Policy/Research Jobs in East Midlands
Please note, a Welsh copy of the following job description is available on our website.
Rewilding Britain - Wales Advocacy Coordinator
Since Rewilding Britain was formed in 2015 rewilding has moved from being a niche idea to playing a significant role in the fight against some of the biggest global challenges we face. Rewilding Britain is at the forefront of this change, acting as a catalyst for debate and action, and demonstrating the power of working with nature to build a sustainable world where people thrive.
Imagine a Wales where the connection between culture and nature is reawakened. Where a rich tapestry of native woodlands, wetlands, wildflower meadows and grasslands is stitched back together. Where land and seas teem with life and where nature-based enterprises support thriving communities far and wide. And imagine that this has been led and achieved by local people.
Rewilding Britain wants to see rewilding flourishing across 30% of Britain, reconnecting us with the natural world, sustaining communities and tackling the interconnected nature and climate emergencies.
We influence policy, inspire public action and catalyse joined-up practical and financial support to help establish rewilding across Britain’s land and seas. Through a rapidly growing Rewilding Network we’re bringing together a community of rewilders - from land managers and farmers, to charities, community groups and national parks - to inspire and support each other to create a wilder, more prosperous Britain. It’s not too late - but we must act now.
We're now seeking a self-motivated Welsh Advocacy Coordinator to join our team and help steer Rewilding Britain’s policy and advocacy activities in Wales. The successful candidate will be an innovative, driven and forward-thinking individual with a proven track record of advocacy, policy or influencing work within a relevant sector. This is an exciting opportunity to join our fast growing charity and directly contribute to the growth of the rewilding movement.
Job purpose:
There's already a growing rewilding movement across Wales. Increasingly, land managers are looking for ways to incorporate rewilding into their practices, at a time the Welsh Senedd is investigating ways for Wales to meet its net zero and nature recovery commitments. Building on this, you'll help support the development and delivery of a collaborative and locally-led rewilding vision and work to ensure that it is mainstreamed within Welsh Government policy and practice.
Objective of the Role:
In collaboration with key Welsh organisations and stakeholders, develop, research and lead the delivery of evidence-based policy influencing, public affairs and campaigning activities which support the mainstreaming of rewilding into policy and practice in Wales.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Coordinating the planning and delivery of policy and influencing activities in Wales, primarily through working with and developing new partnerships in Wales
- Keeping up to date with changing policies and legislation in relation to rewilding, identifying opportunities to deliver positive change
- Developing relevant policy positions and communicating these in order to influence the Welsh policy environment
- Gathering intelligence and research, summarising evidence and communicating learning in order to develop these policy positions
- Ensuring that the connection between localism, communities, culture and rewilding is integrated into Rewilding Britain’s work in Wales
- Building and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships, particularly with civil servants, policy makers, national and local decision-makers, and campaigning/landowning/marine bodies
- Working with Rewilding Network members in Wales to build broad engagement in joint advocacy activities, backing this up with compelling evidence of the benefits of rewilding
- Developing the creation of a co-operative approach to Rewilding in Wales (e.g. similar to that of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance)
- Providing political monitoring and intelligence to colleagues across the organisation and partners operating in Wales
- Working collaboratively with other organisations, influencers and campaigns
Skills, experience and behaviours
Skills and experience
Essential:
- At least 5 years’ experience of working in policy, public affairs and/or campaigns in a relevant field in Wales
- Demonstrable understanding of the political, economic and cultural landscape in Wales relevant to rewilding
- Highly organised with excellent networking skills
- Ability to analyse research and evidence to influence policy
- Persuasive communication skills which influence and motivate
- Ability to work autonomously, showing initiative while building excellent relationships with the wider team
- Skilled at combining policy, public affairs and campaigning activities, with clear evidence of impact
Desirable:
- Ability to speak Welsh is highly desirable.
- Experience managing work remotely
- Experience in and understanding of rewilding
- Experience of public speaking
- Experience of dealing with press and other media
- Project management experience
Behaviours
Essential:
- A self-starter with initiative and motivation who works to make things happen.
- Positive, collaborative attitude.
- Passionate, confident and adaptable.
- Focussed and results driven.
This job description is not all encompassing and may change to reflect need. Your duties may be reviewed from time to time and revised and updated in consultation with you to reflect appropriate changes.
Terms and conditions and staff benefits
This is a full-time role at 35 hours per week, but we're open to applications from those looking to work 28 hours or more per week.
