Conservation scientist jobs

Job Purpose

The Head of Campaigns will work to ensure that we meet our UK campaign goals, currently for Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Fisheries, and Offshore Oil and Gas.  

Reporting to and advising the Executive Director, and working closely with the Leadership Team, you will oversee the planning, development and implementation of all delivery across our current campaigns.   You will manage the Campaigns team (2 direct and 2 indirect reports) to ensure that we deliver impactful campaigns that ultimately achieve our goals.

Eligible candidates should be confident and proactive, with the ability to oversee multiple projects, and with excellent team management skills.  They must have sector relevant campaigning experience, be able to support and advise during the annual strategic planning cycles, and be enthusiastic and positive in response to the changing demands of a small team.  They must be passionate, and able to design and develop creative and bold campaign strategies alongside our small but experienced team.

The position will be hybrid, with 3 days per week (Tues-Thurs) based in Oceana’s UK offices in Newquay, Cornwall or Paddington, London.  Regular national, and occasional international, travel will be required to meet team members and stakeholders in geographically diverse locations, including Washington, DC.

Oceana 

Oceana is dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale. We are a leader in science-based advocacy, and we campaign for policies to make the world’s oceans more abundant, vibrant, and biodiverse. Globally, Oceana has won more than 325 policy victories for marine life and habitats. From stopping bottom trawling in sensitive habitat areas to protecting sea turtles from commercial fishing gear, our victories represent new hope for the world's ocean. Our talented staff consists globally of about 240 people, working in more than twelve countries, including scientists, communications, fundraising, finance, administration, policy, and advocacy experts.   All team members have the opportunity for occasional travel to our headquarters in Washington, DC to connect with the global network.

Oceana in the UK is tightly focused on some of the biggest threats facing UK seas, including protecting seabed habitats, ending overfishing, and preventing new offshore oil and gas developments. 

We fight for UK seas to get the protections they deserve through highly visible campaigns and detailed policy interventions to secure measurable changes to rebuild and maintain ocean abundance and health. We act as a vital public-policy interface – raising the profile of our issues through campaigns, science, communications, and expeditions, and influencing policymakers directly for commitments at key moments throughout the year.

Our small, experienced, and highly motivated team work in geographically diverse locations in London and Cornwall, coming together both digitally and in person as part of developing and delivering our ambitious campaign strategy to restore ocean biodiversity and abundance.

We’re proud to be bold, creative, agile and visual in our campaigns, and proud of the team we’re creating here in the UK. We’d love for you to join us.

Responsibilities

• Lead all current campaigns, and take accountability for the quality, timeliness and success of all campaign activities and deliverables in support of our campaign goals.
• Oversee all projects across the campaigns team including (but not limited to) campaign actions and launches, public mobilisations, digital actions, NGO partnerships and coalitions, and potential legal challenges.
• Oversee and document project planning, ensuring activities are underpinned by an effective theory of change, and ensuring input and buy-in is secured from all relevant members of the UK and HQ teams.
• Monitor and evaluate progress against plans, ensuring effective delivery of campaign objectives.
• Oversee the campaign calendar and budget, ensuring that all campaign deliverables are managed and delivered on time and to budget, with any updates accurately reflected in the quarterly reforecast process.
• Work closely with the Executive Director, Leadership Team and global team members on the strategic development and innovation of campaigns, reviewing and setting annual plans, longer term goals, and new campaign areas.
• Understand and monitor all components of all campaigns and be able to confidently communicate progress and details to internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee public affairs activities, manage political consultancy and co-ordinate Oceana presence at relevant political meetings and events.
• Collaborate closely with senior Science and Research, Policy, and Communications colleagues to ensure campaigns have robust and complementary foundations across all departments.
• Work with the UK leadership team to develop and communicate a compelling campaign vision and strategy to Oceana staff, supporters, donors, and allies.
• Work as part of the UK’s Leadership Team, contributing to decision making and overall progress towards organisational goals, and represent campaigns in this forum.
• Represent the Leadership Team in person in the London or Cornwall office 3 days per week (Tues-Thurs), providing direction and guidance and promoting a positive working culture.
• Manage and support 2 line reports, and 2 indirect reports, helping to coach and lead a high-performing Campaigns team.
• Build strong external relationships and represent Oceana UK to ensure we advance our campaign goals with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil servants, politicians, the fishing industry, NGOs, and businesses.
• Draft timely, accurate and compelling funder and supporter reporting.
• Draft periodic progress reporting on UK campaign goals and milestones for Oceana’s global board.
• Be prepared to represent the organisation publicly where needed, including through media interviews, speaking events, and writing.
• Ensure a strong commitment to the organisation's values and vision, as set out by Oceana globally.  
• Travel occasionally, both nationally and internationally, to meet with team members and wider internal and external stakeholders.
• Other responsibilities as appropriate and necessary to achieve campaign and organisational objectives.

Candidate Requirements

Education and work experience:

• At least 7 years of professional experience in campaigning, ideally toward ocean or environmental goals (essential).
• Experience leading and developing campaign strategic plans, alongside detailed annual plans and budgets.
• Proven experience developing innovative, bold and creative campaign activities in support of overall campaign goals.
• Experience as an active member of a Leadership Team or Management Team in a similar organisation.
• Extensive line management experience, including of multiple reports.
• Experience working in an international NGO (preferred).
• Experience working closely with policy colleagues, lobbying and negotiating with civil servants in government on policy matters.
• Experience working closely with communications colleagues, ensuring effective messaging and engaging growing audiences.

 Skills and knowledge:

• Familiarity with fisheries or marine and environmental regulations, legislation and policies in the UK, as well as with the key institutions and decision-making processes.
• Excellent project management skills, with demonstrable experience managing and prioritising multiple workstreams, tasks, projects and timelines effectively.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to quality and impactful campaign outputs.
• Excellent management skills, and proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff and with other organisations and allies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organise, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy. 
• Good understanding of the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and a proven commitment to improving these in the environmental space.  
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to speak confidently in the media and at events.
• Integrity and the ability to work with confidential information with discretion.

Equal Opportunities

Oceana is committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the community it serves at all levels of the organisation, and we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented within the conservation sector. 

All offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal background check.

• Application Deadline: Sunday 11th January
• Interview Dates (TBC)