This is an excellent opportunity to influence important decisions across the UK, including the UK’s upcoming Energy Bill, to ensure that onshore renewable energy is deployed in harmony with nature. You will lead a refresh and subsequent advocacy of RSPB’s energy policy that reflects the latest science on the climate and nature crises and responds to the context of the energy security crisis.

We are looking for an effective advocate with expertise and experience in influencing policy development and implementation related to energy and climate change. You will be passionate about securing the policy outcomes that help address the twin nature and climate crises. You will also have good project management to oversee the refresh needed and strong people skills to drive forward this work internally and externally.

What's the role about?

Meeting the UK’s net zero targets requires major changes to the UK’s energy system including significantly increasing renewable energy sources and greatly reducing our overall energy demand. However, alongside the climate crisis we are facing a biodiversity crisis and we must not exacerbate losses of biodiversity in our efforts to mitigate climate change; it is crucial that renewable energy is delivered in a way that avoids harming wildlife. This role will allow the successful candidate to provide strategic leadership in RSPB’s energy policy building on the latest evidence to develop new policy. This can be used to influence relevant government decisions on renewable energy in harmony with nature and contribute to the UK’s net zero goals. This comes at a critical time when global energy security issues are putting greater pressure on the UK’s energy systems.

The Senior Policy Officer will work within the Land, Seas and Climate Policy team in the RSPB’s UK Policy and Advocacy Department. The role will involve managing external consultants to deliver the technical analysis on the refresh of RSPB’s energy policy and working with policy staff across the four UK countries to develop a revised policy that builds on RSPB’s existing evidence and positions and reflects the latest devolved, UK and global context. As part of this you will help facilitate even better join up between our science and our policy expertise – drawing on the incredible experience and knowledge of the RSPB’s Policy and Conservation Science experts.

The role holder will also play a key role in developing and coordinating advocacy strategies to embed our revised position within relevant key external decision-making processes. The role holder will be responsible for the RSPB's Westminster and Whitehall decision maker facing advocacy, as well as relevant arms-length bodies, whilst working very 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.

Key aspects of the role include:

Project managing external consultants conducting technical analysis and developing a policy report to support the revision of our policy

Developing credible policy positions based on this analysis and other sound science and evidence

Delivering the right mix of outputs and materials to further the RSPB’s energy policy objectives reflecting the revised policy position

Undertaking advocacy and communicating persuasively to target decision makers

Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders

Helping to plan and coordinate work across different teams and disciplines to ensure we influence policy decisions and energy deployment in each of the four UK countries

Working closely with colleagues to develop and deliver communications material that effectively further RSPB ‘s policy advocacy objectives.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

You will:

Be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of climate and energy policy in the UK or wider, with relevant academic or professional qualifications

Be able to act independently to generate, lead and coordinate work with others to develop policy positions, associated influencing strategies and lead their implementation effectively

Have a proven track record in good project management and strong time management, prioritisation and organisational skills

Be able to analyse complex issues in a fast-paced environment

Have well-developed advocacy and influencing skills and be able to engage with a wide range of individuals and organisations, including at senior levels

Have a good understanding of the role of public facing communications/campaigns in supporting policy advocacy

Have written and verbal communication skills to a very high standard; professional and persuasive

Be confident and capable of being a public face for RSPB policy and advocacy to the media and social media

Be a competent user of core MS Office programmes

Further role details 

This is a one-year fixed term contract full-time role for 37.5 hours per week, however we are open to applications from candidates who would look to conduct this role on a part-time, pro-rata basis. The successful candidate can be based flexibly, however travel to London and Bedfordshire will be required and further afield in the UK on occasion.

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.

The closing date for applying for this role will be Thursday 23rd June. We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from week commencing 27th June. For further information please contact cheryl.hunt@rspb.org.uk 

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.

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

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.