Environment and wildlife conservation jobs in brighton, the city of brighton and hove

Lead multi-million-pound partnerships for the UK’s largest nature conservation charity and Europe’s biggest nature-focused NGO, helping to build a future where nature and business thrive.

The Business Engagement team leads the RSPB’s work with the private sector and plays a central role in the charity’s strategy, working with businesses as agents of change. With a clear strategy and strong ethical foundations, the team are well positioned to raise £15 million through corporate partnerships by 2030 – and this role is central to making this happen.

Reporting into the Head of Business Engagement, you will oversee and grow a portfolio of multi-million-pound, strategic corporate partnerships, and ones that have the potential for this, ensuring they deliver both significant income and deep impact for nature. Partnerships include Tesco, Co-op, Ella’s Kitchen, Cemex and Barratt.

Working closely with the Head of New Business & Impact and the Head of Business Practice & Advocacy, you will deliver on RSPB’s Business Engagement Strategy, which focuses on:

• Investing in nature at scale
• Driving business practice change
• Influencing policy and systems
• Reaching new audiences through customers, employees and B2B engagement

As Head of Partnership Delivery, you will:

• Lead RSPB’s most strategic corporate partnerships, overseeing a portfolio that includes Tesco, Co-op, Cemex and Ella’s Kitchen. These relationships are already delivering conservation impact and income, but there is more potential to unlock.
• Manage and mentor a skilled team of four, with a collaborative, empowering leadership style and people-first approach
• Drive income growth and unlock new value from existing partners – including funding for restoration, nature projects, biodiversity in supply chains, engaging with business customers and employees’ and behaviour change initiatives
• Work across internal teams – including Global Conservation, Country teams, Fair to Nature, Policy & Advocacy, Finance and Communications – to integrate technical expertise and policy influence into our partnerships
• Play an active leadership role across the Business Engagement team and wider RSPB, helping evolve their approach to corporate engagement and championing the role of business in nature recovery

Ideal skills and experience:

• A track record of leading and growing high-value, strategic partnerships – ideally at a multi-million-pound scale
• Strong strategic and commercial thinking, with the ability to balance income generation and mission-driven impact
• A collaborative, empowering leadership style with a people-first approach (team leadership experience is essential)
• Experience of influencing and engaging senior stakeholders, both internally and externally
• Confident managing sensitive ethical considerations and public scrutiny
• Experience or interest in sustainability, ESG or climate is helpful, but not essential
• Could suit someone stepping up from a senior partnerships role

Employee benefits

This is a home-based role, open to candidates across the UK, with a preference for someone based in England. Regular team meetups in London or at Sandy HQ (Bedfordshire), with travel costs reimbursed.

Benefits include: 

• 34 to 38 days’ annual leave (depending on length of service), including bank holidays
• Up to 7% employer contribution pension scheme
• Life assurance (5x salary)
• Four-week paid sabbatical after five years
• One paid volunteering day per year
• Generous sick pay

Overview
The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to manage our online shop. This hands-on role is vital in supporting our mission to protect wildlife and habitats in Kenya. The successful candidate will be involved in all aspects of the online store, ensuring a seamless and engaging shopping experience for our supporters.

This is a part-time role at 0.4 FTE (15 hours per week), offer a pro rata salary of £28,000 - £30,000 based on experience.

Key Responsibilities to include:

Online Store Management

• Handle the day-to-day operations of the online shop including ensuring efficient order processing, stock management, quality control of incoming stock, processing customer returns, helping the team with packing orders during busy periods, and ensuring consistently high levels of customer service.
• Plan for the busy Christmas period by assessing workload and engaging the assistance of temporary staff, volunteers and the wider team as necessary.
• Conduct periodic stocktakes to ensure accuracy and reduce shrinkage, identifying any errors and training issues.
• Recommend to the Executive Director any updates to the online store's website to ensure it is user-friendly, visually appealing, and regularly refreshed with new products and promotions.
• Work closely with the Executive Director to develop and implement strategies to drive website traffic and sales.

