Climate Action Fund - Food Systems Expert Panel Member

The National Lottery Community Fund (The Fund) wishes to recruit an external member for the Climate Action Fund Decision Panel. The Chair of the UK Funding Committee (UKFC) invites applications for the position of external member of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund Decision Panel.

Background: The Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It launched the Climate Action Fund in 2019 as a long-term commitment to support communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in positive environmental action. Since its launch, the Climate Action Fund has awarded over £182m to communities across the UK, including over 175 larger projects and over 440 small grants delivered through Together for Our Planet, a funding programme in support of COP26. The programme has always had a test and learn ethos, with each strand of funding building on previous learning. In January 2026, the Climate Action Fund launched a new strand of funding - Food Systems, focusing on strengthening food systems across the UK while reducing food insecurity for people and communities, without harming the planet. This will be achieved through supporting partnerships that can deliver long-term solutions and transformational systems change. Funding will enable large and long-term interventions with the capacity and time to deliver progress against their intended aims and ambitions. We will support agroecological approaches that work with nature to create resilient, sustainable, and equitable food systems. Projects can apply for a minimum of £2.5 million over three years, and we expect to fund up to ten projects in the first year.

Role Specification: The Climate Action Fund is seeking a subject matter expert in food systems, who will complement our existing panel and support our work across the UK. They will have an understanding of the holistic aims we seek to address in supporting long-term solutions that will benefit both climate, environment, and nature, as well as people and communities. The Climate Action Fund Decision Panel has delegated authority from the UK Funding Committee (UKFC) to make funding decisions on Climate Action Fund Programmes. The purpose of the Climate Action Fund Decision Panel is to make funding decisions, review the performance of the Climate Action Fund portfolio, and make recommendations where appropriate to UKFC. Funding decisions shall be taken in the context of the UKFC Delegation and shall undertake its duties within the framework of overall National Lottery Community Fund policy and procedures.

Person Specification: Knowledge, skills and experience required include:

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the food system across the UK, with a focus on agroecology and long-term, systemic ways to strengthen our food system and reduce food insecurity.
• The ability to contribute effectively to the development of this strand of funding and the wider work of The Fund in relation to food systems, with a strong track record of achievement.
• Ability to work on a Panel with excellent interpersonal, team working, communication, and representational skills.
• The ability to engage and influence relationships with stakeholders to ensure the Fund is well represented and externally impactful.
• Personal and operational integrity, the ability to work with people from different backgrounds, and a commitment to improving equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Clear understanding and commitment to building strong and connected communities that reflect the whole of the UK.
• Ability to deliver operational transformation and culture improvement in a large organisation.
• A strong commitment to engaging communities across the UK and factoring UK-wide perspectives into all decision making.

Interview details: Interviews will take place in early July with appointments confirmed by the end of July. Format: Online.

How to apply: Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement with a maximum of 1000 words. Your supporting statement should explain how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria below.

Essential Criteria:

• An advocate and ambassador for The Fund with a demonstrable commitment to its mission and purpose.
• Understanding and experience at a senior level of community organisations and a track record in creating an environment where communities are connected and supported.
• Experience of systems change work and how that translates to community-centred funding.
• Experience and understanding of food systems, particularly in alignment with our funding aims and the conditions required to influence and shape long-term solutions that start with communities.
• Experience of influencing or shaping food systems policy from a community perspective.
• A demonstrable commitment to and experience in equity and equitable practices.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Desirable Criteria:

• An understanding of funding, philanthropy, or public sector systems.

If you are excited about the opportunity to help communities drive lasting change, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion: The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and works hard to ensure funding reaches where it is needed. We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations, and individuals we work with. We positively welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment.