Management Jobs

Chief Advisor - Marine

£55,000 - £60,000 pa

Woking, GU21 4LL / Hybrid Working

This is a UK based contract and as such, you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Evidence of your Right to Work will be checked prior to interview.

With an established track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy as well as a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus, you understand the importance of creating a world where people and nature can thrive together. That is why this role as Chief Advisor – Marine with the world’s leading independent conservation organisation is perfect for you.

Our major goal is to find solutions to the Triple Challenge of restoring nature, tackling climate change and feeding a growing global population all within the available resource limits of our one planet. As a member of our Science Team, you will help ensure we are viewed by the academic community and specialist bodies as a science and evidence-based organisation with conservation programmes and communications that are always informed by the latest scientific thinking.

As Chief Advisor you will lead our scientific understanding on marine issues and their impacts on the natural world and human society. You will help guide WWF-UK and WWF Network strategies on marine issues as well as help find solutions to address our Triple Challenge and reverse the decline in global biodiversity. We will look to you to provide technical support to our conservation and blue carbon work in UK coastal waters and be the lead expert on ocean systems and the drivers impacting them, including the potential for ocean tipping points. You will also act as a primary contact in your area of expertise with relevant UK government departments, specialists in the private sector, other NGOs and international policy-makers and have the ability to influence policy. You will help identify and fill knowledge gaps as well as provide the evidence underpinning WWF policy positions.

To play your part in saving our planet, you must have a track record in thought leadership on marine science and policy, coupled with a good understanding of the ocean-climate nexus and the negative drivers impacting ocean systems. You will also possess a good grasp of current science and policy debates, along with experience of providing strategic leadership to organisations and programmes. You will have sound knowledge of international policy and governance structures as they relate to the oceans including the UNFCCC, CBD and the High Seas Treaty.

Effective at influencing key political and business stakeholders and shaping policy debates, you will also have excellent communication and advocacy skills. Good at building relationships, you will be comfortable inspiring direct reports and translating knowledge into policy, communications and programme design. Of course, you will be able to demonstrate a commitment to the natural world and WWF’s core mission too.

If you have the knowledge to provide scientific expertise and advice across our organisation to help us build a movement in defence of nature, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our website via the link, complete the online registration and submit a copy of your up-to-date CV with the Supporting Statement highlighting what makes you a good fit for us.

WWF UK are committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. As a Disability Confident Employer, we acknowledge that some candidates may require additional support to overcome barriers experienced during the application process. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please reach out to the Talent Acquisition team via our website.

Our policies and benefits reflect the importance of people being able to have a good work-life balance and being able to bring their ‘full self’ to work.

WWF-UK believes anyone who is involved in our work or connected to it, especially children, should be safe from harm. Our first priority will always be to safeguard anyone at risk of harm or abuse. WWF-UK operates robust recruitment practices to ensure candidates for all roles are suitable. Our process includes values-based questions during interviews and annual performance reviews, reference checks that we verify orally, criminal records checks (at the appropriate level) and pre-employment declarations.  We do not tolerate any form of abuse or exploitation and act robustly to any allegations or concerns.

Our world needs you like never before. We are the first generation to know we are destroying the world, and we could be the last that can do anything about it. We are looking for people who are passionate about making it politically, socially and economically unacceptable to destroy our planet’s natural resources. We need you to join us in the fight for our world.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Are you a skilled and experienced organiser, facilitator and coalition-builder? Someone who is creative, collaborative and action-oriented, and looking for an exciting challenge? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity.

Working closely with the Executive Director, the Head of Operations and Delivery, and colleagues across the climate movement, you will:

• Work with members to platform collective action for climate and nature, celebrating what people are doing to drive more action & surface the public mandate for political support for more of this

• Work to translate collective action into a new vision and narrative on climate and nature

• Support the coalition and wider movement to achieve greater impact through coalition working, strengthening the climate movement

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Lead the convening of members and community organisers to co-create, facilitate and deliver the Climate Coalition’s people-centred campaigns, projects and programmes, ensuring strong engagement from members and contribution to movement-building

• Lead creative coalition campaigns to mobilise the public at scale, and demonstrate the public mandate for change 

• Oversee the development and delivery of placed-based convening in key locations: Project Groundgame

• Work with members and partners to develop projects and initiatives that support collective action 

• Work with members, partners and allies to harvest, catalogue and platform stories of collective action in a way which makes the case for systems change

• Build strong relationships with members and the wider movement, understanding how coalition work can help achieve their objectives

• To play a leadership role within the Secretariat team, and line manage other team members

The job description is not exhaustive and you may be asked to carry out additional tasks which are appropriate to your job role, as required by your line manager

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

ESSENTIAL

• Exceptional leadership skills, with significant experience of facilitating effective collaboration and coalition-building 

• Significant understanding and experience of using a suite of influencing tactics to build power and create campaign impact, including both mobilising and organising tactics

• Experience of using public engagement campaigns to affect change

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrable experience of building and managing relationships with a diverse range of partners and allies 

• Strong time management and organisational skills, with the ability to work well under pressure

• A sophisticated understanding of the role of civil society and social movements in driving political, social and economic change 

• Strong empathy and interpersonal skills, and a passion for building bridges between people and groups from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

• Proven leadership and people management skills, able to develop team members for high performance and build a positive culture

• Passionately believe in building power, and aware of issues re power and privilege which relate to this (EDI)

DESIRABLE

• Experience of using storytelling and narrative to drive change

• Financial acumen to manage budgets, understand financial statements and understand and use business metrics

• Knowledge/experience of working in the climate, nature or international development sectors

• Experience of working with arts and culture sector

Sometimes we all experience a bit of imposter syndrome. At The Climate Coalition we believe that imposter syndrome is a manifestation of the oppression many of us face on a day to day. We have no specific education requirements, and experience can be in a paid or unpaid context. You don’t have to tick all the boxes for each role to apply. If you feel a pull towards a specific role and believe you could make a difference we would love to hear from you!