Product Development and Sourcing

• Identify and recommend new products that will align with the SWT's mission, appeal to supporters and offer a minimum required ROI.
• Manage timely procurement of products and packing materials.
• Develop and maintain good working relationships with suppliers.
• Create new product listings on Shopify including all relevant back-end product information.
• Write compelling descriptions for product listings, creating and adding appropriate imagery.
• Support Communications team in providing imagery and copy for featured products in monthly charity e-newsletter.
• Create visuals for shop adverts as requested by Executive Director.
• Review and update shop banners/landing page imagery seasonally to keep shop appearance fresh and inviting.

Volunteer Management

• Train and supervise volunteers in picking/packing, stocktaking and quality control.
• Assist in maintenance of the volunteer rota, organising volunteer support as needed based on tasks available, including forward planning for busy seasonal periods.
• Periodic review of output of volunteers to raise training issues where necessary to ensure standards are maintained.

Financial Management

• Manage the online shop budget, monitoring expenses and revenue to ensure financial targets are met.
• Work with the Director of Finance to propose the annual online shop budget for Board approval.
• Produce stock reports for the auditors and be the main point of contact for the annual audit of stock.
• Analyse sales data to identify trends and make informed decisions about product offerings and pricing strategies.

Customer Engagement

• Provide excellent customer service, addressing enquiries and resolving issues promptly and effectively.
• Review global shipping methods and suppliers; recommend to the Executive Director and implement changes to make delivery to customers as smooth as possible.

Reporting and Analysis

• Generate regular reports on sales performance, stock levels, and customer feedback.
• Use data insights to propose and implement improvements to the online shop's operations and customer experience.
• Working closely with the Director of Finance, provide reports and insights on the shop data for the Board.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or post-school qualification in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• Proven experience in managing an online shop or e-commerce platform.
• Strong understanding of online retail best practices, including pricing, digital marketing, and customer service.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Passion for wildlife conservation and the mission of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust UK.

Applications

If you believe you are well suited to the role, please send us your CV and one-page cover letter. Use your cover letter to tell us about your previous experience and why you want to work for SWT UK. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Early application is encouraged as we will be reviewing applications throughout the advertised period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Closing date for applications is 28th May, if you do not receive an invitation for an interview by 4th June, then you have unfortunately not been shortlisted.

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are not able to support visa or work applications for this role. (No agencies).

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: £28,000.00 - £30,000.00 pro rata

Expected hours: 15 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free parking

Work Location: In Office

With the end of bear bile farming in Vietnam now within reach, Animals Asia is entering an exciting new phase – expanding sanctuary capacity, entering new markets, and securing long-term care for every rescued bear.

Animals Asia has spent over 25 years working to end cruelty and restore respect for animals across Asia. With teams in Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, the UK, and beyond, they combine advocacy, direct rescue, and sanctuary care to create systemic change. Their mission to end bear bile farming – arguably the world’s cruelest form of animal abuse – is almost complete. In November 2023, they opened their third bear sanctuary which will enable them to bring home every last bear and achieve their founding goal in Vietnam by the end of 2026.

Their global fundraising and communications team is driven, well-structured, and rooted in the charity’s deeply held values. Income has been steadily rising since 2017 and they have the people, plans and investment to maintain this growth.

The Trusts and Foundations function has grown substantially since being unified globally in 2020. Income has more than doubled, donor relationships are well-managed, and new business is actively developed. With a 2024 target of $1.3m and strong pipeline visibility, this role focuses on securing and stewarding 5- and 6-figure multi-year partnerships, with particular scope for growth in the US and unrestricted giving.

This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled fundraiser to join a highly collaborative team and benefit from a structured, mature function where ambitious fundraising is supported and celebrated.

As Trusts and Foundations Manager, you will:

• Manage and grow a global portfolio of 5- and 6-figure funders, including multi-year partnerships
• Develop compelling, tailored funding proposals and impact reports, often for donors with limited direct project access
• Deliver high-quality stewardship, with regular updates and relationship-building through video, email, and occasional travel
• Collaborate with colleagues across the organisation to develop powerful cases for support
• Lead on identifying and cultivating new prospective donors through research, network mapping, and strategy input
• Use CRM systems to manage pipelines and track communications effectively
• Support the Global Director of Partnerships and work closely with a peer Trusts and Foundations Manager
• Contribute to delivering the team’s $1.3m target and future growth ambitions

Ideal skills and experience:

• Proven success securing 5-figure+ grants from global trusts and foundations
• Strong written skills, with experience tailoring proposals to global funders and funder motivations
• A confident relationship-builder, who is able to do so remotely and across time zones and cultures
• Highly self-organised, independent, and comfortable managing deadlines and priorities
• Strong understanding of CRM systems and income tracking
• Familiar with the complexities of fundraising for work in Asia or global programme delivery
• Alignment with the mission and values of Animals Asia; sector experience in animal welfare, conservation, or international development is welcome.

