Research project officer (climate change) jobs

Team Administrator

Organisation: Chapter Zero Alliance (CZA)

About us

Chapter Zero Alliance is a charity, incorporated in England and Wales, dedicated to promoting effective climate and nature governance on corporate boards. Its mission is to equip non-executive directors with the knowledge and skills to address climate change and foster a low-carbon and nature positive economy through:

• Informing and engaging with individuals in senior leadership roles and senior positions of responsibility in both the private and public sectors, to support board directors and their organisations to conserve, protect, and improve the physical and natural environment;

• Enabling interaction and collaboration between academics, legal and industry professionals, and public and private sector board directors to support boards and their organisations in delivering climate action.

These objectives will be achieved through the growth and development of the charity’s Climate Governance Initiative (CGI). The CGI currently has over 30 active Chapters in 73 countries, with a reach of over 100,000 board directors.

Job Title

Team Administrator

Department

Governance, Impact and Partnerships

Dual Reporting to

CEO, and the Senior Manager, Leadership Community & Liaison

Contract Type

Permanent contract and part time (0.6 FTE)

Job Share

Salary

£36,000 per annum FTE

Hours of Work

22.5 hours per week (Wednesday to Friday)

Blend of office and home-working; pattern to be agreed.

Annual Leave

Annual paid leave of 27 days plus public holidays (pro rata if part-time). 

Pension Eligibility

Workplace pension scheme offered by NEST

Position Overview

The Team Administrator is responsible for providing efficient, organised and proactive administrative support to the CEO, as well as supporting the wider team across a number of administrative areas.

The role holder will also liaise with partners, Chapters, grant funders and a range of other interested partners and collaborators, on behalf of the CEO, working seamlessly with their job share partner.

Main Duties

Executive Assistant support

Work closely with the CEO and job share partner to provide comprehensive administrative support to the CEO, ensuring the smooth running of CEO’s  office and that secretarial and other administrative work is produced to a high standard and within set deadlines.

● Manage the CEO’s diary,  balancing competing priorities and understanding the need for the degree of flexibility that is required within a busy schedule

● Arrange meetings and make travel arrangements, drawing up itineraries, arranging accommodation and liaising with host organisations within the UK and overseas as necessary.

● Prepare, organise, and manage documents and presentations for meetings, ensuring timely distribution and follow-up

● Act as a key liaison between the CEO and external stakeholders, maintaining professionalism and confidentiality at all times

● Handle sensitive information and deal with complex requests and enquiries, exercising discretion and sound judgement

● Organise and coordinate internal and external meetings (in-person and online) involving the CEO and support her attendance at external meetings, events, and conferences in the UK and abroad (including travel and accommodation arrangements), ensuring the CEO’s schedule runs efficiently

● Draft and proofread correspondence, reports, and other documents as required.

● Maintain and update digital filing systems and databases, ensuring accurate record-keeping

● Make expense claims on the CEO’s behalf ensuring necessary receipts/invoices are submitted

● Adhoc support to the CEO as needed

General administration

● Responsible for monitoring the admin inbox, assessing and, responding as needing, and escalating matters as appropriate

● Order consumables and other items as required in line with the Expenses Policy, ensuring costs are within budget

● Coordinate travel and hotel arrangements

● Support the Community and Engagement team by providing administrative support for branding and trademarking registrations.

● Take minutes and circulate along with resulting action points as needed

● Assist with projects, including research, data entry, and preparing reports

● Provide administrative support to the annual report process, working with the Project Manager

● Provide cover for other members of the administrative team during absences, as needed

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties. The role holder may be asked to take on different tasks as required. All employees are expected to work collaboratively to support the overall work of the Initiative.

The role holder will be required to work on-site, the working pattern is to be agreed with the hiring managers but currently expected to be Wednesday to Friday weekly.

Given the global nature of the Initiative, the role may require some flexibility on working hours outside of standard office hours, although it is not anticipated that the role holder will need to travel outside of the UK.

