Senior Accessibility Specialist
Reference: APR20257021
Location: Flexible in UK
Salary: £44,315.00 - £47,312.00 Per Annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 37.5 hours a week – Flexible working pattens to be discussed
Benefits: Pension Scheme, Life Assurance Scheme, 26 days' Annual Leave
Whilst we have a huge presence and influence in the conservation sector we recognise that our work is not reaching everyone. We need to enable more, and more diverse people to engage with and act for nature.
Recognising that people are at the heart of delivering our ambitions, we have an exciting opportunity for a talented person to join as Senior Accessibility Specialist.
What’s the job about?
Our 2030 strategy commits the RSPB to becoming more relevant to the communities and supporters we work with by involving a more diverse range of people. Recognising that people are at the heart of delivering our ambitions, we have an exciting opportunity for a talented person to join as Senior Accessibility Specialist. Reporting to the Head of EDI, and as part of the EDI leadership team, you’ll hold close relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across the organisation. You’ll work collaboratively to support the transformation in behaviours and skills needed to make the RSPB a more accessible and equitable place for all.
The role does have flexibility to shape and innovate but will be focused on the continuation and delivery of two main priorities:
- Working with our nature reserve teams to implement accessibility improvements that make our spaces more inclusive for Staff, Volunteers and Visitors
- Working with Communications and Learning and Development teams, internal networks and other stakeholders, to deliver better experiences for our disabled workforce from the point they apply for a role.
Essentials:
- Experienced in delivering strategic accessibility interventions and influencing positive change at all levels of a large and complex organisation and the wider sector
- Personal commitment to making a tangible difference to accessibility with a focus on physical disability, sensory disabilities and neurodiverse people and communities.
- An advocate and practitioner of accessible design and clear communication
- Background and confidence in working with people with lived experience of access barriers and providing support and advice to organisations around accessibility.
- Comfortable to proactively challenge internal policy, practices and communications to better include marginalised groups.
- Expertise on accessible communications, with experience working to improve standards of internal communications and co-designing engaging content for external communication
- Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills to role model and drive behaviour change across all areas of accessibility
- In depth knowledge of accessibility standards and best practise within the UK. Including: WCAG, social model of disability, universal design principles, access to work, reasonable adjustments and working application of the Equality Act 2010
- Significant experience of designing and delivering resources and training around accessibility in a range of formats to meet learner needs
- Strong internal and external stakeholder management skills, ability to recognise a build key relationships and influence at a sector level
- Sound understanding of intersectionality of disability and other protected characteristics and a good generalist EDI knowledge to inform specialist advice and guidance
- Strong and effective communication skills, with ability to influence leaders and mobilise other teams to act
- Strong written communication and digital presentations skills to communicate accessibility and disability inclusion to a wide range of audiences
- Analytical evaluation to inform and report on areas of focus and impact
- Awareness of project and process management to enable work to be planned and delivered to a high quality, on time and within resource capacity
Desirable:
- Experience or interest in accessibility in the Conservation section, nature or climate emergency
- Understanding of the intersectional context of race and gender equity within accessibility
- Practical experience supporting accessibility changes at visitor attractions
- Experience working in the Voluntary sector or in volunteering
- Experience of movement building or membership organisations
Additional Information
This role is available full time and permanently for 37.5 hours a week, but we welcome applications for those looking for different working patterns and are happy to discuss further with interested candidates.
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.
Closing date: 23:59, Wednesday 21st May 2025
Interviews will take place around the 18th and 19th of June.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert at any time.
Open briefings
If this sounds like the role for you and you'd like more information on what the day-to-day responsibilities are, or a chance to ask questions, please get un touch with EDI at RSPB to enquire about one of our open briefings.
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.
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.
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.
No agencies please.
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.



Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Donkey Welfare Adviser
Do you have a high level of equine knowledge with significant experience of working with equines? Are you passionate about animal welfare?
We have an excellent opportunity for a dynamic and resourceful professional with a proven track record of community based animal welfare work.
If you have excellent decision-making and time-management skills and a strong customer service ethic, then apply today to join the team as a Donkey Welfare Adviser for Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.
