Policy Officer - Climate Adaptation

This is 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.

Policy Officer - Climate Adaptation (Maternity Cover)
Reference: AUG20247356
Location: Flexible in UK
Salary: £32,022.00 - £34,377.00 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: 12 months fixed term
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave

You will have the opportunity to help shape this leading nature conservation charity's advocacy on nature’s role in tackling the climate crisis, particularly as the UK government and the Climate Change Committee consider the role nature and land use can play in reaching net zero.

They are looking for an effective advocate, with experience in influencing policy development and implementation related to climate change and nature. You will be passionate about developing and securing policy outcomes that help tackle the nature and climate crises in tandem. You will have strong policy development and advocacy skills, knowledge about climate change and nature conservation, and strong people skills to help drive this work forward internally and externally.

What is the role about?

Adaptation presents a significant challenge to both people and nature. The Climate Change Committee acknowledges 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.

This role will allow the successful candidate to help steer the charity’s climate adaptation policy work.

Externally, the role will focus on developing advocacy strategies to influence government adaptation policy and secure effective implementation. The postholder will also support work to influence and secure common approaches to adaptation across UK nature conservation organisations – integrating climate adaptation across nature conservation delivery.

Internally, the role sits within the UK Land and Climate team in their UK Policy and Advocacy Department and will work with colleagues across the charity to further develop and advocate their adaptation policy across the UK and in a global context.

The postholder will bring together science, land management and policy expertise, working across the organisation to align work on their land - addressing risks of climate change and showcasing the role of nature in tackling the climate crisis.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Advocate the charity's climate adaptation objectives effectively to external audiences, developing advocacy plans and building strong working relationships with stakeholders including with government, industry and NGOs.
• Support development and delivery of projects that further their climate adaptation objectives.
• Work with colleagues to develop effective evidence-based policy positions on climate adaptation.
• Contribute to and coordinate the writing of reports, consultation responses and briefings to further their climate adaptation objectives.
• Work with colleagues across the charity to develop their internal adaptation capacity.
• Monitor relevant climate adaptation developments and brief colleagues.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Educated to degree level.
• Able to demonstrate a good knowledge of climate, nature policy and science in the UK or wider, with relevant academic or professional qualifications.
• Able to analyse complex issues in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to negotiate with and influence others.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills e.g. professional, persuasive, engaging.
• Have a proven track record in good project management and have strong time management, prioritisation and organisational skills.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline.
• An understanding of environment/biodiversity policy, in particular climate adaptation.
• Working understanding of UK/EU/global institutions where relevant to climate adaptation.
• An understanding of the role of public facing communications/campaigns in supporting advocacy.
• Experience of operating in a policy and/or advocacy role.

Further Information:

They are open to applications from candidates who would look to conduct this role on a part-time, or pro-rata basis. The successful candidate can be based flexibly, however some travel to London and Bedfordshire will be required, and further afield in the UK on occasion.

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

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday, 13th October 2024
They are looking to conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 28th October 2024.

Interested?

Please click the job board apply button to be taken to the next stage where you can find out more information and complete your application by following the instructions (you may need to scroll down).

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.

Our client is committed to developing an inclusive and diverse workplace, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve their vision of creating a world richer in nature, the charity needs 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, the organisation is particularly interested in receiving your application.

The charity 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.

No agencies please.

Location: Bedfordshire, GB

Posted Date: 9/25/2024