Person specification:

Education and Experience

Essential

✔ Proven experience in an executive assistant or administrative support role

✔ Proficient in recording decisions and actions during meetings

✔ Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite and Zoom/Teams

Desirable

 ✔ Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Skills and Abilities

Essential

✔ High level of integrity, honesty, and professionalism.

✔ Positive, approachable, and able to build strong working relationships and feed into a healthy office culture

✔ Strong organisational skills with close attention to detail whilst also retaining a comprehensive vision of the big picture

✔ Effective and efficient time management skills including the ability to prioritise in the face of competing demands, work to short timescales and deadlines

✔ Takes responsibility and ensures work is completed

✔ Excellent communication skills

✔ Ability to maintain confidentiality, handling sensitive information with tact and discretion

✔ Ability to listen actively and synthesise discussions into clear, concise points

✔ Cultural awareness, ability to work with a range of international stakeholders

✔ Calm, professional and resilient

✔ Flexible and adaptable, with a solution-focused mindset.

✔ Ability to work independently without supervision as well as collaboratively as part of a team

Desirable

✔ Understanding or interest in the international climate change agenda

All staff at Chapter Zero Alliance are expected to engage in continuing professional development to comply with the data protection legislation and with our policies and all relevant procedures.

Screening check requirements

We have a legal responsibility to ensure you are eligible to live and work in the UK. Any offer of employment will be subject to the CZA verifying your eligibility before you start work.

If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to bring proof of your right to work.

Working for Chapter Zero Alliance

The principles of diversity, inclusion, respect, responsibility and sustainability are at the heart of our organisation.
We want to support our people to balance their personal and professional lives and we believe our range of benefits encourages this. Nothing beats face-time with our colleagues to promote creativity and collaboration, we’ve therefore adopted a blended working model of home and office working arrangements.

CZA is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to ensuring that all candidates are given the same opportunity to succeed regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion, age or disability. 

The Centre for Progressive Change is looking for a full-time Operations Director that will be part of the newly formed Executive Team. This role will be responsible for running the operations of the organisation with a focus on our people, systems and processes. They will work closely with the Executive Team, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and efficiently so that we can have impact.

The Centre for Progressive Change (CPC) is an organisation that builds campaigns for national policy change in the UK. Our focus is on making progressive gains that improve the lives of low- and middle-income communities. We want the UK to be a place where everyone has the financial resources they need, where people are treated as equals and are free to be who they are without persecution, and where we look after our environment.

To achieve this vision, our mission is to build proactive campaigns for progressive legislative change, do research on what works when campaigning for national policy change and offer training and consultancy to support other organisations to build effective campaigns. Our campaigns use an inter-disciplinary approach including community organising, mobilising, advocacy, business engagement, campaign research and press work.

Rivers Project Officer 
Reference: RPO25 
Location: Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham, Nr. Uxbridge 
Contract: Permanent 
Salary: £28,000, rising to £29,500 upon successful completion of probation period 
Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We are looking for an enthusiastic Rivers Project Officer to deliver a variety of river enhancement, monitoring and citizen science-based community engagement across the Colne Catchment.

Summary of role: This is an exciting opportunity for someone who’s passionate about healthy rivers, skilled in ecological monitoring, and keen to bring people together to care for their local environment. The Rivers Project Officer will deliver river enhancement monitoring, and community engagement initiatives across the Colne Catchment — a landscape that stretches from internationally rare chalk rivers to the gravel pits and reservoirs of the Colne Valley Regional Park. This unique catchment supports remarkable wildlife, offers diverse recreational opportunities, and plays a vital role in public water supply.

Key responsibilities include:

• Gathering and analysing environmental data to inform action and solve catchment challenges.
• Monitoring water quality, riverfly populations, and physical habitats.
• Organising citizen science and hands-on conservation activities with local communities.
• Inspiring awareness, stewardship, and practical enhancement of local watercourses.

Our office in the middle of a country park right next to a chalk stream is a special place to work!

Groundwork South

Groundwork South works with communities across the south of England to transform their lives and the places where they live. We have been at the forefront of social and environmental regeneration for over 25 years, and today we have a simple mission: to create better places, improve people’s prospects, and promote greener living and working.