Position: Donkey Welfare Adviser
Location: Defined as ‘home-based’ it is preferable that candidates live centrally within region to gain easy access to travel and communication networks. However, locations close to the defined area may be considered if operationally viable. You are required to have broadband access, a suitable space for a home office and good mobile phone reception.
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £39,212
Contract: Permanent - starting as soon as possible
Closing Date: Sunday 1 June 2025. However, we reserve the right to close this role early if a suitable candidate is found.
Interview Date: Wednesday 11th June 2025 in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Before applying, please ensure that if successful in being called to interview, you would be able to attend in person on the specified date, as we cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate requests for alternative arrangements.
About the Role
Donkey Welfare Advisers are professionals in the field of donkey and mule welfare. They play a key front line role in the work of the sanctuary: responding to donkeys in need, supporting donkeys in the community, growing and managing a high quality rehoming scheme, and acting as an ambassador for the charity at all times.
Your principal duties and responsibilities will include:
- Promoting good welfare for donkeys and mules by working proactively to support, guide and educate key audiences and by sharing best practice.
- Communicating effectively with groups from all social, racial, and cultural backgrounds, often in highly emotive and sometimes confrontational circumstances.
- Delivering high quality, impactful training to a range of stakeholders in a style suitable to the audience and the resources available.
- Responding to future care enquiries, working creatively to identify suitable alternatives to sanctuary care where appropriate, and gathering and co-ordinating relevant information to inform donkey placement decisions and help owners make informed choices for their donkeys, including end of life decisions.
- Supporting a good quality rehoming scheme by ensuring donkeys are placed in the most suitable environments for their needs.
- Work proactively to prevent/alleviate suffering, referring to and/or collaborating with enforcement agencies when necessary.
- Providing reliable evidence for welfare investigation cases, including witness statements and other relevant evidence in court compliant formats, and attending court to give evidence as required.
What we offer in return:
This is a full-time, Permanent contract starting as soon as possible, working an average of 37.5 hours per week on an annualised hours basis.
Working primarily within the geographical area defined with the position (refer to map) this role requires extensive travel within the region across various terrains and driving conditions. You will be a lone worker within a remote team of other DWAs. Occasional periods of work at Sanctuary sites and other locations will be necessary.
Defined as ‘home-based’ it is preferable that candidates live centrally within region to gain easy access to travel and communication networks. However, locations close to the defined area may be considered if operationally viable. You are required to have broadband access, a suitable space for a home office and good mobile phone reception.
About You
You will be a positive influencer, able to promote and model the charity’s values in all areas of your work.
You will have:
- A high level of equine knowledge with significant experience of working with equines.
- A working knowledge of legal practicalities and experience of the application of relevant animal welfare legislation.
- An understanding of equine behaviour and demonstrable practical experience in the field.
- The ability to influence change and respond appropriately in emotional challenging or confrontational situations.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to deliver advice and training to stakeholder groups with varying experience.
- Strong interpersonal skills, comfortable with making new contacts and able to develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Benefits include
- Competitive pension.
- Life assurance – 2 x annual salary.
- Healthshield.
- 31 days holiday (including Bank holidays), rising to 34 will each full year of service.
- Wellbeing team.
- Recorded Pilates and Yoga classes.
- Long service awards.
- Healthshield plan
- Free parking.
- Subsidised restaurant and shop.
About the Organisation
The sanctuary is one of the UK’s largest international animal welfare charities, currently supporting projects in over 35 countries worldwide, working for a world where donkeys and mules live free from suffering and their contribution to humanity is fully valued.
The Charity is a Disability Confident Employer, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable people (children and adults) and expects all staff and volunteers to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment processes, including an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check where required for the post.
You may also have experience in areas such as Donkey, Equine, Mule, Donkey Welfare, Equine Welfare, Mule Welfare, Donkey Welfare Officer, Equine Officer, Mule Welfare Donkey Welfare Officer, Equine Welfare Advisor, Mule Welfare Advisor, Donkey Welfare Coordinator, Equine Welfare Coordinator, Mule Welfare Coordinator, Animal Welfare, Animal Worker, Animal Welfare Officer, Animal Welfare Advisor. #INDNFP
PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
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.
The RSPB brings people together – people like you – to protect the things that matter to us all.


