Maternity Cover - Conservation Officer Policy & Planning

Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) is a conservation charity for everyone who cares about nature in Sussex. We focus on protecting the wonderfully rich natural life that is found across our towns, countryside, and coast. By working alongside local people, we create opportunities for us all to connect with nature and for nature to thrive in even the most unlikely places.

We are now in a critical decade for change to protect and restore nature with the help of more people taking action for wildlife. Now is the time for an ambitious action plan to match the scale and urgency of the challenges we are facing. Our new Strategic Plan - Our Wild Sussex - was launched in April and sets out our vision and commitment to turning the tide for wildlife so that by 2030, nature in Sussex will be in recovery.

To deliver our new strategic aims, we have recently completed a comprehensive restructure of the charity to align with our goals. This restructure has generated a suite of new roles and opportunities which will enable us to achieve our ambitions of restoring and protecting at least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people in Sussex to take meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger, more inclusive and diverse organisation, and becoming a net zero and climate-resilient organisation.

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environment sector, we particularly welcome applications from people who have an ethnically or geographically diverse background, who are non-graduates, and/or are living in economically deprived areas.

Would you love to use your conservation expertise to help us defend nature in Sussex and advocate for its recovery? Do you have an excellent knowledge of environmental policy to influence the strategic planning process?

Sussex Wildlife Trust is currently recruiting for a Conservation Officer Policy & Planning (maternity cover). This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced conservation professional with technical policy expertise to work with a small but experienced team to defend and recover nature in Sussex.

We're looking for a highly motivated team player with excellent organisational skills who can work independently and manage multiple deadlines. You will have a desire to see policy influence nature recovery while being able to consider national issues and translate them to a local level.

You will be confident in assessing technical consultation documents and formulating written responses to reflect organisational views. This will include local plan consultation processes, planning applications, organisational position statements, and more.

You will enjoy working with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders, both in-person and online in meetings to advocate for local policy that enables nature recovery. You will be adaptable to a varied working approach and when meeting with different audiences, including Local Authorities, MPs, and local campaign groups, and will be able to convey an engaging conservation message clearly.

The Job will have a range of responsibilities that include:

1. Actively inputting and responding to consultations, including local strategic planning and planning applications.
2. An opportunity to engage with external partnerships to represent Sussex Wildlife Trust.
3. Providing policy and conservation technical specialism on behalf of the organisation as required and providing input into internal conservation policy and position statements.
4. Liaising with The Wildlife Trusts to ensure Sussex Wildlife Trust contributes positively towards national visions.
5. Working with colleagues to support campaigning and communications on planning and policy-related issues.
6. Supporting the Nature Recovery Team and Sussex Wildlife Trust officers to deliver conservation messages through their activities.

For a full list of the roles responsibilities please see the Job Description.

25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays each year (pro-rated for part-time staff)

Pension - company contribution from 6% and employee contribution of 3%

Life Assurance - Pension Scheme Members 2 x Salary, Non-Pension Scheme Members 1 x Salary

2 days paid leave for volunteering each year

Flexible working policy

Enhanced Sick Pay

EAP

Employee discounts

Informal car share arrangements

We would just like to make you aware that Sussex Wildlife Trust is in the process of relocating to new offices nearer to public transport. The proposed locations are Falmer, Shoreham, and Burgess Hill, although a final decision has yet to be made. The move will take place around the financial year-end in March 2025.

For more detailed information see what we offer page in the Recruitment Pack.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the vacancy early so please get your application in as soon as possible.