Senior Strategist and Head of UK & EU Operations
Join Henderson Risk Group as the Senior Strategist and Head of UK & EU Operations. You will be the bridge between impact strategy, partner development, and regional execution, playing a pivotal role in scaling our influence across the private and financial sectors.
Base pay range
Job Type: Permanent, Full-time
Location: UK; travel to London twice a week; Hybrid – shared office in Holborn
Job Category: Mission‑aligned growth, Strategic leadership, Operational excellence, Team leadership, collaboration and culture
Salary: £80,000 – £93,000 per annum
About Us
XDI (Cross Dependency Initiative) is a specialist, mission‑led physical climate risk analytics company. Established in 2007, XDI is the world's longest‑standing independent specialist in physical climate risk and adaptation analytics. We translate climate risk into financially decision‑useful intelligence, enabling decision‑makers to plan for resilience and adaptation, and to redirect capital toward a low‑carbon, climate‑resilient economy. Our clients include major banks, investors, asset owners and governments worldwide. We are part of The Climate Risk Group, with about 50 team members across Australia and Europe. Our European client base has grown rapidly through strategic partnerships and direct client relationships. In early 2023 we opened a London office, supporting our continued growth across the region.
The Role
As Senior Strategist & Head of EU & UK Operations, you will lead the identification of new opportunities, strengthen commercial systems, and ensure the organisation is set up to deliver them efficiently. This role is ideal for a senior NGO or mission‑driven leader who thrives where strategy, relationship building, systems design, and operational delivery intersect.
Key Accountabilities
Mission‑Aligned Growth
* Partner with the Global Head of Commercial & Partnerships and C‑suite leaders to understand our Theory of Change, priority markets, and partnership opportunities.
* Develop UK and EU commercial and non‑commercial impact campaigns that reflect market needs and strategic priorities.
* Translate clients' needs into clear problem statements and solutions across our SaaS, consulting, and hybrid offerings.
* Support clients and partners, including advisory firms, data providers, and sustainability consultancies, in understanding our services, value proposition and impact potential.
* Build strong relationships with NGOs, NFPs, and government agencies, including data‑sharing partnerships.
* Proactively identify, qualify, and pursue new commercial and impact‑driving opportunities, helping secure new clients and strategic partners.
* Craft compelling proposals, EOIs, pitches, partnership decks, and impact narratives.
* Monitor market trends and leverage data insights to pinpoint strategic growth opportunities.
* Maintain high‑quality CRM discipline to ensure clarity in pipeline management and partnership activities.
Strategic Leadership
* Translate the organisation's Theory of Change into actionable campaign strategies for the UK and EU regions.
* Build relationships with regional change agents, thought leaders, and ecosystem partners.
* Develop systems to monitor progress against the strategy and the impact of the organisation against goals.
* Assess the organisation's success at driving impact while sustaining its own revenue generation.
Operational Excellence
* Provide strategic input during planning cycles to ensure commercial initiatives align with market realities and organisational goals.
* Enhance commercial dashboards, reporting, and CRM systems to strengthen decision‑making.
* Evaluate sales pipeline against delivery capacity to maintain sustainable growth.
* Apply strong financial and P&L understanding to guide commercial decisions and strengthen organisational health.
* Oversee contracts, budgets, and project reporting with rigour and clarity.
Leadership, Collaboration & Culture
* Foster a high‑performance, values‑aligned environment grounded in trust, inclusion, and collaboration.
* Provide people leadership to a multidisciplinary team (Sales, Customer Success, and Data Product Specialists), supporting their development and wellbeing.
* Coach and mentor team members, aligning their strengths and interests with organisational needs.
* Coordinate cross‑functional workflows, ensuring transparent communication and seamless execution.
Capabilities & Experience Sought After
* Senior experience in business development, partnerships, or commercial strategy within NGOs, NFPs, or purpose‑driven organisations.
* Strong commercial and analytical judgement, with an ability to distill complexity into clear, persuasive narratives.
* Demonstrated capability in building or improving commercial systems and operational processes.
* Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with a record of trusted relationships across sectors.
* Experience leading teams and delivering impact in fast‑paced, evolving environments.
* Ability to navigate ambiguity, bring structure, clarity, and focus to complex or shifting priorities.
* Comfortable collaborating across cultures, remotely, and across time zones.
* Knowledge of climate science, climate risk, or climate‑tech ecosystems.
* Deep commitment to ethical leadership, purpose‑driven work, and climate impact, believing in the catalytic role of the private, financial, and political sectors.
* Strong networks across UK, Europe, or global climate and sustainability communities.
* Motivated by bold ideas, iterative learning, and agile ways of working.
Why Work with Us?
We run an inclusive, supportive environment that values wellbeing, teamwork, and a shared purpose. We offer generous employment conditions to support balance, autonomy, and growth.
* Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid working.
* Fortnightly Wellbeing Days while remaining on full‑time pay.
* Access to our Employee Assistance Program.
* Empowered, cross‑functional ways of working.
* A culture of continuous feedback and recognition.
Interested candidates should apply with a CV and cover letter explaining why you'd like to work for XDI. Interviews will start in early January 2026.
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