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Primarily remote | Around two days per week initially | Ideally based near London or Paris
Sustenra is a new independent advisory firm working with corporate foundations, philanthropic funders, financial institutions, impact investors, corporate social responsibility (CSR) teams and environmental, social and governance (ESG) teams.
We help institutions strengthen the governance, oversight and long-term performance of philanthropic, corporate giving and development finance programmes. Our work may begin before funding is committed, continue during delivery, or start when a programme is under pressure, relationships are strained or the original plan no longer makes sense.
We are looking for a Founding Commercial Director to work directly with our Founder and Managing Director and the other two founders.
This is a senior, relationship-led commercial role. There is no established commercial team or inherited pipeline, so you will help decide how the function should work and then build it.
Role Description
You will:
- Refine our target markets, positioning, services and pricing
- Build and manage the prospective client pipeline
- Identify and approach prospective clients, referral partners and strategic relationships
- Shape proposals, scopes of work and fee conversations
- Put practical systems in place for outreach, follow-up and customer relationship management
- Identify relevant speaking, conference, publishing and partnership opportunities
- Build Sustenra’s reputation with the institutions most likely to need our work
You may be speaking with foundation chief executives, corporate foundation directors, CSR and ESG leaders, sustainability teams, portfolio directors, trustees, investment committee members and other senior decision-makers responsible for funding, governance and programme performance.
Who we are looking for
You may come from fundraising, corporate partnerships, grant-making, philanthropy, impact investment, CSR, ESG, responsible business, social investment, consultancy or professional-services business development.
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Ideally, you will also have direct commercial or business experience in areas such as:
- Business development or commercial strategy
- Selling professional or advisory services
- Pricing and service development
- Partnership or client relationship management
- Proposal development and negotiation
- Account management
- Helping to establish or grow a small business
You do not need experience in every area. We are more interested in whether you can show that you have built relationships, made a strong case for investment or paid work, and helped turn an opportunity into income, a partnership or a mandate.
You should be comfortable speaking with senior decision-makers, discussing scope and fees directly, shaping persuasive proposals and working with a high degree of independence.
An existing network in philanthropy, corporate giving, CSR, ESG, responsible investment or financial services would be useful, but we are not simply looking for access to a contact list.
Practical details and longer-term potential
The role will begin with an initial six (6) month period at around two (2) days per week.
It is intended to sit alongside other employment, consultancy or portfolio work. You will have considerable flexibility over when and where you work, provided that agreed responsibilities, meetings and deadlines are met.
Our usual collaboration window is between 10:00 and 16:00 UK time, Monday to Thursday. This is when we try to arrange team meetings and shared work, rather than a requirement to work throughout those hours.
The role is primarily remote. We would ideally like someone based in or within reasonable travelling distance of London or Paris, but we are open to candidates based elsewhere who can travel when needed.
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During the initial six month period, the role will be commission-based rather than salaried. The successful candidate will receive an agreed commission on paid mandates they directly bring in and help secure. The structure will be agreed before the role begins and set out clearly in writing.
If the relationship works well and Sustenra’s income grows, we expect the role to develop into a larger paid leadership position.
For someone who makes a sustained contribution and becomes a long-term part of Sustenra, we also intend to offer a meaningful equity stake in the company. Any equity would vest over time and be subject to agreed terms and formal documentation.
About Sustenra
Sustenra was founded by three women with experience across programme funding, delivery, research, evaluation, policy and institutional governance.
Between us, we have worked within or with organisations including the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Karolinska Institutet, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Our experience comes from working inside funded programmes and the institutions responsible for them, including settings where infrastructure fails, political conditions change and the original plan stops making sense.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and answer the application questions provided through LinkedIn.
We want to understand what you have actually done, how you think about building commercial relationships and whether this opportunity is workable for you.
Please use specific examples where possible. You do not need to disclose confidential information or private contact details.
Closing date: Friday 14 August 2026
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage early applications and may begin interviews before the closing date.
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