Founding Commercial Director

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, delivery and long-term sustainability of funded programmes. Our work may begin before funding is committed, continue during implementation, or start when a programme is under pressure, relationships are strained or funding is changing.

Sustenra was founded because we have seen what happens when well-intentioned funding is undermined by weak structures, limited oversight or poor planning. We believe philanthropic capital, corporate giving and responsible private investment can make a real difference, but only when the right systems, accountability and long-term thinking are in place.

The role

We are looking for a Founding Commercial Director to work directly with Sustenra’s Founder and Managing Director and our other two founders.

This is not a conventional volume-sales role. It is a senior, relationship-led commercial position for someone who can help Sustenra reach the right institutions, explain our value clearly, build trusted relationships and turn serious conversations into paid advisory work.

You will be joining before there is an established commercial team or inherited pipeline. You will have a genuine role in deciding how Sustenra’s commercial function should work.

What you will do

Your responsibilities will include:

• refining Sustenra’s target markets, commercial positioning, services and pricing
• building and managing the prospective client pipeline
• identifying and approaching prospective clients, referral partners and strategic relationships
• shaping proposals, scopes of work and fee conversations
• putting practical systems in place for outreach, follow-up and customer relationship management
• helping us distinguish Sustenra from larger consultancies, specialist providers and independent advisers
• identifying relevant speaking, conference, publishing and partnership opportunities
• building Sustenra’s reputation with the institutions most likely to need our work

Our prospective clients include corporate and philanthropic foundations, financial institutions, impact investors, CSR teams, ESG teams and organisations responsible for significant funded programmes.

The people you may need to reach include 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

We are looking for someone who understands the charity, philanthropic or wider social-impact world and can translate that understanding into a credible commercial approach.

You may have worked in fundraising, corporate partnerships, grant-making, philanthropy, impact investment, CSR, ESG, responsible business, social investment, consultancy or professional-services business development.

Ideally, you will also have direct business or commercial experience. This might include:

• 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 what you have actually done and whether you understand how an organisation identifies opportunities, communicates its value, develops relationships and turns those relationships into sustainable income.

You should be comfortable:

• building a commercial function from the beginning
• developing relationships with senior decision-makers
• discussing scope, pricing and fees directly
• writing and shaping persuasive proposals
• working independently while making important decisions collaboratively
• testing ideas and changing course when something is not working
• representing Sustenra thoughtfully in public and private conversations

An existing network across foundations, corporate giving, CSR, ESG, responsible investment, financial institutions or philanthropy would be valuable.

Experience selling professional or advisory services would be particularly useful. It is not essential if you can show how your experience in fundraising, partnerships, grant-making or social investment could translate into securing paid advisory work.

Practical details and longer-term potential

The role will begin with an initial six-month period at approximately two days per week.

It is designed to sit alongside other employment, consultancy or portfolio work during this stage. You will have considerable flexibility over when and where you work, provided that agreed responsibilities, meetings and deadlines are met.

Core collaboration hours are generally between 10:00 and 16:00 UK time, Monday to Thursday. This does not mean you must work throughout that whole period. It is simply the window in which we try to arrange team meetings and collaborative work.

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.

The two-day commitment applies to the initial stage. If the relationship works well and Sustenra’s client base and income grow, we would expect the role to develop into a larger and more established leadership position.

The exact shape of that role would be agreed together, based on the needs of the company, the contribution being made and the time the successful candidate wants and is able to commit.

What we are offering

Sustenra is a new company at an early stage of growth. During the initial six-month period, the role will be approximately two days per week and commission-based rather than salaried.

The successful candidate will receive an agreed commission on paid mandates directly originated and secured through their work. The structure will be agreed before the role begins and set out clearly in writing.

If the relationship is successful and Sustenra’s income grows, we expect the role to develop into a larger, paid leadership position. The level and structure of pay would be agreed based on the company’s financial position, the scope of the role and the contribution being made.

For the right person who makes a sustained contribution and stays with Sustenra for the longer term, 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 no longer makes sense.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and answer the six application questions below.

We want to understand what you have actually done, how you think about building commercial relationships and whether this early-stage opportunity is a realistic fit for you.

Please answer each question clearly and 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, so we encourage you to apply early. We may begin interviews before the closing date and may close the role sooner if we identify a strong candidate.

1. Relevant experience

Briefly describe your experience in philanthropy, fundraising, corporate partnerships, grant-making, impact investment, corporate social responsibility, environmental, social and governance, responsible business or professional-services business development.

Which sectors, organisations or types of decision-maker do you know best?

Suggested length: up to 250 words

2. A significant commercial result

Tell us about the most significant income, partnership, investment or paid mandate you personally helped secure.

What was the opportunity, what did you do and what was the result?

Please be clear about your own contribution.

Suggested length: up to 250 words

3. Building the commercial function

Sustenra does not yet have an established commercial team or inherited pipeline.

What would you put in place during your first six months to build a practical commercial function?

Suggested length: up to 250 words

4. Your first 90 days

Which organisations, markets or types of decision-maker would you prioritise during your first 90 days, and how would you approach them?

Suggested length: up to 250 words

5. Securing paid advisory work

How would your experience translate into securing paid advisory mandates from foundations, companies, financial institutions or impact investors?

Where would you be strongest, and where would you need to learn?

Suggested length: up to 200 words

6. Practical fit and longer-term interest

The role begins with an initial six-month period at approximately two days per week and is commission-based rather than salaried. If the relationship is successful and Sustenra grows, the intention is for the role to develop into a larger paid leadership position, with a meaningful equity stake for someone who becomes a long-term part of the company.

Why is this arrangement workable for you now, what would you hope the role could become over time, and when would you be available to start?

Suggested length: up to 200 words