Communications Officer – Scotland
Reference: APR20257121
Location: Flexible in Scotland
Salary: £27,123.00 - £28,956.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week
Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)

We are seeking a home-based Communications Officer to join RSPB Scotland's communications team.

You'll have an interest in or passion for nature and the outstanding communications skills, knowledge and the experience we need to tell inspiring stories of the conservation projects, our network of nature reserves and our colleagues that are striving to help protect and restore nature across Scotland.

What's the role about?

You'll be part of a dynamic team working across Scotland to unearth and tell great stories from colleagues that inspire key audiences about RSPB Scotland’s nature conservation work.

The role is diverse and busy, working on the roll out of RSPB-wide campaigns like Big Garden Birdwatch, managing and creating content for social media platforms, responding to press enquiries and building relationships with colleagues working in different areas of Scotland to bring their work to life in print, blogs, film and more.

The role will occasionally include opportunities to travel across Scotland, including overnight trips and out-of-hours work with Time Off in Lieu provided. Applicants need to be based in Scotland.

The role will demand:

• Building relationships with teams across Scotland, developing understanding of their work, stories and communications needs.
• Working with the wider communications and marketing team to support effective communications planning and delivery in line with country and organisational priorities.
• Day-to-day management of social media channels and communications enquiries with support from the wider team.
• Maintaining relationships with press and media to maximise coverage of communications priorities.
• Producing a monthly e-newsletter for supporters.
• Identifying reputational risks and working with the team to help minimise potential impacts.

Required skills, knowledge and experience:

• Evidence of a high level of literacy and of a good general education.
• An understanding of how to achieve objectives through communications campaigns and PR techniques.
• Ability to communicate in a clear manner at all levels (written and verbally) to develop shared understanding.
• Ability to summarise complex information and provide impactful copy - e.g. through press releases, social media posts, blogs etc.
• Being able to persuade others and negotiate to reach agreement.
• Demonstrable experience of identifying and developing stories and messages from briefings or background information on a wide variety of topics.
• Working in or with the media to sell and/or tell stories.
• Ability to write to tight deadlines and work in a fast paced, often changing environment.
• Multitasking.
• PR / marketing / journalism qualification (desirable).
• Experience working remotely across a widely distributed organisation (desirable).
• Knowledge of Scottish nature conservation/wildlife especially birds (desirable).
• Knowledge of key habitats and conservation issues in Scotland (desirable).
• Experience working for/with an environmental NGO or voluntary sector organisation (desirable).

Closing date: 23:59, Sunday 8th June 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on 25th/26th June 2025.

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.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

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

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 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.

Volunteering Development Officer - Local Groups
Reference: APR20257427
Location: Flexible in UK
Salary: £27,123.00 - £28,956.00, Per Annum Pro Rata
Hours: Part-Time, 22.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave (pro rata)

The RSPB strategy to 2030 is all about saving nature through people. Our aim is that our volunteers and Local Groups are embedded in this strategy and continue to deliver impactful work to save nature. To do this, we want to build on our existing relationships and ways of working and harness their enthusiasm, working as one team for nature.

This role would continue the smooth transition from the Saving Nature through Local Groups project into core delivery, taking responsibility of the Vision and Local Group action plan.

What's the role about?

The successful candidate will raise the profile of our groups externally as well as empower and support staff to build productive and collaborative working relationships with the groups.

You will develop resources and guides that will help groups run efficiently, improve their activity programmes and grow their membership. Working closely with country teams you will deliver workshops, training and support to Local Groups as appropriate.

You will raise awareness and understanding of volunteering, championing it to ensure that it is valued and seen as a positive way of meeting business needs.

You will also deliver a recognised and respected source of leadership, support and transformational advice to the UKHQ team seeking to develop new volunteering initiatives.