The salary is £38k - £45k per annum (depending on relevant experience).
There will be some freedom for the person to determine their own working arrangements each week, within limitations, providing the work is delivered.
Rewilding Britain employees benefit from 25 days annual leave per year (pro rata for part time roles), rising to 30 days over 5 years. A generous employer-matched pension scheme is also available.
We are a virtual team who work from home and/or co-working spaces. We'll support you to achieve a suitable virtual working environment. Some meetings are held face to face across Britain, so a willingness to travel with occasional overnight stays is desirable.
Use of artificial intelligence tools: Rewilding Britain does not accept cover letters, presentations or answers to recruitment questions whose content is AI generated and we will actively screen for this as part of our recruitment process. Rewilding Britain does not use AI tools to review candidate applications; real people will review and shortlist applications.
Equality in employment: Candidates will be shortlisted and selected according to suitability for the post without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Rewilding Britain is not a licenced sponsor at this time. Any offer of employment will be made subject to the provision of a valid right to work in the UK.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
ABOUT US
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crises helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.
THE ROLE
The Lead Policy Advocate – Planning will focus on influencing and shaping planning policies to protect woods and trees from development and promote biodiversity and public access. They will lead efforts to develop and implement evidence-based policies and influence strategies, coordinating with colleagues and partners to align these policies with the latest conservation research.
The role involves collaboration with stakeholders across the UK to ensure widespread understanding and support.
This is a hybrid working role, where you’ll work part of your time at home and part of the time working from one of our regional offices, with regular UK travel. Our Hybrid Working Policy is flexible, and the frequency of time spent in your contracted office will vary across teams and job roles.
THE CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate has a proven background in policy advocacy, particularly in areas relevant to environmental and conservation goals. You will be a skilled communicator and negotiator, adept at engaging diverse audiences and stakeholders, with robust project management skills, and the ability to adapt to changes and seize opportunities.
The role demands effective leadership to drive cross-organisational teams in executing dynamic strategies and a vision to integrate planning policy with broader environmental and conservation objectives.
Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of UK devolution's impact on policy, and the importance of public campaigns in policy advocacy. Familiarity with UK, EU, and global institutions related to environmental policy and expertise in planning policy, supported by an RTPI, CIEEM qualification, or equivalent experience, is required.
Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees.
WHAT TO EXPECT BY JOINING A TEAM AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE
There’s no other organisation like the Woodland Trust. Joining the team you will be making your contribution to tackling the nature and climate crises. In return, we recognise and value our people. You'll have our full support, training and opportunities for professional development, along with a contributory pension, life assurance, good holiday allowance and the opportunity to work flexibly from home.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
At the Woodland Trust, we want to reflect and represent the full richness of diversity in the UK. Fewer of our employees are Black, Asian or minority ethnic; disabled; from lower socio-economic backgrounds?or under 25;?so we are particularly keen to receive your application if you are from one or more of these groups. We can also discuss?anything you may need to achieve your full potential at any stage of the process. We assess your application solely on your demonstrated suitability for the job. Nothing else.
To ensure anonymised recruitment, if you have uploaded your CV, shortlisting panels?do not?see your CV until shortlisting has been completed. Before submitting your application, please ensure you have completed the supporting information section with details of experiences that clearly evidence as many aspects of the job description as possible.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. If you are interested, we'd encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
Who We're Looking For:
At NEF, we're searching for a passionate and dedicated person to join us as an Associate Community Organiser. You will have experience of making change happen with communities impacted by inequality. You will be passionate about developing people and working with diverse communities to enable people to make change happen together. You will be a team player, be keen to learn new skills and have a proactive approach to problem-solving. You will be located with a partner organisation rooted in one of four locations across the UK, Nottingham, Greater Manchester, Lambeth, and Newham. You will bring community organising into the work of the organisation and place it right at the centre of the Power to Prosper programme.
Power to Prosper is a partnership project between The Runnymede Trust and New Economics Foundation aimed at tackling the underlying causes of poverty, inequality, and problem debt in the United Kingdom. The project recognises that the existing economic system leads to profound inequalities that disproportionately impact marginalised groups, including Black and minority ethnic communities, single-parent families, and households with disabled members. The programme will also take an intersectional lens with a strong emphasis on race equity.
