Communications officer jobs for the Environment sector

A rare and newly-created opportunity to join David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) as Director of Development at a pivotal moment of growth. As part of the Senior Mangement Team (SMT) you will help shape the future direction of the Foundation, leading its fundraising strategy, inspiring support and delivering significant and sustainable income growth.

We are looking for a collaborative team player, who leads with integrity, warmth and passion. Experience in the conservation sector is an advantage but not a prerequisite. The right candidate will be the person who can prove that they are able to ignite action, build lasting relationships and generate meaningful growth in support of the DSWF’s mission.   

Throughout the interview process we’ll be keen to hear about your track record in fundraising at a leadership level and your experience of making an impact on an organisation of our size or larger. You will demonstrate how you develop strategies and implement them successfully, show an understanding of DSWF’s existing development portfolio, and a view on where you see you might help to take us over the next 3 years and beyond.

Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.

JOB DESCRIPTION
Role: Director of Development (DoD)
Reports to: CEO
Works closely with: CEO/COO/CFO as part of the SMT
Line manages: Development Team: Development Manager, Trust and Foundations Manager, Development Executive, CRM Executive
Hours: Part-time, 28 hours per week (4 days)
Location: Hybrid working between the DSWF Shalford Office (GU4 8JU) for a minimum of two days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays), and home with occasional travel
Annual Leave: 25 days per annum pro rata. Bank Holidays are also provided, and at DSWF’s discretion the office usually closes between Christmas and New Year (additional to annual leave)
Salary: Competitive executive-level salary dependent on experience and breadth of impact. Please ask for salary range on application.
Start date: Asap.

Summary of the Role
The Director of Development (DoD) provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for all fundraising income and supporter engagement activity at DSWF. The role is accountable for delivering sustainable, diversified revenue growth aligned with DSWF’s mission across conservation, education and art, while building lasting relationships with major donors, trusts, foundations, corporate partners and senior supporters.

Working in close partnership with the CEO, COO, CFO, and Board of Trustees, the DoD translates organisational strategy into compelling Cases for Support, effective fundraising plans and measurable outcomes. The postholder leads and develops a high-performing Development team, ensuring strong delivery and continuous improvement.

As a member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Director shares responsibility for shaping the Foundation’s overall direction, contributing to governance, organisational culture and high-level strategic decision-making.

This is a pivotal position combining senior management with hands-on major gift fundraising and team leadership. Central to enabling the Foundation’s long-term impact and growth, the DoD is a driving force behind DSWF’s ability to successfully deliver its mission to protect endangered species in Africa and Asia.

Key responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
•Lead on the development, implementation, delivery and continuous refinement of DSWF’s multi-year Development strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities and long-term financial sustainability.
•Advise the CEO and Trustees on fundraising performance, trends, risks and opportunities.
•Own and articulate the organisational Case/s for Support, ensuring a clear, compelling narrative that integrates conservation impact, education outcomes and artistic heritage.
•Working closely with the rest of the SMT, embed a culture of philanthropy across the organisation, enabling all team members, Trustees and ambassadors to actively support income generation.
•As part of SMT, be jointly responsible for over-arching decisions regarding the direction of the Foundation, its mission, strategies and culture.

Major & Strategic Fundraising
•Working closely with the CEO, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of DSWF’s most significant donors and prospects, including major individual donors, trusts and foundations, legacy campaigns and strategic partners.
•Responsible, alongside the CEO, for the overall management of all corporate partnerships and sponsors.
•Design and lead bespoke solicitation strategies for new high-value prospects, involving the CEO, Trustees and senior colleagues as appropriate.
•Oversee the development of structured approaches to major giving, trusts & foundations, legacy giving and corporate partnerships.
•Have strategic oversight of lower-level individual giving programmes including appeals, regular individual giving and adoption schemes.
•Be responsible and ensure best practice in prospect research, due diligence, stewardship and ethical fundraising.

Team Leadership & Management
•Lead, manage and develop the Development team, setting clear objectives, KPIs and income targets aligned to the overall strategy.
•Ensure the structure, resourcing and capabilities of the team are fit for purpose and scalable as income grows.
•Coach and support all those within the organisation that are responsible for fundraising, providing professional leadership, mentoring and performance management.
•Lead on all training and offer career progression for all staff within the Development team.
•Foster strong collaboration between Development and all departments, including; Policy and Programmes, Marketing and Communications, Education, Art, Finance and Operations.