We are passionate about creating a future where every neighborhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny, and no-one is held back by their background or circumstances. This vision drives the work that we do. Each year we deliver over 100 innovative projects, tackling the biggest issues facing our communities and creating real and lasting, positive change.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 2nd October 
Interview dates: 
1st Stage – Wednesday 8th October
2nd Stage – Tuesday 14th October

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website.

Groundwork South is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of the community.

No agencies please.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable weather and climate scientist to join us at The Royal Meteorological Society (RMetS) as the Science Engagement Officer.

This is an exciting career opportunity for an individual who is keen to use their skills and knowledge to make a positive impact and advance the understanding of weather and climate in society through informal education. In this role, you will provide scientific support across science engagement project development, delivery and wider RMetS team operations. Reporting to the Head of Publishing and Scientific Engagement, you will have responsibility for developing training materials and co-delivering sessions for our climate change communication training, and you will deliver RMetS early career initiatives such as our career events. You will also create engaging content for various RMetS activities and stakeholders, and work with the media to enhance public awareness of weather and climate.

If you have a passion for weather and climate science coupled with a relevant graduate degree or higher, this could be the perfect role for you.

What you will do in the role:

• Develop training materials and co-deliver sessions for our RMetS training programme, including climate change communication training.
• Deliver youth and early career activities including events, training, the RMetS mentoring scheme, publishing and membership initiatives.
• Support RMetS career activities, producing career guidance, booklets and running workshops.
• Work alongside the RMetS Membership and Accreditation Manager to develop and maintain the Student Ambassador Scheme.
• Generate content across RMetS activities including scientific publishing, events, Society websites, special projects and COP/IPCC initiatives. 
• Support the Society’s membership publication in the development of Society focused content and other content relevant to our membership.
• Support increasing opportunities for engagement with the media, deliver regular interviews, and work on activities to improve the communication of academic research into mainstream media.
• Design and deliver public engagement activities, e.g. Weather Photographer of the Year touring exhibition, citizen science projects, and outreach training.
• Work with the RMetS Science Engagement Fellows on Insurance Special Interest Group and Energy Special Interest Group sector-specific projects and their associated outputs.
• Support ad hoc formal education initiatives.

Essential criteria you will need to demonstrate:

• A background in weather and climate, either through: a degree in a scientific field relevant to weather and climate; OR a Master’s degree within a scientific field relevant to weather and climate, with a minimum of three subsequent years working in industry.
• Extensive knowledge across weather and climate, and evidence of involvement in activities to ensure ongoing current knowledge across diverse areas.
• Experience in communicating scientific concepts and information to a different range of stakeholders (for example policy makers, the wider scientific and social science community, or the general public).
• A friendly and open-minded approach, with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work well in a small team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, able to prepare documentation for outside stakeholders and willing to communicate with the media.
• A people person who has the confidence to proactively reach out to and communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills including the ability to manage time effectively, balance multiple projects with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to think creatively, be innovative and embrace new ideas and ways of working.

Desirable skills

• One years work experience post degree, or evidence of work experience/secondment.

• Experience and keenness in public engagement and science engagement activities to a variety of audiences.

What you can expect when you work for the Royal Meteorological Society 

• Hybrid working, 2 days per week at home and 3 days per week at the RMetS Headquarters in Reading (Tuesday to Thursday).
• Permanent, full-time role (37.5 hours per week), with options to consider flexible working.
• 25 days holiday per year in addition to 8 public holidays and an extra day off on your birthday. 
• 10% employer pension contributions. 
• Private healthcare.

If you would like to grow in this challenging and exciting Science Engagement Officer position, working in a well-respected and internationally renowned charitable organisation with Royal charter, we would love to hear from you. For more information about us, please visit our website.

