Director of Communications and Learning

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is a leading independent funder aiming to improve our natural world, secure a fairer future, and strengthen the bonds in communities across the UK. We provide approximately £50 million annually in grants to organisations working in the arts, children and young people, sustainable food, the environment, and social change. Alongside our £1.3 billion endowment, we have significant allocations for social and impact investment to further our mission.

We are working towards three interconnected goals: enhancing our natural environment, addressing injustice for a more equitable future, and fostering creative, self-assured communities. Under our current strategy, we provide large, long-term grants and strategic support to initiatives with brilliant ideas that drive systemic change. We are a values-led organisation, deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we believe that learning and effective communication are critical to maximising our impact.

We are seeking a creative, accomplished, and strategic Director of Communications and Learning to join our Senior Management Team and take ownership of how we tell our story, amplify learning, and strengthen our influence. The successful candidate will lead a talented, multidisciplinary team to translate complex work - spanning grants and social investments - into compelling narratives that inform strategy, practice, and public debate.

You will balance strategic direction for the Foundation's communications and reputational management with a rigorous approach to monitoring, evaluation, and learning. As an active representative of the Foundation, you will share insights and expertise externally while fostering a robust internal learning culture.

Director of Communications and Learning

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

Salary: £89,548

Location: Kings Cross, London (with some UK travel). We operate a hybrid approach to work with Tuesday and Wednesday as core office days in London with an occasional requirement to attend (e.g. key meetings) on other days. There will be some UK travel required.

About you

We are seeking a dynamic and ambitious professional, with:

• Significant senior leadership experience, including team management and working as part of a Senior Management Team.
• Proven expertise in learning, impact, evaluation, or communications, with the ability to translate insights and evidence into organisational strategy.
• A creative and strategic approach to storytelling, with the skill to turn complex data and multi-sector work into purposeful narratives.
• Strong advocacy and interpersonal skills, with the ability to command respect and influence senior stakeholders across peer foundations and policy fields.
• A consistent commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience engaging professionally and inclusively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong financial and operational expertise, including experience managing significant budgets for communications, learning, and grant-making.

Crucially, you will be excited by and fully committed to the Foundation's values and strategy, possessing a passion for using evidence and insights to drive positive change across the sector.

How to Apply
For further information, please click on the Apply button.

If you have any queries please contact our retained advisors Omar Begg or Borge Andreassen via email with a copy of your CV:

Recruitment Timetable

Deadline for applications: 14th April.

Interviews with Prospectus: 20-22nd April.

Interviews with Esmee Fairbairn Foundation:

• First stage panel interview: (in-person) Thursday 7 May .
• Informal meeting with comms and learning team (online): Monday 11 May.
• Final stage panel interview (in-person): Wednesday 13 May.