Supporter Engagement
•Represent DSWF externally with senior donors, partners and sector peers, enhancing the organisation’s profile and credibility.
•Oversee a high-quality supporter journey across all touchpoints, ensuring donors feel valued, informed and connected to impact including lower-level individual giving.
•Champion systematic all level stewardship, donor care and impact reporting to maximise retention, lifetime value and advocacy.
•Ensure accurate, GDPR-compliant data capture and effective use of CRM systems (Beacon) to drive insight-led fundraising.

Events
•This senior role will have overall responsibility for any fundraising or donor profile events (at present this would include the Wildlife Ball which is an annual fundraising/profile raising event that takes place at the Dorchester Hotel).
•Working closely with the rest of SMT, this role will direct the Development team to ensure that all events deliver optimum, high level donor experiences and are run professionally (with logistics and operational support from the COO and team).
•This role will have overall responsibility for ensuring the CEO has all information required to support engagement with donors at all events.

Governance & Reporting
•Report on Development performance to the CEO, SMT and Trustees, providing clear analysis against agreed targets.
•Work closely with Finance to support forecasting, budgeting and long-term income planning.
•Work closely with Finance and legal advisors in relation to all legal matters pertaining to legacies and bequests.
•Ensure all Development activity aligns with regulatory, governance and ethical standards.

Person Specification
Knowledge and Experience
•Significant senior leadership experience in fundraising and development within complex, mission-driven non-profit organisations, at Director level or equivalent, where philanthropy is critical to organisational impact and growth.
•Significant experience in leading and delivering long-term development strategies, with a demonstrable track record of translating organisational ambition into clear, costed and achievable fundraising plans.
•Proven ability to set strategic direction across multiple income streams, establish measurable objectives and KPIs and use data and insight to monitor performance, evaluate impact and adapt approach over time.
•Experience of driving sustained income growth, strengthening donor pipelines, and delivering measurable outcomes aligned to organisational priorities and long-term sustainability.
•Deep understanding of the UK philanthropic landscape, with well-established networks across major donors, trusts and foundations, corporates and high-net-worth individuals and the ability to build credibility and influence rapidly at national and international levels.
•Demonstrable experience of leading and scaling fundraising income through periods of organisational change, growth or strategic transformation.
•Proven track record of securing transformational gifts and long-term partnerships from individuals, corporates, trusts and foundations.
•Strong history of inspirational leadership, team building and talent development, with the ability to motivate teams towards ambitious shared goals.
•Experience of working with public sector stakeholders and cross-sector partnerships to advance organisational objectives.
•Experience of implementing and embedding robust CRM systems and donor stewardship frameworks to support data-led decision making and excellent supporter journeys.

Personal Skills, Qualities and Attributes
•Exceptional interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills, with the ability to engage, influence and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
•A collaborative team player who values partnership working and shared success.
•Strategic, visionary thinker with the confidence and credibility to operate at senior leadership and Board level, influencing internal and external decision-makers.
•A strong personal commitment to wildlife conservation, environmental protection and the role of philanthropy in driving long-term change.
•Clear alignment with DSWF’s mission, vision and values, and a genuine passion for advancing David Shepherd’s legacy through impactful fundraising.
•Entrepreneurial and opportunity-led mindset, with the confidence to set and pursue ambitious income and growth targets.
•Resilient, adaptable and resourceful, with the ability to navigate complexity, manage ambiguity and maintain momentum in a fast-evolving environment.
•Credible and compelling ambassador for DSWF, able to represent the organisation confidently with major donors, partners and at public-facing events.
•Willingness to travel and attend events as required to support donor engagement, stewardship and organisational visibility.
•Commitment to being actively engaged in the life of the organisation, contributing to its culture, leadership and long-term success.

Please note that as part of a small team, the role may include occasional additional duties to help meet the charity’s wider needs.

Application Process
To apply, please email a CV and supporting statement of no more than two pages no later than Monday 15th June.

As Scotland’s leading nature conservation charity, we welcome applications from individuals who are looking to join us in our journey of protecting Scotland’s wildlife for the future.

From major species and landscape restoration projects, to managing our network of wildlife reserves and campaigning for nature, we work for Scotland’s wildlife year-round.

