Our Guiding Star: Building Resilience
QCF was established in 2019 by the founders of Quadrature Capital, Greg Skinner and Suneil Setiya, out of a recognition of the persistent poverty, inequality, and human suffering that shape our societies. Our founders were already active philanthropists in these areas, and came to understand how climate would compound them, driving food insecurity, deepening displacement, and pushing the most vulnerable into crisis. This realisation led them to establish QCF with a focus on climate as the defining challenge of our time.
In 2025, the founders and QCF decided to bring the Foundation's climate funding together with other private philanthropic funding streams across poverty, inequality and human suffering under an expanded Foundation remit. QCF’s updated mandate is based on our core belief: that acute human suffering now, and cascading climate risks ahead, are interconnected crises that threaten the stability of societies everywhere. This demands action both downstream, to address poverty and inequality and help people secure their lives and dignity today; and upstream, to build the conditions that make lasting climate and societal transformation possible and durable for tomorrow.
Within this expanded direction, QCF is seeking five Programme Directors across the following portfolios:
Job Description – Programme Director, Communications and Culture
QCF is now seeking a senior strategic leader who will be responsible for shaping one of QCF’s most catalytic portfolios: strengthening the narrative, cultural and information conditions required for durable systems change. In a context of fragmented democratic discourse, accelerating misinformation, and contested climate and social transitions, the portfolio stewards long-horizon investments designed to reshape public discourse and reinforce the social and informational foundations of resilience.
The portfolio spans multiple interconnected levers, including:
Reporting to a Managing Director, the Programme Director will define and evolve the long-term strategy of a multi-year, nine-figure portfolio, predominantly grant-making with selective use of investment capital and exploration of sustainable financing models beyond philanthropy. They will set clear funding priorities, steward experimentation and learning, and make disciplined decisions about portfolio scope and resource allocation. Central to the role is building trusted relationships across media, civil society, cultural institutions, philanthropy and policy environments, ensuring QCF’s capital complements and strengthens existing efforts. The Programme Director will contribute to QCF’s wider catalytic capital agenda and represent the Foundation externally with credibility, judgement and humility.
In this unique role, QCF is now seeking a senior leader with director-level (or equivalent) experience across communications, media, narrative strategy, culture or adjacent systems-change fields. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to design and steward complex, multi-year portfolios operating across advocacy, movements, elite and mainstream media, and information ecosystems.
They will bring strong political judgement and confidence navigating contested regulatory and stakeholder environments; a nuanced understanding of power, privilege and bias within media, philanthropic and policy systems; a deep track record of experience engaging credibly with senior executives, boards and cross-sector leaders; and the proven ability to build and sustain trust-based partnerships across diverse stakeholders.
The role requires sophisticated systems thinking — understanding how media, culture, politics and technology interact to shape public discourse — and the ability to translate this into clear strategic choices and funding decisions. Candidates must be comfortable making decisions under uncertainty, balancing long-term narrative ambition with practical delivery considerations, and adapting strategy in response to evidence and shifting external conditions.
Above all, the Programme Director will combine intellectual rigour with humility, relational intelligence and resilience. They will demonstrate a deep commitment to QCF’s partner-led approach, acting as an enabler of ecosystem strength and pluralism rather than a central driver of narrative change.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter detailing the specific Programme Director role you are applying for here: https://PLusPortal.PerrettLaver.com quoting reference number 8334.
The deadline for the receipt of applications is 11:59pm GMT on Friday 27th March 2026.
The role will be based in QCF’s London office, on a hybrid working arrangement, with some expected travel when required.
Perrett Laver will conduct an executive search process. Longlisted candidates will be invited to interview with Perrett Laver in early April and a final shortlist for the post will be identified in mid-April. QCF’s interviews with the shortlisted candidates will take place thereafter.
Guided by its core values of collaboration, humility, bravery, objectivity, and drive, QCF strives to make a global impact while maintaining a workplace where every voice is valued. QCF is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
To confidentially get in touch about this role, or for advice on your application please email, Ryann Schutt ryann.schutt@perrettlaver.com.
Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats or require any reasonable adjustments to assist you in the selection process, please contact Kelly Harding kelly.harding@perrettlaver.com.
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