 BST
Location: Cambridge, UK (hybrid working, minimum one day per week in Cambridge)
Full-time: 35 hours per week
Contract: Fixed-term for 2 years with the possibility to extend
Salary: £65,000 per annum depending on skills/experience, plus competitive 12% pension benefit
Annual Leave: 25 days pro rata in year 1, increasing by 1 day p/a to 28 days
We’re BirdLife International, the only global Partnership conserving birds and all life on our planet. We exist to give one voice to nature, and to unite and strengthen conservation across borders. We are looking for a Head of Business and Nature to spearhead BirdLife’s global engagement with the private sector and lead the further development and delivery of BirdLife’s Business Engagement Strategy.
In this role, you will be providing strategic leadership and insight, building a high-impact portfolio of business collaborations and partnerships and representing BirdLife in various external partnerships and fora. You’ll lead the Business and Nature team, overseeing budget management and work-planning.
How You Will Do This
- Strategic Leadership, External Representation and Influence
- Shape and lead BirdLife’s global Biodiversity and Business Engagement Strategy, driving delivery of the Global Strategy.
- Position BirdLife as a leading voice on business, biodiversity and nature finance, identifying emerging opportunities and influencing global thinking.
- Represent BirdLife with senior business leaders, investors, governments and international partners to accelerate nature-positive business.
- Build strategic partnerships that expand our reach, influence and impact.
- Business Engagement and Portfolio Development
- Grow and lead a high-impact business engagement portfolio that delivers lasting conservation outcomes.
- Drive innovative approaches that embed biodiversity into business strategy, investment and decision-making.
- Develop ambitious cross-sector collaborations that scale impact for nature.
- Ensure business engagement is underpinned by robust governance, risk management and best practice.
- Management
- Lead and inspire the Business and Nature Department, creating an inclusive, high-performing team.
- Provide strategic oversight of BirdLife's global private sector portfolio.
- Foster strong collaboration across global programmes, regions and functions to maximise impact.
- Manage departmental planning, budgets and performance, ensuring delivery against organisational priorities.
This role will require regular national and international travel.
What We Are Looking For
Success in this role requires an experienced and influential leader with a strong track record of working at the intersection of business, biodiversity and sustainable development. Alongside significant experience in business engagement, corporate sustainability, conservation or environmental management, you will bring a deep understanding of nature-related risks, opportunities and leading frameworks such as TNFD, SBTN and Nature Positive.
A proven ability to build strategic partnerships with businesses, investors and other stakeholders that deliver measurable impact for nature, influence senior decision-makers, and lead complex programmes, teams and budgets across diverse geographies is essential. Equally important is a collaborative and inclusive leadership style, outstanding communication and relationship-building skills, and the ability to navigate complexity, balance competing priorities and deliver results.
A postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline (or equivalent professional experience) is expected, while experience working with sectors such as renewable energy, extractives, fisheries, agriculture or finance would be an advantage.
Some of our benefits:
- We are able to offer a hybrid model of working on-site and from home/remote for most roles, which helps to ensure a flexible work-life balance.
- A chance to work in the award-winning David Attenborough Building, which brings together much of the Cambridge-based conservation community on a ‘conservation campus.’
- A generous pension scheme, up to 12% company contribution.
- Holiday starting at 25 days excluding Bank Holidays and increasing for every year of service up to a maximum of 28 days.
- Full access to LinkedIn Learning with access to more than 13,000 high-quality, on-demand courses.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Employee Assistance Programme, including access to Health Assured online health portal.
BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity. We know that everyone’s needs are different. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, let us know, we’ll do our best to make it happen.
Head of Business and Nature in Cambridge employer: Birdlife Middle East
Birdlife Middle East is an exceptional employer that values flexibility and employee growth, offering a part-time hybrid role in the vibrant city of Cambridge. With a strong commitment to work-life balance, employees enjoy generous benefits such as a pension scheme and ample annual leave, all while contributing to meaningful HR initiatives within a supportive team environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Business and Nature in Cambridge
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Birdlife Middle East.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Birdlife Middle East.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Birdlife Middle East.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Birdlife Middle East. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Business and Nature in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Birdlife Middle East. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Head of Business and Nature, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Birdlife Middle East
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Birdlife Middle East. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