We give a voice to wildlife through our policy and campaigning work, demonstrate best practice through practical conservation work, engage with people to take positive action through our education programmes and events, and so much more.

Title: Community Outreach Officer - Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels

Status: Full time (35 hrs/week), Fixed term (until 31st March 2028)

Salary: £25,000 per annum pending review

Location: Blairgowrie Office, Perthshire (working across the Central lowlands and Southern Highlands)

Closing date: 15th June 2026

The Role:

The Community Outreach Officer will contribute to the protection of the Highland Line (HL), a coast-to-coast control zone which aims to prevent grey squirrels from moving north from Central Scotland into the red strongholds of the Highlands and Grampians. Progressed through a programme of targeted grey squirrel monitoring and control, you’ll help support the protection and expansion of red squirrel populations in accordance with the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels strategy. This role requires an approachable individual with experience recruiting, motivating, training, coordinating and managing community-based volunteers (groups and individuals) to undertake active conservation work.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Working closely with the Monitoring and Control Officers (MCOs)
• Supporting and expanding volunteer networks through volunteer recruitment and onboarding
• Data entry and digital records
• Engaging and building relations with key stakeholders, landowners and local authorities
• Providing community network support and communications.  This will include identifying opportunities to engage difficult-to-reach people and new audiences in the Central Lowlands.

Specifically, this includes:

1. Recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to carry out fortnightly feeder box monitoring surveys, ensuring they have the equipment and consumables required, and providing practical support and temporary survey cover as needed.
2. Manage and coordinate the processing of monitoring samples and resulting data. Tis includes the analysis of hair samples to identify and record red squirrel, grey squirrel or pine marten detections and sharing results with volunteers
3. Alongside the SSRS HL team, engaging with and recruit new landowners/managers to undertake grey squirrel control and monitoring on their land.
4. Developing methodologies to ensure sustained engagement and data sharing to support independent controllers across the Highland Line region
5. Engaging and building relations with new and existing stakeholders to support the project.
6. Leading strategic events, talks, and other activities to promote active community understanding and participation of red squirrel conservation in Scotland

The successful candidate will:

• Possess a relevant degree
• Have experience of recruiting, motivating, training, coordinating and managing volunteers
• A good understanding of conservation principles, invasive non-native species management, wildlife practices and legislation
• Experience of working with landowners, gamekeepers, foresters and the public is desirable
• Experience with keeping and maintaining accurate records using Microsoft packages is essential and knowledge of ArcGIS would be useful
• There may occasionally be a requirement to work out of normal working hours
• You must possess a full clean driving licence and have use of a vehicle

Closing date: midnight Monday 15th June

Interview date:  Thursday 25th June

About Bristol Avon Rivers Trust

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is an independent environmental charity dedicated to restoring and protecting the rivers of the Bristol Avon catchment for people and wildlife.

We work across urban and rural landscapes to deliver practical river restoration, natural flood management, climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and community engagement projects at a catchment scale. Our work ranges from removing barriers to fish migration and restoring river habitat, through to supporting regenerative farming, creating wetlands and woodlands, and engaging communities in citizen science and environmental action.

As the Trust continues to grow in scale, ambition and complexity, we are seeking an experienced and highly organised Head of Operations to help strengthen our organisational systems, support our team and enable the effective delivery of our strategic vision.

Location
Hybrid working – with regular attendance across BART offices, project sites and meetings within the Bristol Avon catchment.

Reports to
Chief Executive Officer

Hours
Full-time (37.5 hours per week)
Flexible working arrangements considered.

Purpose of the Role

The Head of Operations will play a central leadership role within Bristol Avon Rivers Trust, ensuring the organisation operates safely, effectively, efficiently and sustainably as it continues to grow.

This is a strategic and hands-on operational role overseeing organisational systems, support governance, HR, compliance, health & safety, programme management support and internal operations.

Working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will help manage the organisations systems and culture needed to support high-quality delivery across a growing environmental charity.

The role will suit someone who thrives in dynamic organisations, enjoys problem solving and optimising systems, understanding and making sense of complexity, and is motivated by supporting teams to deliver meaningful impact and achieving the organisations goals.

