The Role
Serve on the UK Board to set programme and financial strategy, approve the annual budget, ensure governance and financial management, oversee CEO appointment and performance, support committees (Finance/Audit/Investment or Governance & Risk), and champion ClientEarth's mission. Trustees commit ~8–10 days/year; role is unpaid (travel expenses may be claimed).
Summary Generated by Built In
ClientEarth is looking to add two to three new Trustees to our UK Board of Trustees.
Our Board of Trustees brings together experts from the private sector, B-Corps, non-profits and foundations, law, and the arts to guide and champion the ambition of ClientEarth in the wider environmental movement. They are driven by the urgency of the climate crisis and the relentless
destruction of nature, and united in their belief in the law’s essential role in defending people and planet.
We are specifically seeking candidates with significant experience living and working in the EU or Asia-Pacific, given our depth of work in the former and rapid growth in the latter. We are also looking for candidates with the skills and willingness to take up roles on our Finance, Audit, & Investment Committee or our Governance & Risk Committee.
We are seeking outstanding people with diverse insights and experiences to help support this unique organisation in its next chapter. Will you join us?
An online Question and Answer session is scheduled for 10:30 BST / 11:30 CEST, Wednesday 5th August. Please click here to register.
Our Board of Trustees brings together experts from the private sector, B-Corps, non-profits and foundations, law, and the arts to guide and champion the ambition of ClientEarth in the wider environmental movement. They are driven by the urgency of the climate crisis and the relentless
destruction of nature, and united in their belief in the law’s essential role in defending people and planet.
We are specifically seeking candidates with significant experience living and working in the EU or Asia-Pacific, given our depth of work in the former and rapid growth in the latter. We are also looking for candidates with the skills and willingness to take up roles on our Finance, Audit, & Investment Committee or our Governance & Risk Committee.
We are seeking outstanding people with diverse insights and experiences to help support this unique organisation in its next chapter. Will you join us?
An online Question and Answer session is scheduled for 10:30 BST / 11:30 CEST, Wednesday 5th August. Please click here to register.
Main duties
The ClientEarth UK Board of Trustees is responsible for agreeing ClientEarth’s overall programmatic and financial strategy; approving the annual budget; and ensuring sound governance, administration, and financial management.
Trustees also have oversight of arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal, and remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer and the rest of the Executive Team. Day-to-day management of ClientEarth is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, who onward delegates certain functions to the Executive Team, as well as members of the Global Leadership Group.
See our Trustee recruitment brochure, below, for further details.
Trustees also have oversight of arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal, and remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer and the rest of the Executive Team. Day-to-day management of ClientEarth is delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, who onward delegates certain functions to the Executive Team, as well as members of the Global Leadership Group.
See our Trustee recruitment brochure, below, for further details.
Key requirements
- Knowledge of or a strong interest in conservation, biodiversity, climate change, and/or social justice
- Strategic vision, sound and independent judgment, and an understanding of the opportunities and challenges of working in a global organisation
- Leadership experience, preferably in finance, business, strategic communications, tech, law, or other relevant sectors
- Significant, relevant experience working in the EU or Asia-Pacific
See our Trustee recruitment brochure, below, for a detailed requirements list.
Further information
UK Trustees serve a three-year term, and will be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term. In exceptional cases, or where necessary to fill a needed skill gap, a Trustee may be offered a third term.
We estimate that Trustees commit on average 8-10 days a year, not including travel.
There is no financial remuneration for Trustees, although Board-related travel expenses may be claimed.
Recruitment timeline
Please read the "Our Hiring Process" section at the bottom of this advert for a full overview of our recruitment process. Please note we operate a two-stage application process as detailed below.
We estimate that Trustees commit on average 8-10 days a year, not including travel.
There is no financial remuneration for Trustees, although Board-related travel expenses may be claimed.
Recruitment timeline
Please read the "Our Hiring Process" section at the bottom of this advert for a full overview of our recruitment process. Please note we operate a two-stage application process as detailed below.
- Advertising period: July 13th through to 23:59 BST Tuesday September 15th 2026
- Additional questions submitted by: 18th September 2026
- First round interviews: Early to mid October TBC
- Second round interviews: Late October TBC
- Appointments confirmed by: Early December 2026
ClientEarth values diversity and inclusion and the benefits this brings. We aim to appoint the most suitable candidate at all times and welcome applications from people from all different backgrounds. See our equity, diversity and inclusion journey page for more.
ClientEarth is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services to third parties.
About
We are a non-profit using the power of the law to bring about end-to-end systemic change: informing, implementing and enforcing the law, drafting and advising decision-makers on policy, building legal expertise, and ensuring citizens’ access to the laws that defend them.We take governments to court – and win. We force polluting industries to shut down. We protect irreplaceable forests and vulnerable species. We empower people and NGOs with the legal rights to bring forward environmental battles of their own. Using the law means that we create real, long-lasting and embedded change.We’re working to secure a lasting civilisation in which people and nature thrive together. We work in partnership across borders, systems and sectors, ingeniously using the law to protect life on Earth.
Skills Required
- Knowledge of or strong interest in conservation, biodiversity, climate change, and/or social justice
- Strategic vision, sound and independent judgment, and understanding of working in a global organisation
- Leadership experience
- Leadership experience in finance, business, strategic communications, tech, law, or other relevant sectors
- Significant, relevant experience living and working in the EU or Asia-Pacific
- Skills and willingness to serve on the Finance, Audit & Investment Committee or the Governance & Risk Committee
- Availability to commit on average 8-10 days per year (excluding travel)
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The Company
What We Do
ClientEarth is an environmental charity and organisation of activist lawyers dedicated to protecting life on Earth. They use the power of the law to create systemic change, addressing pressing environmental challenges by informing, implementing, and enforcing the law.
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