The Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) is a unique collaboration between the University of Cambridge and ten leading internationally focused biodiversity conservation organisations. Based in the David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK, the CCI partners represent the largest cluster of conservation organisations in the world. This strong convening power allows CCI to directly engage with a wide audience globally, from leaders in governments, business, academic and NGO communities to the general public, addressing major conservation issues, creating solutions, and delivering new ways of integrating conservation research, policy and practical action for the benefit of biodiversity.

CCI is committed to its next phase of evolution: a scaling-up of its ambition for collective impact. It is clear that concerted, radical and global action is needed to rebuild society’s broken relationship with nature. These existential crises require coordinated responses across multiple sectors towards local, regional and global action. It can only be through its ambitious partnerships that CCI can hope to catalyse effective, equitable and lasting change.

CCI is now seeking a new Executive Director to work at the highest levels to promote CCI, nationally and internationally, and work closely with all CCI partners to develop, enhance and champion the partnership.

The Executive Director will

• Drive forward CCI’s vision, overseeing the setting of strategy, as well as fundraising for and promoting CCI collaborations.
• Alongside their team provide the ‘glue’ that facilitates, supports and maintains the collaboration between CCI partners, so that they can collectively deliver on CCI’s ambitious vision, strategies and programmes.

The ideal candidate will bring vision, ambition and inspiration to CCI along with a passionate and humble leadership style to effectively harness the power of partnerships from across sectors and geographies. The Executive Director’s outstanding partnership building skills and passion for biodiversity conservation will enable them to lead CCI through influence and consensus-building, whilst also providing mentorship and support to CCI’s staff. They will especially bring an appreciation of the benefits of cross-disciplinary working, bridging research, policy and practice. A successful Executive Director will be able to highlight a track record of experience in fundraising and a natural strength in relationship-building across a range of stakeholders including philanthropy, business, NGOs and academia.

The Executive Director role is a full-time appointment to the University of Cambridge. The appointment will be made subject to satisfactory references.

Please review the candidate brochure here:

Cambridge Conservation Initiative – Executive Director – Candidate Brochure

To register your interest in the role, visit https://candidates.perrettlaver.com/vacancies/3875/executive_director/

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Ibby Imam on +44 (0)20 3928 7383 or via email at ibby.imam@perrettlaver.com.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 19^th November.

Interviews will take place in early January.

The role will be based at the David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK. Visas can be provided for the successful candidate.

Cambridge Conservation Initiative will be advised and supported in the appointment process by their executive search partner Perrett Laver. All applications will be considered by the Selection Committee in November. Perrett Laver will conduct preliminary discussions with longlisted candidates, and the Selection Committee will then meet to select the final shortlist of candidates in late November. Formal interviews will take place in early January.

Application is by submission of a complete curriculum vitae and letter of motivation outlining your interest in and suitability for the role.

Cambridge Conservation Initiative is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all. This job description set outs the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you didn’t tick.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please advise us of these so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

For a conversation in confidence, please contact Esther Elbro on Esther.Elbro@perrettlaver.com. Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats or if you have comments that would support us to improve access to documentation, or our application processes more generally, please do not hesitate to contact us via accessibility@perrettlaver.com.