Recruitment information and timetable 

• The deadline for applications is 18th September 2025.
• To apply please click the link and apply through CharityJobs, with a full CV and detailed cover letter explaining how you meet the essential criteria for this role.
• Interviews are expected to take place once the deadline for applications has closed with some flexibility for interview times outside of core working hours.
• The Royal Meteorological Society values diversity of background and perspective and is committed to treating all people equally and with respect irrespective of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We value diversity of background and perspective.
• We are particularly committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. As part of this commitment, we operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role they have applied for and we will proactively consider all reasonable adjustments to facilitate employment with us. If you wish to apply under this scheme, please indicate this in your covering letter.

Would you like to help create a brighter future for nature?

Wildlife and Countryside Link is a coalition of 90 environmental charities. We are looking for a Policy Officer to help develop, advocate and win policy improvements for nature.

The Government has promised to halt the decline of nature by 2030 and to net zero by 2050, committing to decarbonising our energy systems as a core government mission. Such commitments have been made within the backdrop of a challenging economic environment. The next few years will be critical in securing nature based solutions as part of the drive to reach net zero and in developing our understanding of and engagement with private investment for nature’s recovery as these fledging funding streams evolve.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated Policy Officer to convene environmental policy experts to agree bold shared policy positions. This role will focus on economic systems change, including innovative work on ways to drive private investment in nature; and on the role that nature must play in helping us to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. There will be lots of thinking, lots of writing, and lots of opportunities to shape shared campaigns with excellent opportunities to engage with and work alongside some of the leading experts in these policy areas. You will also play a key role in delivering those messages to key influencers in Government and in Parliament.

So, we are looking for someone with a keen eye for detail, a good networker with the ability to listen and negotiate, and a reasoned and convincing style of written and verbal communication, with a passion for nature conservation.

Please find the full job description and how to apply here. To apply, please send your CV, with a short covering letter and a completed diversity monitoring form by 9am on Monday 15 September.

The Role

Role Purpose

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dedicated and motivated individual to join us in this newly created HR and Governance role at Dialogue Earth. We are seeking an organised and proactive person to provide day-to-day support across both functions, with around 70% of the role focused on HR. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills in a fast-paced, global environment while contributing to meaningful work.

The HR and governance officer will lead and manage the organisation’s human resources, governance, and compliance functions. They will ensure that HR function and practices are fair, legally compliant, and aligned with organisational values, and will support the Board of Trustees in fulfilling their governance responsibilities. This role combines operational HR management with oversight of governance processes, supporting a positive, inclusive, and legally compliant working environment.

Main Responsibilities

Human Resources:

● Coordinate recruitment processes, including drafting job descriptions and contracts, applicant screening, supporting interviews and collecting references;
● Manage staff onboarding processes and induction material;
● Maintain and update HR policies, the staff handbook, and training records in consultation with the COO;
● Manage the HR system (Natural HR or equivalent) and ensure records are accurate and up to date;
● Manage EAP scheme, training, and benefits (e.g. Climate Perks, glasses benefit, Cycle to Work scheme);
● Coordinate staff performance reviews and support line managers with induction, appraisal, and probation processes;
● Manage visa applications for qualifying staff;
● Ensure compliance with UK employment law and monitor HR legislation changes;
● Support the COO in embedding EDI principles in operational practice.

Governance:

● Provide administrative support to the Board and sub-committees, including scheduling meetings, supporting the COO in preparing papers, and minuting meetings;
● Manage trustee onboarding, training, and compliance requirements;
● Ensure timely and accurate submissions to the Charity Commission and Companies House

Finance:

● Process monthly credit card receipts;
● Budget management, including preparation and expenditure tracking.

General:

● Build collaborative relationships across the organisation.
● Support other operational projects as required.

Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills:

● Understanding of and a commitment to the mission of the charity
● Experience in HR administration and policy development;
● Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
● Strong interpersonal skills and excellent verbal, written and communication skills;
● Knowledge of UK employment law and charity governance;
● Excellent minute-taking and record-keeping skills;
● High level of IT literacy (Google Suite, Microsoft Office);
● Ability to work and communicate with staff at all levels within the organisation.

