Reference: MAY20220211
Flexible in UK

An excellent opportunity to influence important decisions across the UK on both helping nature adapt to climate change and the role nature can play in helping wider society adapt to a warming world.

Do you have strong policy development and advocacy skills, knowledge about ecology, climate change and nature conservation as well as strong people skills to drive work forward? We are looking for an effective advocate, passionate about securing the policy outcomes that help nature and people adapt to climate change.

We need to develop the knowledge, policies and advocacy to help nature adapt to a world that is 2°C warmer than pre-industrial levels and along a trajectory of ongoing change. Adaptation presents a very significant challenge to both people and nature and the UK’s Climate Change Committee has underscored that the UK is currently under-prepared for the likely warming. Risks to nature form a significant part of the picture; while nature can also play a significant role in helping humans to adapt.

Internally, the role will involve working with policy staff across the UK to build and advocate RSPB’s adaptation policy across the devolved, UK and global context, including the UK’s Overseas Territories. As part of this you will help facilitate join up between our science, land management and policy expertise. It will involve building relationships with RSPB operations and reserves staff to ensure that the RSPB’s own ecology and reserves management work is aligned with addressing the opportunities and risks as our climate warms.

Externally, you will build relationships and common approaches to adaptation across both statutory and NGO nature conservation organisations, towards integrating effective adaptation across UK nature conservation delivery. The role will also focus on helping to develop and coordinate advocacy strategies to share the adaptation policy with Government decision makers and ensure their effective implementation.

The post-holder will be responsible for the RSPB's Westminster and Whitehall decision maker facing advocacy, as well as relevant arms-length bodies, whilst working closely with colleagues in other parts of the UK to ensure our priorities are delivered effectively within available capacity, providing information, advice and support where needed.