Grassroots Development Lead

Friends of the Earth is an international community dedicated to protecting the natural world and the wellbeing of everyone in it. We lead campaigns, provide resources and information, and drive real solutions to the environmental problems facing us all. 

The Role:

As one of two Grassroots Development Leads in the England Team in this role you’ll be responsible for supporting our grassroots grow and develop, ensuring the network is able to campaign effectively.

You’ll create training and deliver it to support existing activists and local groups; you'll create and deliver strategies that build and strengthen the movement across England; and you’ll lead nation wide project work including network events.

Key Skills and Attributes:

We are looking for strong grassroots activists who are passionate about mobilising and supporting our groups to design, develop and run campaigns that will make a real difference.

You’ll have a solid understanding of how people-powered movements are built and grown, as well as in-depth knowledge of a variety of activism approaches, including innovative online & in person methods. You’ll be a confident facilitator with experience in developing training and coaching programmes for activists.

You’ll also be a passionate advocate for bottom-up, people-powered movements, ensuring the voices of grassroots activists are at the centre of Friends of the Earth.

If you have practical experience in campaigning and activism and are enthusiastic about the aims and values of Friends of the Earth, apply now!

The team:

The England Team are at the heart of Friends of the Earth’s campaigns, working directly with our vibrant network of local action groups. We have the opportunity to work across Friends of the Earth’s campaigns, and are often closest to the biggest regional and local successes.

Closing date: Sunday 8th June 2025 (23:59)

Contract Type: Fixed term contract covering a secondment until March 2026

Hours: Part-time (17.5 hours per week)

Location: Flexible across England

Please note we only accept applications via the Friends of the Earth Application System.

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance including a 4-day working week with no loss of pay, excellent learning and development opportunities and a vibrant organisational culture.

Our staff body is currently under-representative of People of Colour, LGBTQIA+ people and people with long term conditions or impairments. We are committed to eroding these historic barriers, so as to create a movement in which people from all walks of life see themselves in, and so we particularly encourage you to apply if you belong to one of these groups or sit at multiple intersections of disadvantage. We are committed to the Disability Confident standard and will guarantee an interview to any candidates who declare a disability and who meet the essential criteria for the role.

Friends of the Earth staff who publicly represent Friends of the Earth (including all campaigners) are not allowed to also represent a political party. This is to ensure that there can be no confusion in the minds of the public about Friends of the Earth's party-political independence. Affected staff should also seek permission from the Senior Management Team if they wish to hold a non-public facing official role in a political party. If this is an issue, please do raise this with us as soon as possible.