This work will involve working with NEF and Runnymede teams to listen to people about the causes and potential solutions of inequality, poverty, and problem debt and to equip people that are most impacted with the skills to act together at a local, regional, and national level to address those issues. The successful candidate will report to a Community Organiser. The post sits in the Campaigns and Engagement Team at the New Economics Foundation, and you will work closely with colleagues at the Runnymede Trust. You must have a demonstrable commitment to anti-racism and have a track record of working with impacted groups with a good understanding of the wider context that causes inequality.
NEF wants to be an inclusive workplace with a diverse body of staff. We don’t want to conform to the traditional think tank model where people from certain backgrounds are hugely under-represented. We know we have some way to go in this and are therefore genuinely keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; women; people with disabilities or impairments; people who identify as LGBT+; people with experience of mental health problems; and people who identify as working class or have done so in the past.
Previous think tank experience is not required.
If you are disabled and have the essential skills and experience to do the job, we will invite you to an interview. If you need information in a different format, please let us know.
We will make use of positive action to select between candidates of equal merit as a way to address under-representation in our workforce.
Application Details:
· Deadline: 10th May 2024
· Online Event with Partners: 7th May at 12pm and 5pm
· Interview Dates: w/c 20th and w/c 27th May 2024
· Start Date: As soon as possible
· Location: Hybrid, with partner organization
· Eligibility: Must be eligible to work in the UK (no visa sponsorship available)
To apply and for more details see the ‘about us/job vacancies’ section of our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
England’s National Parks represent our finest landscapes, famed for their spectacular beauty, varied wildlife and rich cultural heritage. National Parks are critical to supporting local communities, providing access to green spaces for the nation, and helping to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and declining biodiversity.
National Parks England’s purpose is to be the collective voice for English National Park Authorities, helping us to achieve our purposes through influencing policy. We are a small team, working with a much wider team of colleagues across National Park Authorities.
As Senior Media and Communications Officer within NPE you will support a range of the policy and influencing work of National Park Authorities for a range of campaigns and projects including our work on Generation Green and the Protected Landscapes Partnership.
You will work alongside the wider team to ensure effective communication through the media to influence public opinion and political change. As well as high quality media relations, the post will support delivery of public relations activities, and support wider public affairs and stakeholder relations.
The successful candidate will have excellent media, public relations and integrated communications skills gained within a policy and influencing environment and will be confident to play both lead and supporting roles on a wide range of projects. They will have excellent writing and editing skills, an understanding of what makes media worthy content, and experience of building relationships with journalists. The post holder should also have experience of as supporting stakeholder engagement with those in and around government and in working with a range of project partners.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking for an enthusiastic Nature and Wellbeing Manager to lead our exciting new project expanding RSPB's flagship 'Nature Prescriptions' Programme into Wales building on the expertise and experience of our Scottish and English colleagues.
Nature and Wellbeing Manager
Reference: APR20247410
Location: Flexible in Wales
Salary: £32,022.00 - £34,377.00 Per Annum
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 Hours per week
Duration: Fixed Term, 22 months
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave
We have a wealth of evidence that individuals with a greater connection to nature experience improved mental wellbeing, greater vitality and happiness, and deeper life satisfaction. Research also shows that increasing your connection with nature can positively impact a range of conditions, including stress, anxiety and depression, as well as outcomes for some physical health conditions too.
RSPB 'Nature Prescriptions' are designed to encourage and prompt people to connect to nature in support of their goals for better wellbeing. We believe that everyone, no matter where they live or the challenges they face, has the right to access nature, and to feel this strong connection to the natural world. Inspiring and enabling healthcare professionals and others in the NHS to prescribe nature, is a key route for the RSPB to enable more people from more diverse communities to access the natural world. In so doing we hope that those who feel more connected to nature, will want to act to save it.
Working with healthcare professionals and local communities in Cardiff and surrounds, you will use co-design to create materials in different formats that will support those who need it most. This is a great opportunity to work with a brilliant team of friendly and enthusiastic colleagues across the UK who have successfully implemented this approach elsewhere.
We're looking for a someone who is:
- Passionate: About connecting people to nature to improve their health and wellbeing.
- Courageous: In sharing this passion to enthuse healthcare and other professionals.
- Inquisitive: A natural curiosity to explore and understand and meet people where they are.
- Bold: Willing to contribute innovative ideas, particularly when addressing health inequalities.
- Collaborative: Fosters a collaborative, enjoyable and solution focused way of working with partners.
- Comfortable Challenging the Status Quo: Nature Prescriptions offer a way of improving wellbeing outside of the typical medical model of healthcare.
