Senior Marine Policy Officer

This is an outstanding opportunity to help ensure a better future for Northern Ireland’s seas and seabirds. You will lead RSPBNI policy and advocacy on seabird, marine, and fisheries issues and influence important debates and decisions in Northern Ireland relating to the protection of seabirds and the marine environment generally.

We are looking for an experienced policy advocate who understands and can influence the policies that impact on seabirds in Northern Ireland. As well as a strong knowledge of seabirds and the issues affecting seabird populations, you will provide thought leadership, be well respected in this field and have strong advocacy, communication, and campaigning skills.

The UK is internationally important for seabirds and has a responsibility to protect and recover their populations. Around 8 million seabirds from 25 species breed in the UK, including 80% of the world’s Manx shearwaters, and millions more overwinter or pass through the UK on migration. Northern Ireland is globally important for a range of seabirds and other marine species. Yet seabirds are now under unprecedented threat, declining faster than any other group of birds. Seabirds breeding along our coastline and on our islands need safe nesting places free from introduced predators, and well-managed seas and fisheries to provide food for adults and young. How we manage and protect our seas in the coming decades will play a central role in halting declines in nature and combatting climate change.

The role will involve advocacy on marine, fisheries and renewable policies with a focus on the NI Assembly and relevant NI government Departments, working closely with the NI Marine Task Force, as well as providing information, advice, and support to other staff internally on seabird and marine policy issues. The successful candidate will work with a wide range of policy staff across the UK and with colleagues in our Conservation Science, Campaigns and Communications, and our on-the-ground Operations teams, to ensure we have an impact.

What’s the role about?

You will:

• Build and maintain effective relationships with key contacts, including politicians and senior government officials, to build optimum conditions for successful advocacy for RSPB policy positions.
• Work closely with colleagues to develop and deliver campaigns and communications material that effectively further RSPB’s policy advocacy objectives.
• Be responsible for the production of policy reports, consultation responses, briefings and other materials to further the RSPB’s policy advocacy objectives.
• Work closely with colleagues in Northern Ireland and across the UK to share information about relevant policy developments, to ensure an informed and consistent approach to policy advocacy across the RSPB and to advise on RSPB’s wider strategic approach to marine.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• A good understanding of marine legislation and/or policy and its implications for seabird conservation.
• Experience of advocating policy effectively to external audiences (including government, relevant businesses, NGOs) to further specific policy and advocacy objectives and proven ability to build and maintain effective relationships with external stakeholders
• A good understanding of the role of public facing communications and campaigns in supporting policy advocacy.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and presentational), including an ability to speak confidently and cogently in public with those with opposing views.
• Able to act independently to generate and lead on policy positions and outputs.
• Able to form effective teams (both internal and external) and work effectively as a team leader and a team player.

This is a Fixed-Term role for 37.5 hours per week until the end of December 2026.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 19th January 2026. For further information please contact [email protected] or [email protected].

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.

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.

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.