Desirable Skills:

● CIPD qualification level 5 (or working towards);
● Experience managing visa sponsorship processes;
● MHFA qualification;
● Experience working with Natural HR or equivalent HR system;
● Experience working in the media or non-profit sector

Further Information and Benefits

● Salary: £37,000 per annum.
● Working Hours: 50% FTE of a four day working week (16 hours per week)
● Contract Type: 12 months fixed term, with potential for extension/renewal
● Start time: ASAP
● Hybrid Working: Full-time staff must attend the office at least two days per week. Attendance is mandatory on Tuesdays and staff can choose which other day(s) they attend.
● Pension: Defined contribution pension plan, with 5% employer contribution, 4% employee contribution, and 1% tax relief contribution into an ethically conscious pension plan.
● Holidays: 20 days per annum (pro rata), plus Bank Holidays.
● Location: Shoreditch, London (unfortunately, we are unable to sponsor visa applications for this role).
● Culture: Our office is a bright open-plan working space, with a great staff culture, a friendly and dynamic team, and an office dog called Poppy.

For detailed information on how your personal data is processed,
please review the Privacy Policy on our website.

The Centre for Progressive Change is looking for a Safe Sick Pay Campaign Director that will be part of the newly formed Executive Team. This is an exciting time to be joining the campaign, as we capitalise on our successes so far and plan for our next big policy gain - increasing the rate of Statutory Sick Pay.

The Centre for Progressive Change (CPC) is an organisation that builds campaigns for national policy change in the UK. Our focus is on making progressive gains that improve the lives of low- and middle-income communities. We want the UK to be a place where everyone has the financial resources they need, where people are treated as equals and are free to be who they are without persecution, and where we look after our environment.

To achieve this vision, our mission is to build proactive campaigns for progressive legislative change, do research on what works when campaigning for national policy change and offer training and consultancy to support other organisations to build effective campaigns. Our campaigns use an inter-disciplinary approach including community organising, mobilising, advocacy, business engagement, campaign research and press work.

The Campaign Director will be in charge of our campaign for Safe Sick Pay, so that everyone has the Statutory Sick Pay they need. The Campaign Director will form the campaign strategy to see an increase in the rate of Statutory Sick Pay, fundraise to implement the strategy, hire campaign team members, support the team to implement the strategy, hold the key stakeholder relationships, drive the campaign, and deliver parts of the campaign where needed.

As a member of the Executive Team, the Campaign Director will be part of the team responsible for the strategy, structure, team, culture and finances of the organisation.

Oxford is excited to invite applications for a newly created role that will lead fundraising for its School of Geography and the Environment (SoGE). The Head of Development will be a key member of the Social Sciences Development team within Development and Alumni Engagement (DAE), who will work closely with SoGE and DAE leadership to establish a small Geography team, and to develop a fundraising strategy that serves the School’s goals and grows its philanthropic support.

SoGE is one of the foremost geography and environment university departments in the world, internationally recognised for the quality of its research and teaching. Geography at the University of Oxford is a large, vibrant and intellectually diverse community comprising the core academic department of the School of Geography and the Environment, its three research centres: the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), the Transport Studies Unit (TSU) and the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment (SSEE) and several geographers based elsewhere in the wider university.

This is a special opportunity to work collaboratively with academic colleagues who craft robust, imaginative and forward-looking answers to pressing questions about the environment, technology, geopolitics and socio-economic change.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced major gifts fundraiser who is looking to grow their career in Higher Education through a senior role combining significant fundraising with management of a small team. You will be a collaborative fundraiser with expertise in major gifts and a strong track record of securing complex philanthropic support. Thriving in a fast-paced environment, you will be a strategic thinker and a skilled operator—communicative, adaptable, and adept at building strong, lasting relationships. Your ability to establish credibility and foster trust across a wide range of internal and external stakeholders will be key to your success, as will be a knowledge of and passion for issues relating to the School’s work, and that of the Social Sciences more broadly. Experience in Higher Education or the charitable sector, as well as of managing staff, is desirable.  Above all, you will share Oxford’s mission and be driven to create meaningful impact through strategic philanthropic partnerships.

