Director of Oceania

About us 

The Earthshot Prize is the world's most prestigious environmental prize. Founded by HRH Prince William in 2020, we are driving a decade of action for the planet, guided by the belief that Urgency + Optimism = Action. 

Our mission is to find, celebrate, and scale the solutions that will repair our planet by 2030. At our heart are five Earthshots: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-free World, and Fix Our Climate. 

Each year, we select 15 Finalists and five Winners, who each receive £1 million to take their work further. What makes the Prize unique is what happens next. We work with every Finalist on a plan to grow their impact, then bring in our Global Alliance of partners to help make it happen. 

Our regional programmes build on what we do best: convening leaders, spotlighting solutions, building ecosystems of changemakers, and connecting local solutions to global platforms. 

Australia and the Pacific are a growing focus for the Prize. We are looking for a Director of Oceania to build the partnerships and programmes that will make those moments count, and carry their impact well beyond them. 

About the job 

The Director of Oceania is part of Earthshot’s global leadership team. You will lead our impact and partnerships work across Australia and the Pacific nations, and be our senior voice in the region.  We are looking for an outstanding, entrepreneurial, and visionary leader in partnerships and programmes. Your focus will be fourfold: building an ecosystem of partners and changemakers ahead of major Earthshot moments in the region, securing legacy funding for a long-term regional programme, leading on specific Finalists and Winners in the region to help scale their impact, and securing sponsorship for any regional events with support from our global partnerships team. 

You will work closely with colleagues and external leaders to open up new and existing networks of philanthropists, foundations, investors, and corporations. You will also nurture our regional community of supporters, from Official Nominators, Expert Advisors, nominees, and Finalists to philanthropists, investors, and friends.  You will be the voice of The Earthshot Prize in the region, and the voice of the region to the Prize. Given the distance and time difference from our London team, we need someone we can confidently put on stage and in front of the media, and who is comfortable making decisions on the ground.  This is a unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment, with the autonomy to drive real change and make a meaningful difference to the planet. 

Key responsibilities  

Ecosystem building 

• Build a strong network of partners, solution providers, and changemakers across Australia and the Pacific in the lead-up to major Earthshot events in the region. 
• Establish and oversee a regional advisory council, bringing in First Nations and Pacific Island voices so our work is shaped with communities, not for them. 
• Nurture our regional community of supporters, from Official Nominators, Expert Advisors, nominees, and Finalists to philanthropists, investors, and friends. 
• Provide practical support on the ground for events in the region where needed, including local logistics and liaison with partners and suppliers. 
• Lead on securing regional sponsorship for major events, working closely with and supported by the global partnerships team. 
• Make sure sponsors and funders have a clear, well-managed experience that sets up lasting relationships. 

Impact and partnerships strategy 

• Design and deliver a regional impact strategy for Australia and the Pacific, built around Finalist momentum plans. 
• Lead  momentum plans for specific Finalists in the region. After the Awards, we work with every Finalist on a tailored plan to scale their solution, then bring in our partners to make it happen. You will act as a strategic adviser to these Finalists and Winners with links to the region, and will drive these plans to help them go further, faster. 
• Identify and secure partnerships with philanthropists, governments/policymakers, foundations, investors, corporations, and governments that help these solutions scale. 

Legacy funding and long-term programme 

• Secure multi-year legacy funding for a long-term regional programme that continues well beyond our major events in the region. 
• Develop and deliver that programme with partners, so the relationships formed around these moments turn into lasting outcomes for solutions and communities. 

Media and public voice 

• Act as the senior face of The Earthshot Prize in the region, speaking on stage, with the media, and at partner events. 
• Share regional insight and partner feedback with the global team to shape our approach. 

Candidate criteria 

Essential 

• A strategic thinker with a proven track record of delivering impact through a network of senior partnerships. 
• Highly autonomous and self-driven: comfortable leading alone in the region, making sound judgements, and keeping a distant team well informed.   
• A demonstrated record of raising substantial gifts, sponsorship, or investment, including multi-year funding. 
• Strong existing networks across Australian philanthropy, business, government, and civil society, including UHNWIs, family offices, foundations, and corporations. 
• A confident, credible communicator who builds trust quickly with senior stakeholders. 
• Collaborative, working well across teams and time zones, both internally and externally. 
• Entrepreneurial and hands-on, happy to roll up their sleeves when needed, and at ease with pace, change, and ambiguity.

Desirable

• Experience in public-facing communications, with confidence on stage, in interviews, and with the media
• Experience working with First Nations communities, or setting up and running advisory councils or similar groups.
• Networks and experience across Pacific Island nations.
• Experience in climate, environment, or sustainability.

Please note: This is a 24 month Fixed term contract