Global Programme Coordinator, Environmental Defenders

EJF is seeking a proactive, versatile and experienced coordinator to strengthen and expand our Environmental Defenders programme training, equipping and supporting frontline campaigners, and investigative journalists in the Global South. This senior role is a rare opportunity to support inspirational grassroots leaders dedicated to protecting the natural world and the human rights dependent upon it. Your contribution will be integral to our mission to Protect People and Planet.

The Coordinator will be responsible for supporting established partnerships as well as identifying outstanding people and organisations to benefit from the programme. You will oversee the production and dissemination of an extensive portfolio of training tools and guides, lead remote and field-based training potentially including research and investigations, cameras, drones and filmmaking, campaigns and communications. You will have the skills and experience to quickly identify and respond to needs, including those that will deliver long-term campaign outcomes and organisational resilience. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will manage a four-person team and work closely with EJF’s extended teams in Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America; the role requires regular and, occasionally, extended travel.

With superb organisational and communication skills, you are efficient in remote project management, able to quickly assess, synthesise, and apply information, agree on strategic priorities, and develop bespoke approaches that optimise outcomes and mitigate risks. You are adept at tracking deliverables, bringing teams and project partners together to achieve meaningful conservation impact and share progress through inspirational communications outputs, including film, reports and grant reporting.

Key responsibilities

• Capacity strengthening– design capacity‑strengthening programmes, review content developed by other team members, and deliver training to environmental defenders (on investigation, film, advocacy, storytelling, governance and security). Ensure high‑quality, holistic support is provided to EJF partners through regular catchups, sharing funding opportunities, and providing strategic guidance on organisational development.
• Resource hub management –support the launch of the Environmental Reporting Resource Hub, ensuring environmental defenders from the Global South have access to these resources. Update content, create new materials, and coordinate translations and dissemination as necessary to optimise use and impact.
• Global coordination and support– coordinate with colleagues (regional leads, video producers, investigators, trainers, and campaigners) across target countries to provide support to environmental defenders. Facilitate knowledge sharing between teams to strengthen existing capacity and provide insights where necessary.
• Subgrants management– monitor subgrants provided to environmental defenders, review activity progress and financial reports, and identify potential new subgrantees.
• Financial monitoring– monitor the budgets and spending of different projects, develop budgets for new activities, training, and travel, review post‑trip expenses, and ensure superb value for money.
• Monitoring and evaluation– evaluate the progress of different activities, identify lessons learned and successes, and report findings to the CEO and funders.
• Partnerships and advocacy– work with colleagues nationally and internationally to identify opportunities to amplify grassroots messages through communications and advocacy. Expand EJF’s network with organisations supporting environmental defenders, represent EJF at conferences, and engage strategically with global advocacy efforts.
• Communications– draft compelling communications for EJF outreach, including development of news and features‑led communications (UK and international) to support the programme, the issues and the campaign impacts.
• Programme expansion and communications– increase the visibility of the Environmental Defenders Programme strategically, identify new funding opportunities, support the development and submission of funding applications, and identify new avenues to expand EJF’s work.
• Line management– manage a four‑person team, supporting their professional development and providing strategic guidance on the programmes they lead.

Essential skills and experience

• At least 5 years of professional experience in a related field, involving international action and remote travel (environment, capacity‑strengthening, human rights, international development), ideally in an NGO setting.
• Excellent project management and organisational skills, coordinating multiple activities, overseeing budgets, monitoring impact, prioritising workloads.
• Experience designing bespoke capacity‑strengthening programmes and delivering in‑person as well as online training to NGOs, journalists, activists or other defenders from the Global South.
• Sound understanding of the realities of small organisations and their organisational development (developing the team, policies, systems, etc).
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience coordinating with teams across time zones. You must be a team player, supportive of colleagues and partners while also needing to make tough decisions.
• Strong budget management skills, including excellent attention to detail, the ability to maximise resources and deliver exemplary cost‑effectiveness.
• Solutions‑oriented, calm under pressure, and an independent worker who is happy to take feedback and direction.
• First‑class communication skills and the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.
• Reliable, determined, creative, positive, and resourceful.
• A deep‑rooted commitment to environmental justice and a determination to change our world.

Desirable skills and experience

• Proficiency in other languages, preferably French, Spanish, Portuguese, (Bahasa, Thai or Tagalog are also considered a plus).
• Experience assessing NGOs and managing subgrants.
• A defined understanding of global environmental justice, ocean‑related issues, and challenges to environmental defenders and reporters and a demonstrable commitment to biodiversity conservation, climate protection and the defence of related human rights.
• Experience with advocacy, policy‑change, media and communications.
• Experience with risk management (digital and physical security).
• Film and photographic skills.
• Documentary/journalistic experience.

EJF is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity within the workplace. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds in the environmental and human rights sectors to apply.

What we offer

• 22 days annual leave (plus public holidays), increasing with each year of service, plus additional paid leave between Christmas and New Year.
• Private healthcare package.
• Generous pension scheme, with employer contributions increasing over time.
• Cycle‑to‑work scheme.
• A dynamic, supportive, and inclusive working environment, with genuine opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Being part of a global team and movement delivering real‑world impact for people and planet.