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Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) Challenge Fund is recruiting for an Advisory Group Chair

What is the IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group?

The IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group (IWTAG) supports the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in its delivery of the IWT Challenge Fund. Having been established in 2014, the Fund has now supported 187 projects in 69 countries – funding innovative and scalable projects that respond to IWT whilst also reducing poverty in developing countries.

The Advisory Group consists of a range of experts who advise Defra on the development of the fund, review applications, and make technical recommendations. IWTAG is made up of independent experts including academics, practitioners, and NGO representatives, along with government officials, all with leadership experience, technical knowledge, and experience of IWT, transnational environmental crime, and/or multidimensional poverty reduction programmes.

Role Description:

We are currently recruiting for a Chair for the IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group (IWTAG). The successful candidate will act as a champion for the IWT Challenge Fund. Alongside Defra and other government ministers, the IWTAG Chair will represent and promote the IWT Challenge Fund and its interests at the most senior levels and across all sectors including public, business, academic, and non-governmental.

The IWTAG Chair will be responsible for chairing all meetings of the IWT Challenge Fund Advisory Group, to ensure due process is followed and decisions are taken independently, honestly, objectively, and impartially - enabling Defra to award funding to the highest quality projects. Where necessary, they will make the final decisions if members are unable to reach consensus on any aspects of the assessment process.

Additional responsibilities include supporting the recruitment and retention of members, providing strategic advice on the IWT Challenge Fund aims, priorities, and further development. Where possible they will attend, chair, or speak at IWT Challenge Fund events, including workshops and webinars.

Qualities and experience required:

We encourage applications from a wide range of backgrounds, including the private sector, academia, professional institutions, non-governmental organisations, and independent experts. We welcome candidates based in the UK or internationally, including in countries where projects are delivered (i.e. low- and middle-income countries). We are keen to build an Advisory Group that values and reflects a diversity of perspectives and experience.

The successful candidate will bring senior‑level leadership experience, with a proven ability to chair high‑level committees, build consensus, and shape strategic funding decisions. They will have deep technical expertise relevant to IWT, alongside broader experience across transnational environmental crime or transferable skills such as financial investigations, enforcement, behavioural science, or community‑led conservation. They will also have a strong track record of delivering grant‑funded projects, working effectively with government, and developing or assessing high‑quality proposals that offer strong value for money and ambitious outcomes.

How to Apply:

Applications close at 23:59 (UK time) on Monday 8 June 2026, and the appointment will commence from September 2026, with a three-year term, reviewed annually, and with the option of a second term by mutual agreement.

Please refer to the Recruitment Pack for guidance and information on this recruitment.

Applications are to be submitted via Flexi-Grant.

We look forward to receiving your applications!

Please note that we will be sharing further information on the launch of new funding rounds in due course. Please follow our BCFs social media accounts and sign up to our mailing list to ensure you see any updates as soon as they are shared. Click here to sign up: IWT Challenge Fund Mailing List