Key Responsibilities

Organisational Leadership & Operations

• Lead and oversee day-to-day organisational operations across the Trust
• Develop and improve internal systems, processes and operational procedures
• Support organisational planning and delivery against BART’s strategic objectives
• Work closely with the CEO and senior managers to support organisational growth and resilience
• Contribute to organisational decision-making and leadership culture

People & HR Management

• Oversee HR systems, policies and procedures
• Support recruitment, onboarding and staff development processes
• Help foster a positive, inclusive and high-performing workplace culture
• Support managers with operational people-management matters
• Coordinate staff wellbeing and professional development initiatives

Governance & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with charity, company and employment regulations
• Support the CEO with governance processes, trustee reporting and organisational policies
• Oversee organisational risk management systems
• Ensure appropriate insurance, contracts and compliance frameworks are in place
• Lead on operational health & safety systems and organisational compliance

Organisational Systems

• Support organisational budgeting and financial monitoring alongside the finance and Senior Leadership team
• Oversee operational procurement and contract management systems
• Support implementation and optimisation of organisational systems, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and IT systems including cyber security
• Improve internal reporting and programme coordination systems

Programme & Delivery Support

• Support operational coordination across BART programmes and projects
• Help ensure teams are appropriately resourced and supported
• Improve organisational project management systems and workflows
• Support efficient collaboration across delivery teams
• Contribute to organisational development opportunities and partnerships

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• Significant experience in operational management, organisational leadership or business management
• Experience developing and improving organisational systems and processes
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance and organisational risk management
• Experience supporting HR and people-management processes
• Excellent organisational and project management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work strategically while also being comfortable with operational detail
• Experience managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and organisational software systems

Desirable Experience

• Experience working within the environmental, charity or public sector
• Knowledge of charity governance and funding environments
• Experience supporting organisational growth and change management
• Familiarity with CRM systems and operational databases
• Understanding of health & safety systems within field-based organisations

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Is highly organised, proactive and solutions-focused
• Enjoys enabling others to succeed
• Can balance strategic thinking with practical delivery
• Is calm and adaptable in a growing organisation
• Has strong emotional intelligence and leadership skills
• Wants to help a small organisation grow and deliver its goal of restoring rivers, landscapes and communities

Why Join BART?

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of one of the UK’s growing rivers trusts at a pivotal stage in its development.

You’ll join a passionate and ambitious team delivering meaningful environmental change across the Bristol Avon catchment, while helping build the organisational foundations needed for long-term impact.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and Christmas close
• Flexible and hybrid working
• 9% Employer pension contribution
• Professional development and training opportunities
• Employee wellbeing support
• Opportunity to shape a growing organisation with real environmental impact

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Bristol Avon Rivers Trust is committed to building an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported.

We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and communities, particularly those underrepresented within the environmental sector.

Prospectus is excited to be working with our client in their search for a part-time Key Influencer Officer to join their team. The charity is an international non-profit global campaigning organisation. Their independence and global reach enable them to stand for positive change through action in order to defend nature and promote peace. They investigate and expose global environmental problems, confront those in positions of power and present alternative solutions.

This role is offered on a flexible part-time (0.6FTE) permanent basis, paying a salary of £48,396 to £55,644 (pro rata) with flexible working arrangements between home and their London office.

The Key Influencer Officer role is a new strategic role within the Key Influencer team, and they will work closely with the Key Influencer Manager, to develop and deliver strategic engagement plans for a core portfolio of Content Creators and Mid-Tier Influencers, ensuring this portfolio delivers against the overarching KI strategy objectives. The post holder will lead the strategic development, delivery, and assessment of key influencer collaborations to achieve ambitious campaign and fundraising goals.

They are looking for a candidate with demonstrable experience in an external-facing communications, marketing, PR, or digital content role that required proactive management of high-value individuals, partners, or talent. They are looking for someone with a demonstrable understanding of the digital content landscape and best practice across key social media platforms (e.g., Instagram, TikTok, YouTube). They are looking for someone with demonstrable experience in negotiating and finalizing agreements or contracts with talent agents or management teams. The ideal candidate will be determined to defend nature, social justice, and peace, with a strong commitment to the organisation's values and an active dedication to diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Firas El Dib at Prospectus. 

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you.

In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon. 

