Head of Sustainable Land and Climate Policy - Flexible in UK

Job Description

Are you an experienced policy advocate, with well developed leadership skills? This is an exciting time to join one of the largest policy and advocacy teams in UK conservation, working as part of a dispersed leadership team to tackle the nature and climate emergency across the UK.

With a focus on sustainable land and climate, you will be accountable for leading a team of UK experts to develop exciting and impactful propositions on the most important issues facing our wildlife, and working with colleagues across the four countries of the UK to develop innovative advocacy and campaigning approaches in the areas of sustainable land and climate policy. With developed skills in leading and developing cross-functional teams, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the RSPB's approach in these areas, at a vital time for our birds and wildlife.

Role purpose

To provide strategic leadership of the RSPB’s work on sustainable land and climate policy; oversight of programme development and delivery to standard, and leading a department of technical policy specialists and agricultural advisors able to provide professional support internally and externally as priorities require.

What we need from you

Essentials:

• Sound understanding of the land use and agriculture of the UK, and the pressures on nature associated with farming and other land and fresh water uses.
• Educated to degree level or relevant high-level experience sufficient to be able to effectively communicate and respond to the complex policy context associated with the sustainable land and climate function.
• Knowledge of the UK and devolved country governance and frameworks affecting nature, through land use and climate change, and their use in public policy making
• Facilitative leadership skills and a demonstrable experience of leading teams without direct line management authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills to present, influence and represent the organisation including to the media.
• An innovative, creative thought-leader, able to think clearly and deeply on issues, help others think out of the box to develop new propositions and approaches using analysis of an array of different inputs e.g. scientific evidence, policy & legislation, operational experience and political/social contexts.
• Credible and authoritative advocate with expertise in changing policies for nature
• Demonstrable experience of influencing politics, governments and/or business frameworks at multiple levels and an in-depth understanding influencing tactics and the political context in which change happens
• Substantial and broad experience of leading a professional function and/or large geographically dispersed team to implement strategy
• Experience of developing and leading teams through change – developing new capabilities, skills and ways of working.

Desirables:

• Financial management skills able to manage a budget to meet income and expenditure targets, and support teams to write well costed funding applications and meet funder requirements.
• Sound Programme and Project Management skills, able to create clarity of direction, maintain pace and performance and manage risks across complex programmes where not all the factors are within your control
• Capable team manager with experience of providing direction, leading change, building capability and providing professional & personal development support to their reports.
• Proven leadership and people management skills, able to convene teams, develop individuals and teams for high performance and build a positive collaborative culture.
• Able to develop professional guidance and set ways of working to guide the performance and effective working of teams to meet standards.
• Policy experience in at least three of the following subject areas agriculture, land-use, water, forestry, energy, climate, planning.

Additional Information

This is a Permanent Full-Time role.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 7th February. For further information please contact Jeff.Knott@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

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

Before applying for this role, we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship.