This role provides an exciting opportunity to join RSPBs UK marine team.

Seabirds globally are in trouble, declining faster than any other bird group in the world. In the UK, marine birds failed to meet Good Environmental Status (GES) by 2020 and are worryingly moving away from the target under the UK Marine Strategy. In addition the recent seabird census showed a decline of 70% in our Scottish strongholds. 

Seabirds as apex predators are indicators of ocean health. They are sensitive to changes and pressures in the marine environment and as such, their population trends and breeding success can inform and measure the success of actions to protect and restore UK waters. These ongoing declines are a clear warning that our seas are struggling. To ensure nature positive outcomes for our seas, Governments must act on the worrying signs revealed by our seabirds as a catalyst to end isolated approaches to marine management and prioritise delivery of holistic action for climate and nature. On the current trajectory of ever-increasing pressures, further decline in the UK’s internationally important seabird populations is inevitable without urgent and ambitious action. It is now or never to make a change and put our seas on a path to recovery. 

Through our UK marine work the RSPB seeks to drive change focussed on ensuring seabirds have plentiful food supplies and safe places to breed. For this role we'd be particularly keen to hear from people with experience working on fisheries issues, support our aspirations to drive changes to protect forage fish, with an emphasis on securing a closure to sandeel fishing in UK waters and to reduce seabird mortality through bycatch. 

The team are at the forefront of marine conservation, covering a range of essential issues from approaches to marine spatial planning, offshore wind, fisheries, blue carbon and protected areas, focussing on the need to halt biodiversity decline, restore our marine environment and deliver upon our climate aspirations. 

Essential skills, knowledge and experience: 

• A good understanding of environment / biodiversity legislation, public policy and its implications for conservation
• A good understanding of the role of public facing communications/campaigns in supporting policy advocacy
• Able to analyse complex issues in a fast paced environment coupled with well honed political acumen
• Effective negotiation and influencing skills relevant to role
• Excellent communication skills, including an ability to speak confidently and cogently in public to a variety of audiences, including those with opposing views
• Confident and capable of being a public face for RSPB policy and advocacy to the media and social media
• Strong time management, prioritisation and organisational skills
• Effective project management skills
• Able to act independently to generate and lead on policy positions and project development
• Able to form effective teams (both internal and external) and work effectively as a team leader and a team player

This is a Permanent Full Time role for 37.5 hours per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 11th January 2024. For further information please contact 

kirsten.carter@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

If you wish to provide a cover letter with your application, please include this at the end of your CV document upload.

Unfortunately we are unable to offer Visa sponsorship for this position - as a result the candidates will need to have pre-existing Right to Work in the UK. 

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.