 

Job title: The Social Change Nest Financial Controller (Client Funds)

Role Purpose:

This role sits at the heart of our financial controls at the Social Change Nest and combines cash management oversight, payment operations and financial compliance. However, this is not a traditional Financial Controller position. You will work with the team to ensure robust financial controls, accurate reconciliations, secure payment processes and transparent reporting for our diverse portfolio of social impact clients. You will also be a key driver of operational improvement, identifying better ways of working as we scale.

About the Social Change Nest

The Social Change Nest (SCN) is a fiscal hosting organisation that removes the financial and administrative barriers preventing grassroots groups and informal movements from accessing funding. Since 2021, we have supported 700+ groups across the UK and internationally, helping them access over £50 million in funding for causes ranging from climate and housing to racial justice and social wellbeing. We also work closely with funders, providing Grant Distribution and Fund Management services, enabling us to support social action with confidence and transparency. We are at the forefront of fiscal hosting in the UK! 

We’re a growing business operating at pace. We’ve established a lot – but as we grow, we’re still working some things out. The right person will thrive in this environment and relish building out a future-facing finance function. You’ll enjoy problem-solving, feel comfortable handling multiple priorities at once, and seek collaborative solutions. You’ll be adaptable, able to shift focus quickly when things change, and ensure strong communication across the team and with clients to keep everything aligned. 

Key Responsibilities:

1. Payment Processes & Systems Management

●Own and optimise the end-to-end payment infrastructure (banking platforms, expense management tools, Open Collective platform and accounting system integrations)

●Design, implement and monitor robust internal controls to prevent fraud, errors or unauthorised disbursements

●Streamline high-volume payment workflows while maintaining strict adherence to SCN policies

2. Bank Reconciliations & Treasury

●Ensure all client bank accounts are reconciled accurately and daily

●Investigate and resolve any variances between bank statements and the internal ledger immediately

●Track client cash positions to ensure sufficient liquidity for planned social project disbursements

3. Financial Reporting & Compliance

●Produce clear, concise financial reports for clients detailing fund movements and remaining balances

●Act as the lead contact for external audits regarding client cash and payment controls. Support the preparation of year end accounts and SCN’s external Audit as it interfaces with Client funds.

●Ensure all cash management and payment processes comply with UK Anti-Money Laundering supervision and relevant HMRC requirements

4. Operational Innovation & Client Service

●Proactively research and implement new financial technologies to enhance speed, security and transparency of client services

●Continuously evaluate existing workflows to eliminate bottlenecks and improve the client experience

●Lead the roll-out of new financial tools or system upgrades, ensuring smooth transition for internal teams and external partners

5. Leadership & Collaboration

●Line manage 1–2 members of the finance team, providing mentorship and support

●Being the point of escalation for the Finance and Delivery teams on more complex finance queries and dealing directly with our clients for financial solutions

●Contribute to finance team planning and lead on delivery of key projects

●Collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders across the organisation

Skills and Experience:

Essential

• Professional accounting qualification: ACA, ACCA or CIMA
• Proven experience in a Financial Controller, Head of Finance or senior audit role with a focus on cash controls and high-volume transactions
• Strong knowledge of financial governance, internal controls and compliance frameworks
• Experience in at least one of the following:

            -managing multi-currency transactions, FX impacts and global banking corridors

            -oversight of restricted funds, ensuring disbursements align with specific grant conditions and reporting requirements

            -implementing AML and KYC protocols and ensuring rigorous due diligence on all fund movements

• IT-literate and confident with leading technological change; advanced Excel skills and track record of implementing operational improvements
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills — able to translate financial information clearly for non-finance stakeholders
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while maintaining exceptional attention to detail, and being comfortable with shifting priorities and emerging risks
• Ability to lead, manage, and work effectively both as a member of a team and on own initiative.
• Ability to think strategically, supporting the implementation of a financial strategy and suggesting appropriate changes to SCN’s services.

Desirable

• Experience in the non-profit, charity or client-services sector
• Experience in a fast-growing or start-up environment
• Understanding of power dynamics and community engagement
• Experience with innovative approaches to governance

 Location: London/Hybrid preferred – 2-3 days /week in the office

Reporting To: Finance Director

Contract: Full time, Permanent (flexible working considered)

Salary: £58,000-£60,000

Date Closes: Thursday 11th June

Right to Work in the UK required, no sponsorship available.