Principal Research Officer – Ecosystem Health & Social Dimensions
Location: London Wetland Centre, London SW13 9WT - The role supports hybrid working, with travel to both Slough and Richmond as required to carry out the research
Salary: £38,119.00 per annum
Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 30th March 2027
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
About The Role
WWT has successfully partnered with Richmond Borough and Slough Councils to deliver an innovative, nature-based flood alleviation scheme that is already underway, aiming to future-proof neighbourhoods against the impacts of climate change. A landscape scale network of wetland interventions will help build flood resilient communities in two river catchments and unlock their multiple benefits for people. Key interventions are being developed through an inclusive process of co-production with the diverse communities living in these catchments.
WWT’s Conservation Evidence Department is seeking a scientist to deliver social research that examines the effectiveness of these nature-based solutions in building flood resilience and generating social and health and wellbeing benefits for local communities.
About You
The role will involve working closely with WWT colleagues across the Conservation Directorate, as well as project partners and local communities. Strong communication (written and oral) and coordination skills are essential.
The successful candidate will have:
- strong social research skills, both in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis
- an understanding of sound scientific methods as well as excellent paper-writing and data management skills
- will have worked with a diverse range of communities and be aware of cultural sensitivities and what is needed to achieve high ethical standards when working with people
- will be an excellent team worker, hold a PhD in a social science, geography or environmental psychology subject, and be familiar with leading, designing and delivering scientific research projects
The role will sit within the Conservation Evidence department, which is a vibrant, multidisciplinary team of passionate scientists. Above all, we have impact: our research diagnoses problems and identifies solutions, and in doing so we shape policy and action for global wetland conservation. We work in collaboration with government, NGOs and academic partners, and a number of PhD students, across the UK and overseas.
About Us
We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.
Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.
Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?
Why you’ll love working at WWT
- Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
- Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
- 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
- Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
- Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
- Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
- Cycle to work scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
- Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme
Closing Date: 22nd August 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.
WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
No agencies please.
Restore Wetlands and Unlock their Power





ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.
What you’ll do
Since 2019, we have been building a cross-cutting thematic programme using our investor accountability, corporate engagement and public policy toolkit to build a movement to harness the power of the investment system to address commercial determinants of health.
In 2022, we launched Long-Term Investors in People’s Health (LIPH), a cross-cutting programme of work leveraging our toolkit of investor accountability, corporate engagement and policy advocacy. It is one of ShareAction’s largest programmes. Since the launch of LIPH, we have run high-profile campaigns to get large food manufacturers and retailers to improve their health disclosures and sell healthier products via our Healthy Markets Initiative (HMI); recently set up a Clean Air Initiative (CAI); mobilised investors to engage with corporates, the UK government, and standard-setting bodies on issues such as clean air and sick leave policies; and partnered with academics to grow the evidence base on the financial materiality of health. We have ambitious plans to take this work forward and are looking for a new Head of the team to help us do so.
As Head of Health, you will:
- Oversee and contribute to the successful implementation of ShareAction’s strategy to tackle poor health via its LIPH programme, a cross-cutting programme of work leveraging our toolkit of investor accountability, corporate engagement and policy advocacy.
- Lead and motivate a team of 10 staff members and directly line manage at least three of them.
- Ensure adequate risk management and monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes are in place.
- Together with the Fundraising team and Co-Director of Corporate Engagement, be responsible for securing funding for the LIPH programme, including writing funding bids, supporting with relationship management, supporting the coordination of our Funders’ Governance Group, and helping produce update reports.
- Plan, manage and report on budget for the LIPH programme, delegating workstream and campaign budgets where there are appropriate leads.
- Develop and nurture strategic relationships with senior external stakeholders, including funders, journalists, investors, and civil society organisations.
- Act as one of ShareAction’s subject matter experts on commercial determinants of health, keeping your knowledge up to date with developments across academia, civil society, and public policy.
- Act as a media spokesperson for the team and represent it in internal and external forums.
- Work with peers at the “Head of” level to play a leadership role across ShareAction.
If this role sounds like something that would build on your current skill set and engage you, we’d love to hear from you!
What you’ll bring to the team
- Passionate about harnessing the power of the financial system to address poor health across the commercial determinants of health.
- Excellent organisation and project management skills, with demonstrable experience leading ambitious programmes of work.
- Great team player with experience of building, managing and leading a high-performing team based on mutual trust, respect and inclusion and providing mentoring support to more junior members of staff.
- A strategic mindset.
- Comfortable with working autonomously, setting priorities, managing workload and driving delivery against objectives for yourself and your team.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to flex style according to your audience.
- Experience building relationships at a senior level with stakeholders across the private and public sectors, with the ability to understand a range of perspectives and to influence with respect and diplomacy.
- Strong professional knowledge and understanding of the commercial determinants of health and/or of responsible investment.
It would be desirable for you to have:
- Substantial experience leading and/or feeding into an advocacy campaign.
- Previous experience securing philanthropic funding for programmes of work.
- Experience managing budgets.
- Experience speaking directly to the media and representing an organisational position.
- Proficiency with common office software, including Microsoft Office, Outlook, SharePoint, Cascade, and Salesforce.
What we will do for you
We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide an environment for our colleagues to thrive.
Currently, we are pleased to offer:
- A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place, well above the average for UK workplaces.
- Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
- Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
- A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
- Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
- An 8% non-contributory pension invested with NEST, who make a range of options available.
- A healthcare cash plan that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
- An employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
- 25 days’ annual leave plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
- Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
- Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
- Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.
We have a formal hybrid working policy in place. As Head of the team, we expect that you will work from the office at least every Tuesday if you are based in London and at least two Tuesdays a month if you are based outside of London. The team holds its weekly meetings on Tuesday morning.
ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!
For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.
Closing date: 9am on Monday, 18 August 2025.
First-round interviews: w/c 25 August 2025.
Second-round interviews: w/c 8 September 2025.
Informal meeting with the team: w/c 15 September 2025.
To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.