Programme Lead – Accountability & Transparency in London

We are a dynamic multi-stakeholder initiative, dedicated to connecting UK companies to the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest responsible business initiative. The Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact provide a robust foundation and comprehensive framework for corporate sustainability and business action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our mission is to champion sustainability leadership to create a world we want to live and do business in, by inspiring ambition, enabling impactful action, and collaborating to reshape the business environment for the better. The UN Global Compact Network UK has over 900 participating companies, with a team of 26 people. Our work is guided by the core values of the United Nations – Integrity, Respect for Diversity, and Professionalism – alongside nine additional values and behaviours of the UN Global Compact. During a recent review, the team described our workplace as friendly, inclusive, supportive, passionate, and hard-working.

About the role

We are seeking an Accountability & Transparency Programme Lead to join our dynamic team. The Accountability & Transparency Lead acts as the primary thematic lead and subject matter expert for the UN Global Compact Network UK’s work on Corporate Governance, Business Integrity, and Sustainability Reporting. The Lead is responsible for defining the direction and ensuring the technical quality of the organisation's programming, translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable support for UK business participants. The Lead provides the expert guidance necessary for businesses to navigate a complex and rapidly evolving ESG landscape. By bridging the gap between policy and practice, the role empowers companies to move beyond basic compliance toward a culture of transparency and ethical leadership. This position requires a candidate who combines a deep background in ESG Compliance or Corporate Governance with the versatility to lead high‑impact projects and the interpersonal skill to engage a diverse range of corporate stakeholders and senior executives.

We are looking for someone with:

• Demonstrable subject matter expertise in corporate governance, ESG compliance, and ESG due diligence. Knowledge of sustainability reporting frameworks, including UK SRS and CSRD, is essential.
• Experience in educating and mobilising audiences on corporate governance, business integrity, or ESG topics, whether through external programme delivery, member engagement, or internal capability‑building within a corporate or consultancy environment.
• Understanding of UN Global Compact's Ten Principles, with particular focus on Principle 10 and its implications for corporate conduct, governance, and business integrity practice.
• Experience in or strong familiarity with policy engagement or advocacy, including the ability to monitor regulatory developments, identify advocacy opportunities, and contribute to credible, evidence‑based policy positions.
• Experience in programme or project management, with the ability to plan and oversee delivery independently and to exercise flexibility across operational tasks in a small organisation context.
• Strong research and analytical skills, with the ability to generate thought leadership outputs, evaluate programme evidence, and produce clear, high‑quality written reports and briefings for a range of audiences.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to adapt tone and language for different audiences; confident in presenting and moderating sessions with senior and expert audiences.
• Skilled at building and maintaining relationships across a complex multi‑stakeholder environment, including corporate members, international organisations, civil society, and regulatory bodies.

Key Responsibilities - after onboarding, we will expect you to:

• Develop, plan, execute, and oversee programme tasks, projects, and events within the Accountability & Transparency programme, including the European Alliance against Illicit Financial Flows (EAIFF), overseeing everything from agenda setting and speaker recruitment to technical logistics and impact evaluation.
• Develop and maintain detailed workplans, budgets, and risk registers for all programmes and initiatives within the accountability and transparency portfolio, ensuring delivery to agreed milestones and quality standards.
• Summarise key takeaways from project activities, and ensure their dissemination to relevant stakeholders.
• Actively identify funding opportunities and grant prospects relevant to the programme area, and contribute subject matter expertise and programme evidence to funding proposals, with support from the Director of Impact and relevant colleagues.

Regulatory Intelligence and Topic Stewardship:

• Monitor and assess the implications of emerging regulation and policy developments for member organisations, and ensure that programme content reflects the most current and relevant regulatory context.
• Support member organisations in improving the quality of their Communication on Progress (COP) reporting and navigating its interoperability with other reporting obligations, including CSRD and UK SRS, reducing the reporting burden and helping members integrate COP requirements into their existing sustainability reporting frameworks.
• Generate thought leadership reports, briefings, and policy papers related to corporate governance, sustainability reporting, transparency, and illicit financial flows.
• Research challenges and opportunities for business in this topic area to support decision‑making and programme development.
• Regularly assess programme results and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate impact and progress.

Partnerships:

• Act as the primary point of contact with the UN Global Compact Office (GCO) Governance and Reporting teams, ensuring the Network UK's accountability and transparency programmes are connected to, and informed by the global agenda.
• Establish and nurture partnerships with key stakeholders and organisations to enhance the impact and reach of the accountability and transparency portfolio, including relevant civil society organisations, regulatory bodies, and business networks.
• Manage the EAIFF alliance membership and governance, maintaining productive relationships with existing coalition members, including anchor partners such as Standard Chartered, and actively developing the coalition's reach and participation.
• Work closely with member organisations on accountability and transparency topics, identifying opportunities to deepen their commitment and the visibility of their action.
• Collaborate and support assigned Project Managers, ensuring subject matter rigour and content quality throughout the delivery cycle.
• Work collaboratively with the Impact Team, sharing relevant updates and contributing to the coherence of the wider programming.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of team practices by sharing constructive feedback and suggesting practical solutions.

What we offer:

• Hybrid working – After onboarding, a minimum of two days in the office per week, working from home up to 3 days per week.
• Flexible working, once discussed with your line manager. Our core/active hours are 10 am to 4 pm.
• Compressed hours of 9‑day fortnights in Summer.
• Employee Assistance Programme for you and your immediate family.
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, increasing with length of service.
• Three additional days off between Christmas and New Year, offered at the organisation’s discretion.
• Menstruation and menopause leave.
• Three additional days off for mission‑related volunteering or sustainable travel.
• Enhanced pension scheme after probation.
• Enhanced sick leave.
• Season ticket loan.
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Bike‑sharing Cycle Scheme.

This is a full‑time position (37.5 hours per week).

Before applying for this role, please note the following:

• Our hiring process aims to eliminate bias by using a software called Applied. To do this, we do not engage candidates outside the Applied programme until the final stages.
• The UN Global Compact Network UK is not able to sponsor work visas. We will only consider applications from candidates who already have the right to work in the UK.
• While this role is within the UN Global Compact Network UK Secretariat, the successful candidate will not be formally employed by the United Nations.

Next Steps:

• The application process includes the following steps: Upload your CV and cover letter highlighting the skills and experience you would bring to the role.
• Longlisted candidates will be asked to complete a written test which includes questions designed to test your ability to excel in this role. Your answers will be scored by people, not AI tools.
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.
• Final candidates will be invited to an informal, in‑person meeting.