This role would have an individual specialism but with the ability to be flexible to cover the priorities required across the department and the UK wide needs, ensuring that they identify and own the ‘once for all volunteering work’, i.e. the information, processes, procedures and projects that affect volunteering across the whole organisation, and support this through funding, project development, training and resources.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Understanding and knowledge of volunteering innovation, best practice and sector standards.
• Demonstrable track record of having successfully and effectively developed a range of volunteering roles and schemes across an organisation.
• Experience of providing operational advice and guidance on volunteer involvement to people at all levels.
• Building effective stakeholder relationships with a focus on community groups.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills; ability to manage and deliver a portfolio of work and balance the priorities and needs of multiple stakeholders.
• Ability to be proactive, use initiative and work independently.
• Strong skills in identifying and analysing problems, issues and areas of improvement, working collaboratively to develop creative strategies and solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, successfully influencing, persuading, guiding, listening to, and negotiating with others, constructively challenging thinking.
• Experience of working in a customer-focused environment.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Qualification in volunteer management.
• Good training, facilitation and coaching skills; ability to enthuse and inspire and increase others’ confidence.
• Experience of working in an HR/Customer database.

Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 21st May 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 4th June 2025.

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.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

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

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 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.

Director of Finance
Reference: APR20256942
Location: Flexible/Remote in England, with travel to RSPB Offices and HQ Sandy SG19
Salary: £86,059.00 - £109,346.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-Time, 37.5 hours per week.
Benefits: Pension scheme (7%), Life Assurance scheme, 26 days' annual leave (plus bank holidays)

The RSPB Finance Director role is a crucially important role for RSPB, reporting to the Executive Director for Finance, Governance and Strategy, and a part of the RSPB's senior leadership group.

What's the role about?

This is an opportunity for the successful candidate to:

• Drive the Finance department across all areas, including financial operations and budgeting and forecasting.
• Provide advice and support to the wider Finance, Governance and Strategy Directorate, Board, and other senior leaders on finance-related matters with a focus on strategy implementation.
• Engage with the Finance Committee and Audit and Risk Committee, leading on all financial matters.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Fully qualified accountant (UK-recognised qualification such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA)
• Successful track record of inspiring, managing, and delivering large scale organisation-wide projects
• Demonstrable track record in the successful leadership and management of a Finance team in a multi-faceted and geographically dispersed organisation
• Successful track record in developing excellent working relationships between internal directorates and external stakeholders
• Experience of both internal and external financial reporting and the related regulatory environment in the charity sector
• Experience of control systems that manage risk effectively and provide assurance on the efficiency and effectiveness of financial processes and compliance with relevant regulatory frameworks
• Knowledge of the main direct and indirect tax frameworks related to the charity sector
• Experience in creating and communicating a compelling vision for directing and motivating the Finance team

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Investment management experience
• Defined benefit pension scheme arrangement experience

Please note this is a remote working role that can be conducted flexibly within the UK, however the successful candidate will be expected to travel to RSPB offices (including The Lodge in Sandy, Bedfordshire) on a monthly basis.

Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 4th June 2025
We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from June 2025.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our recruitment partner's website to complete your application for this position.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role will require standard pre-employment checks. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

As part of this application you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete a short form, which includes an optional cover letter section. Please use this cover letter section to detail how you meet the criteria listed above, as this will form the basis of our shortlisting. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

No agencies please.

Senior Education Officer

Are you passionate about environmental issues, in particular nature restoration, climate resilience and biodiversity?

Do you have experience working with young audiences, preferably within a wildlife or conservation setting? Do you have a good grasp of ecology and be willing to travel around the country to support learning education opportunities as well as being confident running sessions or delivering train-the-trainer sessions online?

We are looking for a Senior Education Officer, with the skill set to inspire people to connect with nature, support teachers, deliver talks, presentations and education sessions, while developing further opportunities within the team for learning through the subject of beavers.

