Global Head of Pro Bono and Community Outreach

The role 

As the Global Head of Pro Bono and Community Outreach, you will define and drive the Firm’s global social impact strategy across four priority areas: access to justice, education, healthy environment, and sustainable financial opportunity. 

The role ensures that pro bono and community outreach programmes deliver meaningful impact, align with the Firm’s responsible business commitments, and provide opportunities for our people globally. It requires close collaboration with senior leaders and teams across regions, practice groups, and business functions.

This role reports to the Global Head of Brand, Communications & Public Affairs and is a member of the Responsible Business Board.

Key responsibilities

1. Pro Bono Leadership

• Define and implement a global pro bono strategy aligned with the Firm’s practice strengths and responsible business commitments, to serve NGOs and community partners.
• Partner with Practice Group Leads to embed pro bono into lawyer development
• Lead the relationship with the Firm's key NGO partners globally and ensure a robust pipeline  of pro-bono mandates.
• Oversee the intake and conflicts process for pro bono matters, ensuring all projects meet global regulatory standards and professional liability requirements, in collaboration with the General Counsel.
• Coordinate global plans with regional and local activity.

2. Clifford Chance Foundation Management & Charitable Giving

• Serve as Chair of the Clifford Chance Foundation, overseeing its governance, investment strategy, and compliance.
• Oversee the annual global grant-making cycle, setting high bar for impact of the grantee activity, ensuring the right allocation of funds and data collection.
• Perform rigorous vetting of potential charity partners to ensure alignment with Firm values and international anti-bribery/money laundering regulations.

3. Community Outreach and Partnerships:

• Build long-term partnerships with NGOs and local community groups to create volunteering opportunities across markets.
• Design and lead joint pro bono initiatives with key global clients, strengthening relationships through shared social impact goals.

4. Impact Measurement & Reporting

• Oversee collection and analysis of impact data for the annual Responsible Business Report,

5. Team Leadership

• Lead and inspire a global team of pro-bono and community outreach professionals across the US, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East.
   

Your experience 

Key skills and experience:

• Qualified Lawyer
• 12+ years of experience in a senior social impact, pro bono leadership role within a global law firm.
• Demonstrated global experience in leading pro-bono and community outreach programs, charitable foundation management, and grant-making.
• Ability to navigate diverse legal and cultural landscapes across EMEA, Americas, and APAC.
• Competence in managing large-scale budgets and understanding fiduciary duties related to charitable organisations.
• Exceptional communication skills, ability to influence senior leaders, including board level stakeholders. Strong judgment related to the reputational impact of pro-bono and community outreach work.
• Familiarity with legal-tech platforms to track and report on social ROI.
• Experience of managing a team to deliver against targets.
   

Who we are 

As a global law firm our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people.

Our culture is collaborative and inclusive— where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability, unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive and grow. 

We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses, across every critical moment.

We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients. With forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets.

You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team. You’ll unlock opportunities for clients, across borders, cultures, legal and commercial disciplines.

Join us to work with colleagues as one global team – empowering each other to be exceptional and create advantage for our clients.
 

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.