Key tasks will include:
- Lead the development of and promote the delivery of three new RSPB Nature Prescriptions to people living in diverse communities within Cardiff and the surrounding area.
- Develop relationships with key stakeholders in the NHS, health care and social care professionals to inspire and enable them to feel engaged and supported to co-create and prescribe a Nature Prescription, and to connect RSPB with the health sector to help create doors for future work.
- Engage with local healthcare professionals and community groups to co-design Nature Prescriptions materials with local people, community groups and healthcare professionals so that they reach a large diversity of people, and those that need and can benefit the most.
- Develop the project plan and ensure that the right governance structure for project management is in place and RSPB internal project management practices are followed, so that the project stays on track, comes in on budget and risks are identified, escalated, and managed within tolerances.
- Work with local environmental networks to build a picture of nature-based activities available and identify opportunities for partnership working.
- Lead on developing ways to evaluate and measure the impact of the project, including engaging with those prescribing and local communities to gather stories and case studies that demonstrate the benefits to wellbeing and connectedness to nature.
- Build internal relationships with RSPB employees and volunteers working with nature prescribing and nature and wellbeing across the UK.
- Develop a strategy and plan for Nature and Wellbeing work legacy aiming to learn from the work done in Scotland and England and from the communities and health care professionals in Cardiff and surrounds to support development of future work in Cardiff and beyond.
Essential skills, knowledge and experience:
- Experience of working within or alongside the health and wellbeing sector.
- Project management experience with experience of leading on and developing and delivering projects with diverse communities.
- Experience of developing external partnerships and balancing the needs of multiple stakeholders.
- Experience in delivering workshops or training, ideally with a co-design element.
- Excellent verbal and written communicator able to communicate nature and wellbeing messages in a way that is understood by a range of audiences and that engenders their support.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage and deliver a varied workload.
- Skilled in using Microsoft 365 suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.
Desirable skills, knowledge, and experience:
- Experience of SharePoint management.
- Experience of recruiting and managing volunteers.
- Welsh speaker or learner.
Closing date: 23:59, Friday 17th May 2024
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 3 June 2024.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. 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.
As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.
No agencies please.
We're Hiring! Green Space for Health Programme Director (Maternity Cover)
This is an exciting senior role for an environmentally committed leader to cover maternity leave. We are looking for someone who can take strategic oversight of our Green Space for Health programme and provide effective management of the project and its staff.
- Home-based with monthly travel to Oxford (expenses covered)
- Full time (37.5 hours per week)
- Salary: £42,230 per annum (plus contributory pension)
- Fixed term for 8 months (with potential to extend to 12 months subject to funding)
- Apply by midnight 19th May 2024, interviews will take place w/c 3rd June
About the role
This is an exciting senior role for an environmentally committed leader to cover maternity leave. We are looking for someone who can take strategic oversight of our Green Space for Health programme and provide effective management of the project and its staff.
Our Green Space for Health programme helps to realise the value of green space for physical and mental health, both at healthcare sites and in the wider community. Our flagship project, the NHS Forest, promotes tree planting and woodland creation at NHS sites, supporting and encouraging sites to plant and maintain trees through offering free trees and advice. We support NHS sites to develop their greenspace for the benefits of patients, health staff and communities, while improving biodiversity and combatting climate change. We do this by encouraging green space enhancements such as meadow areas, vegetable growing, orchards and therapeutic gardens, as well as supporting the delivery of nature-based interventions for health.
The Green Space for Health Director will oversee the development of the NHS Forest and other Green Space for Health projects, delivering the programme strategy. This will include managing the Green Space for Health team, overseeing the delivery of our funded projects including budget management, coordinating reports to funders and trustees, and taking a strategic lead on the development and funding of the Green Space for Health programme in consultation with other stakeholders. See the full roles and responsibilities below.
The Green Space for Health Director will deliver our programme strategy through fulfilling the following responsibilities:
- Provide line management for the Green Space for Health Team’s 5 staff members. This will include one-to-one meetings, appraisals and regular team meetings.
- Oversee the delivery of the Green Space for Health funded projects, including NHS Forest tree planting projects and our Nature Recovery Ranger programme.
- Raise income for, monitor and oversee the programme budget in consultation with CSH’s fundraising and finance team.
- Coordinate reporting on the programme, including liaising with funders and producing reports for funders and for CSH’s board of trustees.
- Oversee the development and delivery of Green Space for Health training course, working with Green Space for Health staff and with administrative and strategic support from CSH’s education team.
