Youth Advocacy Officer

SALARY: £29,355 pro rata per annum
HOURS: 18 hours per week (0.6 FTE) * (work pattern to be agreed)
REPORTS TO: Executive Director
LOCATION: Remote working, based in Scotland.
CONTRACT: 3-years fixed term

*We are a four-day-week (30 hours) organisation.

ABOUT US

Young Sea Changers Scotland (YSCS) is a Scottish charity (SC052142) on a
mission to equip young people, aged 16-25, with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to speak up on marine policy issues affecting them, their communities, and their environment. Our vision is for young people in Scotland, regardless of background or experience, to be empowered to have their voices heard on how our seas are managed.

The work of our organisation is overseen by a board of committed Trustees and run by an Executive Director who shares a passion for youth empowerment and ocean conservation.

JOB PURPOSE

As our new Youth Advocacy Officer, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring young people’s voices are heard in policymaking for Scotland’s seas. You will be responsible for coordinating activities and initiatives that connect young advocates with policymakers and other marine stakeholders, thereby increasing young people’s engagement and impact on marine conservation issues.

A central aspect of this role is the development and promotion of the Youth Manifesto for Scotland’s Seas, which captures the perspectives, concerns, and aspirations of young people regarding Scotland’s marine environment ahead of the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2026.

We are looking for a confident and motivated individual with policy advocacy experience. You will work closely with the YSCS team as well as in close collaboration with our partners to deliver the key responsibilities below.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Coordinate the activities of our Young Persons Policy Group (YPPG)
2. Collaborate with the YPPG to organise virtual town hall meetings, webinars, and workshops to directly connect young people with their elected representatives & other stakeholders.
3. Secure media coverage for youth-led initiatives and events to increase public awareness and garner support for youth advocacy efforts.
4. Provide guidance and support to young people engaging with policymaking, including support to submit responses to government consultations.
5. Facilitate discussions
   with government bodies, the YSCS team, and YPPG to explore making stakeholder engagement processes accessible to young people.
6. Support development of a Youth Manifesto for Scotland’s Seas ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in 2026 and engage with candidate MSPs to secure cross-party pledges.
7. Lead on the organisation of a high-profile Youth Summit on Scotland’s Seas to launch the Youth Manifesto and showcase youth-led initiatives.
8. Develop a communication strategy and social media campaign to disseminate the Youth Manifesto, encourage public support, and mobilise youth to share it with candidate MSPs.
9. Represent YSCS at external events, where appropriate.
10. Collaborate with the YSCS team (Executive Director, Project Coordinator, and Board of Trustees) on other tasks that fall within the scope of this position

QUALIFICATION, KNOWLEDGE, AND EXPERIENCE

Essential*

• Proven professional experience with UK/Scottish marine policy or practice
• Demonstrable understanding of current challenges facing Scottish seas, and of the marine policy landscape
• A track record of engaging &/or influencing decision-makers
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work within a team and independently
• Can create and effectively deliver project plans
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Competent user of social media and some experience with online content creation (e.g. Canva.)
• Good meeting and workshop facilitation skills
• Budget management

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of speaking in public
• Demonstrable experience working with volunteers, particularly young people
• Experience organising events and workshops

Other

• Be eligible to work in the UK
• Be based in Scotland

*We welcome applicants who may not possess all the essential criteria but who are
passionate and believe they would be a strong fit for the role. Note that possessing a university degree is not required for this role.

EQUALITY & DIVERSITY

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse organisation, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. People of colour, disabled people, and young people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour, disabled, a young person, or someone coming from a lower socio-economicbackground, we are
particularly interested in receiving your application. 

Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

WHY WORK WITH US

• Make a meaningful impact for young people to feel confidence to speak up on issues they care about
• Gain valuable experiences in a new, mission-driven organisation
• Join a team of people who share a passion for our marine environment and recognise the power of youth advocacy

WHAT WE OFFER

• A matched pension contribution of 5%
• A 4-day work week with a flexible working pattern
• 22.5 days of paid holiday (pro-rata)
• We also close between Christmas and New Year as extra time off
• A small training stipend
• A work laptop & support for other equipment costs

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a CV and a letter of no more than two sides of A4, detailing your interest in the role and why you think your experience, skills and approach would be a strong fit. Please try to refer to each of the position criteria in turn with examples (e.g. using subheadings).

We also accept applications in other formats, including via video recording or voice note.

Please email to Alan Munro at [email protected].

Note that appointments will be subject to a Disclosure Scotland check and two references.

Closing date for applications is 23rd September.

Interviews will be held week commencing 30th September via Zoom.

If you’d like to find out more, or for an informal chat about the role, do not hesitate to
contact us!