Healthy Air Campaigner (maternity cover – one year), London
ClientEarth is a non-profit public interest environmental law organisation headquartered in London with offices in Brussels and Warsaw. We provide dedicated public interest legal capacity for the environment, working with environmental NGOs and other stakeholders and acting as legal advocates for environmental objectives. We work at a policy and legislative level to lobby for strong laws and policies that protect the environment, and we pursue litigation that supports our strategic objectives. Our work is based on the development and execution of clear strategies and productive partnerships to ensure our actions to protect the human right to a clean and healthy environment have maximum impact.An opportunity has arisen for an experienced campaigner to join our health and environment team in London. This is a maternity cover position for one year.
Project description
Air pollution is a serious, but largely invisible public health issue. Poor air quality in the UK is responsible for 29,000 premature deaths each year and is associated with a range of health problems including heart disease, stroke, asthma and impaired lung development in children. Legal limits in force to protect public health are broken in towns and cities throughout the UK.
Our legal work consists primarily of a legal case against the UK government for the failure to achieve legal limits, and advocacy to influence EU air legislation in Brussels. This has been successful in driving change at the London, national and EU level.
However, ClientEarth takes a broader approach which complements legal strategy with policy advocacy and awareness raising in order to achieve widespread change. Public and political understanding of the causes and impacts of air pollution remains poor, and this is a major barrier to progress. This is why ClientEarth also leads the Healthy Air Campaign - a coalition of health, transport and environment groups which aims to:
- raise awareness of the health impacts of air pollution;
- encourage behaviour that helps cut air pollution and exposure to it;
- persuade all levels of government to take stronger action so that the UK complies fully with air quality law.
Working relationships
Strong campaign partners are vital to delivering these aims and increasing our reach and level of influence. See www.healthyair.org.uk for more information on the campaign and current partners.
You will be part of our small clean air team, working closely with our lawyer and community engagement officer. You will be based in our bright and spacious offices in Hackney.
You will also work closely with campaign partners and a wide range of other stakeholders including government officials, MPs, peers, local authorities, industry and community groups.
The Healthy Air Campaigner role
ClientEarth is looking to recruit a committed, energetic and organised individual to lead the Healthy Air Campaign. You will have a track record of campaigning to achieve specific outcomes, and proven experience of building strategic partnerships and influencing policy.
The successful applicant will be required to fulfil a broad range of duties, including:
- Supporting existing campaign partners through provision of information, resources and opportunities to influence
- Identifying new partners of strategic use to the aims of the campaign, at a London and UK level
- Growing campaign support from industry, local authorities and other relevant organisations
- Building relationships with MPs and peers in order to raise the profile of air quality in parliament
- Advocacy for the campaign’s policy recommendations with government and other stakeholders
- Generating media and social media coverage of air pollution and the Healthy Air Campaign
- Supporting a network of community campaigns across the UK, with information, resources and advice.
Key requirements
- Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to give confident and compelling public presentations
- Public affairs experience
- Demonstrated creativity in using a variety of approaches to influence policy
- Ability to turn scientific and technical information into accessible material adapted to a variety of target audiences
- Confident in building and maintaining a strong network of key stakeholders
- Strong organisational skills and ability to manage a complex project
- A good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject
- Work experience or strong interest and understanding of environmental and health issues
- Fluency in English (essential)
- Knowledge of air pollution/transport issues (desirable)
- Knowledge of environmental law (desirable).
We are looking for a reliable, self-motivated individual who thrives in a team environment, and are happy to consider applicants from a broad range of backgrounds. The successful applicant will be able to bring imagination and initiative to the role, and will be comfortable working closely with a broad range of stakeholders, and with colleagues from throughout Europe and beyond. This position is to work either full time or 4 days a week. Secondments from relevant organisations will be considered.
Please note that ClientEarth will only consider candidates who are eligible to work in the UK.
Start date
End of May/beginning of June 2014
Salary
£30,000-35,000 per annum dependent on experience
To apply
Please send us a CV and a cover letter, explaining your interest in joining ClientEarth and the contribution you believe you could make to the organisation. Please address your application to Maria Arnold, Health and Environment Advisor, ClientEarth, The Hothouse, 274 Richmond Road, London E8 3QW or send it by email to jobs@clientearth.org. Please include “ClientEarth London campaigner role” in the email subject line, and identify the documents you are sending by including “[your name] cover letter” and “[your name] CV” in the file name.
Recruitment is open now and you should send your application as soon as possible and no later than 27th April 2014. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and will be interviewing applicants before the closing date.
If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please contact Maria Arnold ( marnold@clientearth.org) or 0203 0305969.