- Work with the team to coordinate the NHS Forest Advisory Group.
- Build partnerships that will further the development of the programme and contribute to fundraising in line with the programme objectives.
- Act as a spokesperson for the programme, including making presentations, responding to media requests and participating in relevant national policy fora, including for the purposes of wider policy development.
- Be an active member of CSH’s senior management team, helping to develop CSH as an organisation, including strategy, employment and oversight.
For more information, please see the full job description and person specification attached or visit our website.
Closing date: 19th May 2024
Interviews: w/c 3rd June 2024
Policy Officer
(UK wide)
£28,831 per annum (pro rata for part time hours)
(Ref: SUS4232)
Full Time 37.5 hours per week – happy to talk flexible working
Base: Sustrans offices, home based or hybrid. Will need to travel to our Bristol hub for team meetings in person once a month.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to join Sustrans as part of the Policy and Public Affairs team, during an election year, delivering a number of vital pieces of research designed to improve walking, wheeling and cycling and transport more broadly.
As the Policy Officer, you will lead on delivering two key policy projects for Sustrans with support from our Head of Policy and Senior Policy Officer. You will help develop evidence, policy and practice working closely with colleagues to maximise long-term opportunities to help increase transport choice for people.
We offer true hybrid working, a flexible mix of working from home and occasional travel to a nearby office hub with an expectation of a monthly team meeting in Bristol and occasional travel for project related activity.
This role will require travel and work at locations as necessary to undertake projects on behalf of Sustrans.
About you
You should have proven experience of conducting qualitative and quantitative research across a variety of issues and in writing for policy and public audiences.
We also ask that you are experienced in working autonomously but also as part of a team and with funders, partners and agencies to deliver work.
You will be skilled in presenting arguments and clearly communicating complex information to a range of audiences in an accessible and persuasive way, in person and in writing.
Sustrans has a long-term commitment to being a charity for everyone - reducing inequality, valuing diversity, enabling inclusion and ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect. We aim to be a truly inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all parts of the community, in particular from under-represented groups.
What we offer
In return we can offer true hybrid working to suit individual circumstances and a flexible, supportive and rewarding working environment.
Wellbeing
28 days’ leave per annum plus bank holidays for full-time working
Ability to buy an extra week of annual leave (pro-rata for part-time staff)
Staff volunteer days
24/7 free, impartial and confidential support service
We are members of the Green Commute Initiative and Cycle Scheme who both offer cycle to work schemes
Financial
Group Personal Pension scheme with a 6% or 7% of basic salary contribution being matched by Sustrans
Bike, computer and season ticket loans
Discount benefits
London Weighting Allowance of £4,530 for all those living within a London Borough (32 local authority districts plus the City of London)
Death in Service benefit – 3 x annual Salary
Family Friendly
Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
Flexible Working practices (full time hours are 37.5 per week, Monday - Friday)
Additional information
Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 23:59, 19 May 2024.
Interviews will take place in via MS Teams during the week commencing 27 May 2024
About Sustrans
At Sustrans you'll be part of a movement to make it easier for people to walk and cycle.
We're all here to change things! You’ll be part of an incredible community of talented, passionate, creative, problem solvers all working together to change things for the better. We act locally and think big - we have a vision of a society where the way we travel creates healthier places and happier lives for everyone.
You'll be questioning the status quo and daring to imagine a different world. You'll work on exciting, impactful projects that will stretch and empower you and you'll be rewarded by seeing the difference you make to people, communities and the planet.
We believe including everyone is central to who we are and what we want to achieve, we welcome difference and pride ourselves on creating a culture where you can be yourself and where your wellness is supported.
You'll be guaranteed to make friends for life and work with a team that is incredibly flexible, supportive, ethical and fun.
England’s National Parks represent our finest landscapes, famed for their spectacular beauty, varied wildlife and rich cultural heritage. National Parks are critical to supporting local communities, providing access to green spaces for the nation, and helping to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and declining biodiversity.
National Parks England’s purpose is to be the collective voice for English National Park Authorities, helping us to achieve our purposes through influencing policy.
The Policy and Public Affairs Manager will be an experienced public affairs professional with a passion for nature and understanding of National Parks.
The successful applicant will join our senior management team, managing the Policy and Public Affairs team and work with the Executive Director to help develop and drive the NPE policy and public affairs strategy, working closely with stakeholders in our member National Parks and the wider Protected Landscapes family.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.