Nature Protection Policy Officer

Introduction

We have an exciting opportunity for a Nature Protection Policy Officer in Northern Ireland, to
join our friendly and committed policy and advocacy team at a time of unprecedented challenges
and opportunities for environmental protection.

What’s the role about? 

We are in a critical moment for nature, and the RSPB is campaigning to secure strong
commitments to nature’s recovery, and in Northern Ireland we will be seeking to secure and
influence new legislation to ensure environmental protection is upheld following Brexit. We’re
looking for someone who’s professional, passionate, proactive and engaging with a sound
knowledge of the policy and legislation for protected areas, species and habitats, relevant
UK/NI legislation, and biodiversity/species policy.

You should have the skills and personality to advocate for policy and legislation to champion
the change nature needs to decision-makers, professional counterparts and the public, and
develop and strengthen NI’s network of protected areas for wildlife to help us ensure that the
best places for nature get the protection, management and monitoring that they need.

Key tasks:

• Site conservation policy in Northern Ireland, focusing on the identification of terrestrial
  and marine areas that should be protected through international, national and local site
  protection legislation, advocating their designation at the appropriate level, and the
  implementation of policies to secure their protection, appropriate management and monitoring.
• Supporting high level advocacy with local government and its statutory agency to influence
  the development of NI’s approach to protected areas in response to emerging national, UK and
  global commitments to increase and improve site protection over the next decade. This will
  include undertaking analysis of the current protected areas network, and standards of
  protection, monitoring and management, developing RSPB policy and advocating the need for
  change, and working with colleagues across the four different national legal, policy and
  political contexts in which the RSPB operates (i.e. in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and
  Wales).
• Providing specialist advice in relation to complex casework.
• Providing specialist advice in relation to the interaction of site policy with other key
  policy areas.
• Working with colleagues ‘on the ground’ to support the delivery of protected areas work both
  on the RSPB estate and within our Priority Landscapes, and with other policy specialists
  (including RSPB colleagues and those in partner organisations) to ensure integration of sites
  policy within our wider work to tackle the nature and climate emergency and to halt and reverse
  the loss of biodiversity.
• Work closely with Campaigning and Communications team to build public knowledge and support
  for policy asks.

 Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or experience relevant to the role.
• Able to analyse complex issues in a fast paced environment.
• Able to negotiate with and influence others.
• Good written and verbal communication skills e.g. professional, persuasive, engaging,
  confident.
• Strong time management and organisational skills.
• Able to prioritise effectively.
• Able to manage projects effectively.
• Competent use of Microsoft Office

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Practical experience of operating in a policy and/or advocacy role.
• An understanding of environment/biodiversity in general and protected areas, species and
  habitats policy in particular.
• Working understanding of NI/UK/EU/global institutions relevant to environment/biodiversity in
  general, and protected areas, species and habitats policy in particular.
• An understanding of the role of public facing communications/campaigns in supporting policy
  advocacy.

This is a Permanent role for 37.5 hours per week.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 03 September 2024. For further
information please contact [email protected] 

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

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.

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

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the
successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be
offered an employment contract.