Position: Senior Education Officer

Location: Remote (his role requires frequent travel and overnight stays)

Hours: Full time (37.5 hours per week)

Contract: Fixed (2 years)

Salary: £32,827 pa

Benefits Include:  25 days holiday, plus Christmas day through to New Year’s Day paid, plus 6 days of floating holidays, pro-rata. Flexible approach to hours of work. Pension contribution of 3% of your total pay each month. One-off contributions toward the cost of an ergonomic office chair and toward purchases of essential devices (laptop, mouse and smartphone), monthly home working allowance, plus an annual contribution toward the maintenance and/or replacement of the essential devices.

Closing Date: 5pm on Tuesday 20th May We reserve the right to interview candidates and close the ad ahead of the closing date, should a strong candidate be identified.

About the Role

We are looking to hire a skilled and engaging Senior Education Officer to join a busy team, to further develop and implement an educational outreach programme which reaches children in Wales, Scotland and England. At present, this post has funding for three years from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, one year of which is now complete and we are looking to deliver the second two years of the project.

The purpose of the role is to extend the passion and knowledge of beavers into communities around Britain, to engage and enthuse young people and to reconnect (or reinforce) their love of nature. Using current materials and resources you will do so by delivering high-quality learning sessions within schools, community groups or virtual training sessions, sometimes delivered in conjunction with our beaver site partners and their education teams.

You will also be responsible for developing further aspects of the programme according to the requirements for each country and in partnership with relevant organisations

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver a range of exciting, curriculum-linked workshops, talks, school and group sessions associated with beaver release sites.
• Network and build contacts and relationships with key personnel in schools, youth groups and community groups in order to create engagement with the education programme and expand its reach.
• Develop further resources and engaging activities or projects for group learning.
• Deliver standard level beaver ecology training to a range of age groups.
• Ensure the education programmes are up-to-date, accurate and complement the wider delivery of our mission.
• Monitor, collate and report on impact, working with the communications team to support the effective evaluation of our programme.
• Support volunteers and build capacity working with partner staff in the delivery of beaver education programmes.
• Work with the team to allocate resources ensuring education initiatives are well planned, deliver maximum value for money and remain within budget.
• Consider equality, diversity and inclusion in the approach to all education initiatives, supported with external expertise.
• Follow policies, standard operating procedures and safe working practices to ensure our work with visiting education groups complies with all relevant guidelines and legislation, including health and safety, safeguarding, copyright and GDPR.

About You

You will have the skill set to inspire people to connect with nature, support teachers, deliver talks, presentations and education sessions, while developing further opportunities within our team for learning through the subject of beavers. The successful candidate will have experience working with young audiences, preferably within a wildlife or conservation setting. You will have a good grasp of ecology and be willing to travel around the country to support learning education opportunities as well as being confident running sessions or delivering train-the-trainer sessions online.

Essential:

• A degree in a zoology, biology or conservation-related field, or a teaching/education qualification or equivalent experience in teaching across a wide range of ages and abilities, using different delivery methods including virtual delivery.
• The ability to communicate complex concepts in an innovative and engaging way to a wide (and/or young) audience.
• Good organisation skills including time management, administration, workload planning and meeting deadlines.
• A strong interest in nature, conservation and restoration and an understanding of the role beavers can play in our landscapes’ recovery.
• Working knowledge of safeguarding legislation and policies and procedures.
• Be prepared to undergo an Enhanced DBS with barred list.
• Experience in confidently using IT packages for teaching delivery, including the use of tablets, presentation software and audiovisual.

You will need to have a full valid UK driving licence and the right to work in the UK.

To apply please upload a 2pp CV and 1pp covering letter explaining their interest and suitability for the role.

About the Organisation

Join a nature restoration charity, restoring beavers to regenerate our landscapes. Beavers were once a common and influential part of the British countryside, and as such, the team wants to reconnect people to this part of our heritage. As we continue to reintroduce beavers and support their expansion across Britain, it has never been more important to help people learn to coexist with this dynamic and impactful species.

The charity strives to be diverse and inclusive and a place where we can all be ourselves and we positively welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and encourage applications from individuals regardless of their religion, beliefs, age, gender, race, disability or sexual orientation.

You may also have experience in areas such as Education, School, Programme, Campaign, Advocacy, Education Officer, School Officer, Programme Officer, Campaign Officer, Advocacy Officer, Conservation Officer, Nature, Trainer, Teacher, Coach, Mentor, Programme Manager. #INDNFP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.