What We Offer 

Working at the University of Oxford offers several exclusive benefits, such as: 

· 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service. 

· One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave. 

· A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle. 

· An excellent contributory pension scheme. 

· Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans. 

· Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs. 

Sponsorship and Right To Work

This role may meet the criteria for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa. The University will meet the cost of the Skilled Worker visa and NHS surcharge for applicants that require a visa. 

Please let us know in your application if you require sponsorship. 

 Application Process 

To apply, please upload: 

· A covering letter/supporting statement 

· Your CV 

· The details of two referees 

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Friday 26 September 2025 

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 8 October 2025 and will be held in person in central Oxford.

The University of Oxford Development and Alumni Engagement Office is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences, and reflects the community that we serve. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates from under-represented groups to apply.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced fundraiser to help us increase our income from mid-level and major donors, trusts and foundations, and legacies.

This is an exciting time to join our charity, Cambridge is changing rapidly, and we are working hard to tackle issues such as the loss of nature, climate change and access to green space. We have inspiring new projects to expand habitats and green spaces on the Gog Magog Hills, to create a new wetland at our Coton Reserve, to plant trees and woodlands and to save one of Cambridge’s oldest buildings. Right now, the work of our charity is needed more than ever before, and we need the financial resources to be able to step up and make even more of a difference.

Committed to our causes, you will use your donor cultivation skills to strengthen existing relationships and use your research and networking skills to identify and cultivate new opportunities. Your excellent written and development skills will enable you to work with colleagues to turn their visions into compelling proposals for funders and our wider support base. Your knowledge of fundraising best practice will ensure that we deliver an excellent donor experience.
You will be an effective worker with an eye for detail who can use your experience to fulfil the administrative and reporting requirements of the funds you are helping to raise.
You will work alongside our Membership & Communications Manager and have some support from our Administrative Assistant. You will also be supported in your work by the CEO, trustees, volunteers, and external contractors.
You will be part of a friendly and committed management team where you can make a difference, and your work will have an impact.
Our office is in an 18th century building overlooking the beautiful Wandlebury estate. Wandlebury is located on top of the Gog Magog Hills just south of Cambridge.

The Food Foundation is an award winning charity with a vision of a sustainable food system which delivers health and well-being for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where every team member feels valued and empowered. We believe that embracing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is fundamental to our success and the positive impact we make. 

Job purpose
The Place-based Food Systems Manager will play a leading role in the development of The Food Foundation’s local policy and project work in 3 interconnected ways:

1.  Stimulating and supporting leadership in regions, cities, local authority areas and anchor institutions to take action to improve local access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food
2. Identifying the policy and food business levers which enable the emergence of more resilient local food systems which improve access to affordable, healthy and sustainable food in local communities
3. Advocating for national and local policy changes which enable local leadership and new food systems to become more rapidly established.

In the first instance, you will play a leading role in our place-based work in Kent and Birmingham, in particular focused on improving the health and sustainability of menus and business offerings through the promotion of beans, pulses and legumes. You will work closely with Birmingham City Council and The University of Kent, as well as local leaders, partners,
local authorities, policymakers and businesses. You will work closely with academic partners on UKRI funded research projects that support place-based interventions and local authorities in creating healthier more sustainable local food systems.

The successful candidate will also play a key role in our nationally focused policy and advocacy on healthy and sustainable diets, supporting a team working on public sector procurement, production (horticulture) and other food policy areas that intersect health, sustainability and climate. This will involve engagement with relevant DEFRA teams, as well as other NGOs
working in the sustainable diet space.

The role will work across both the Policy and Food Business Transformation teams at The Food Foundation, as well as on the health and sustainability policy asks across the organisation. The unique placement of the role, working on place based initiatives as well as with national policy and businesses, will help to bridge the gap and identify areas of synergy between national and local policy, and between national and local policymakers, as well as the role and opportunity
for food businesses in this area.This is a new role in an exciting new team at the Food Foundation, with scope to work with us in shaping the role’s priorities in the coming months.

