Are you an experienced campaigns professional, with a track record of developing and delivering successful campaigns? If you are also enthusiastic, hardworking, creative and professional then this could be your ideal job.

Our advocacy campaigns are part of the RSPB’s drive to ‘Revive our World’ which you will drive forward in Northern Ireland. The ‘Revive Our World’ campaign seeks to secure policies in the fight against the nature and climate crisis, which protect and manage our land and seas to help halt and reverse the ongoing loss to Northern Ireland's biodiversity.

What’s the role about?

You will play a central role in building a movement of people taking multiple actions for nature, growing the public demand for tackling the nature and climate crisis. You will have a good understanding of the NI Assembly and the wider political landscape and be able to work effectively with innovative partners and stakeholders external to the RSPB.

You’ll have great writing skills, and be able to communicate complex or technical topics in a clear manner at all levels to develop a shared understanding of what nature needs to thrive. You’ll also need excellent planning, prioritisation and project management skills and the ability to organise yourself and keep a campaign on track and to deadlines.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of Northern Ireland’s leading conservation charity, helping to influence policy, make our campaigns more impactful and play a key role in tackling the nature and climate crisis.

Key deliverables will include: 

• Responsible for the co-ordination and delivery of a programme of public-facing, advocacy themed communications campaigns that drive and empower public action in support of RSPB objectives and priorities.
• Implementing the RSPB’s public-facing campaigning strategy, supporting in the organisation of cross-functional strategy boards and decision-making groups required in order to achieve alignment and clear prioritisation.
• Ensuring that campaigns are integrated into, and co-ordinated with, the RSPB’s overall communications plans and its broader programme of public-facing fundraising and communications campaigns.
• Working with colleagues in relevant departments, countries and regions (and, where appropriate, other organisations) to ensure their integration and engagement in the planning and delivery of cross cutting campaigns and activities to achieve the best outcome for the RSPB.
• Have a good understanding of the RSPB’s advocacy and communications priorities and programmes in order to make connections between different areas of work, ensuring the presentation of coherent and impactful campaigns.
• Assist in the creation of project plans and business cases in order to negotiate the budget required for the development and implementation of cross-functional advocacy campaigns.
• Work with team managers to identify issues that have growing public and media resonance and reconcile and help integrate these with RSPB policy and political objectives in order to develop future campaigning priorities.
• Operate a range of mechanisms for mobilising supporters to ensure campaigns have maximum impact and integrate supporter campaigning as a core part of the RSPB mission. ? Work with other teams and agencies on the development of creative campaign concepts and supporting communications material that communicates the RSPB position on issues in ways that connects both with political targets and supporter audiences.
• Develop and maintain relationships with supporters and partner organisations so that campaigns are well aligned, resonant and impactful.

 Essential Skills and Abilities

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, or similar ability gained through work experience relevant to the role.
• Good advocacy and communications knowledge, as demonstrated by work successes and demonstrable examples of campaigning successes achieved.
• The approach required to plan and deliver a public-facing campaign; how to create a campaign strategy and plan capable of communicating key messages to priority target audiences, driving them to take action.
• Good understanding of the policy and political landscape in Northern Ireland.
• Communications - listening, written and verbal: Able to communicate complex or technical topics in a clear manner at all levels to develop shared understanding.
• Strong social and interpersonal skills, with the gravitas to influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to interpret the media and political landscape.
• Excellent planning, prioritisation and project management skills, combined with the ability to meet tight deadlines.
• Ability to effectively organise and participate in diverse cross-functional project teams.
• Demonstrable experience of planning and delivering communications activities in support of organisational priorities.
• Experience of writing project plans and proposals.

We look forward to receiving your application outlining how you meet the criteria for the role.

This is a full-time fixed-term position until 31st March 2022 with the possibility of being made permanent. It will entail working 37.5 hours per week.

The post holder will be working within the RSPBNI Policy and Advocacy team, which is based at RSPBNI Headquarters in Belvoir Forest Park, Belfast.  There is an option to work remotely.

Please note that you will be required to only complete an online application form.

Before applying to this role we would encourage you to read through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

Any questions please contact Daithí McKay - daithi.mckay@rspb.org.uk