About Us

The City of London Corporation manages 11,000 acres of land in and around London, welcoming millions of visitors annually.  The North London Open Spaces (NLOS) section oversees c. 1,000 acres of that portfolio and includes some of the UK's most iconic urban greenspaces, including:

• Hampstead Heath (including Golders Hill Park, Parliament Hill Fields, and Heath Extension)
• Highgate Wood
• Queen’s Park
• West Ham Park

These beloved green spaces boast spectacular landscapes and vistas, ancient woodland, diverse wildlife, world class sporting and athletics facilities, and heritage assets.  We work closely with local communities and stakeholders to preserve and enhance these natural assets, helping to make London one of the most liveable large cities in the world.

About the Role

This is a rare opportunity to take a senior leadership role at North London Open Spaces, and directly contribute to and make a meaningful impact in the conservation and protection of these cherished green spaces. 

As a member of the senior management team, the successful candidate will serve as the primary subject matter expert at NLOS for nature conservation, conceiving and leading on initiatives, advising colleagues, and working collaboratively both internally and externally.  They will have responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day management of most of Hampstead Heath and all of Highgate Wood, and will also oversee a number of services that function across and support the four open spaces (eg, arboriculture and tree management, waste and recycling, conservation, and ecology).  

For the better performance of their duties, the Head of Conservation will be required to reside in accommodation that is provided on site and will be scheduled onto an on-call and duty manager rota with other colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary subject matter expert for nature conservation at Hampstead Heath, Highgate Wood, Queen’s Park, and West Ham Park
• Oversee the day-to-day management of Highgate Wood and most of Hampstead Heath
• Oversee arboriculture / tree management, waste management, conservation, habitat creation/restoration and management, wildlife management, water body management, and climate change adaptation across North London Open Spaces
• Lead and motivate a team of 25-30 multi-skilled professionals committed to the conservation of these four sites
• Ensure compliance with all applicable legislation, including environmental protection, climate change, nature recovery, wildlife protection, flood risk management, and health and safety.

About You

We are looking for a high-energy and innovative leader with a strong background in nature conservation, open space management, and team leadership. 

The successful candidate will bring:

• Demonstrable experience in managing complex public open spaces.
• Comprehensive experience developing and delivering biodiversity and land management programmes and projects in a range of habitats, ideally within an urban setting.

• Significant experience managing complex conservation work and projects across varied landscapes
• Significant knowledge of biodiversity and wildlife management, including land and water management.

• Strong experience managing a diverse team of professionals in an operational environment. 

• Experience of implementing legislation and policy relevant to biodiversity conservation, planning guidance, and site designation for wildlife conservation and species status designations.
• A highly creative, entrepreneurial and ‘can do’ approach to problem solving, with the ability to remain resilient in the face of challenges. 
• Strong quantitative skills and comfort interrogating and analysing data and budgets.

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to join a prestigious organisation that protects some of London’s most treasured landscapes.
• Lead through a high-impact role with the opportunity to shape the future of these iconic spaces.
• Work within a supportive and collaborative team that is committed to conservation and community engagement.
• Work across multiple iconic sites.
• Competitive salary and benefits package.
  

How to Apply

If you are excited about the opportunity to play a pivotal role in preserving and enhancing London’s most cherished green spaces, we’d love to hear from you.

Provisional Interview dates: W/C 6th October & 13th October 2025

Closing date: 12 Noon on Monday 22nd September 2025

To apply please click the Apply button.

The City of London Corporation is committed to Equal Opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. 

We reserve the right to close the advert earlier should we receive a high number of applications. 

Because our roles are so varied, we don’t have a ‘one size fits all’ policy for workplace attendance. How many days a week you’ll be required to attend your workplace will depend on the requirements of your role. It’s important that you understand the requirements before applying to ensure you are able to meet them. We are committed to considering requests to work flexibly and job share. Requests will be considered by the recruiting manager in line with our policies and business needs. 

For more information on our categories for workplace attendance, please view our guide.

We will be reviewing this policy and approach at regular intervals to ensure we’re meeting our attendance needs.