Senior Policy Manager, Marine

Application deadline
Sunday, 18 August 2024 – 23:45

Location
Cambridge, UK (hybrid working)

Full time
35 hours per week

Contract
Open-ended

Salary
£45,000 per annum plus competitive 12% pension benefit

Annual Leave
25 days pro rata in year 1, increasing by 1 day p/a to 28 days

BirdLife International is the world’s largest nature conservation partnership. Through our unique local-to-global approach, we deliver high impact and long-term conservation for the benefit of nature and people.

We are looking for a Senior Policy Manager, Marine to lead global marine policy and advocacy and contribute to the delivery of the strategic objectives of the Global Policy Division and the BirdLife Marine Programme. In this role you will be:

• Engaging with global and regional marine policy mechanisms to improve seabird conservation and marine ecosystem health.
• Promoting seabird protection by addressing threats, increasing the recognition of marine flyways, and advocating for effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within areas under national jurisdiction as well as in the high seas.
• Developing and advocating marine policy positions aligned with BirdLife’s strategic priorities, in coordination with the BirdLife International Marine Programme, Science Division, and Partners.

How you will do this:

• Implement aspects of the BirdLife Global Policy Plan by influencing marine policy through evidence-based advocacy on:
  • Conservation status of key seabird species
  • Priority marine sites such as IBAs, KBAs, and EBSAs
  • Impact of threats from human activities
  • Effective management practices

• Lead BirdLife International’s engagement with the High Seas Treaty (BBNJ) to advance marine policies on seabird conservation.

• Integrate marine priorities into broader policy initiatives to support delivery of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the SDGs.

• Develop marine policy positions on emerging thematic priorities with the Marine Programme.

• Collaborate with RSPB on tuna RFMOs to align BirdLife’s conservation efforts and fisheries management policies in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

• Support BirdLife International Partners in marine policy advocacy.

• Represent BirdLife International at conferences and meetings with governments, international institutions and civil society organisations related to marine policy.

• Maintain and build collaborations with marine conservation organisations.

• Lead and assist in developing funding proposals.

Ideally you will have:

• Master’s or PhD in biology, environmental law, public policy, economics, fisheries management, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong understanding of international environmental policy processes and international marine law.
• Experience in international policy processes related to nature conservation, fisheries, and marine environments, including policy advocacy, lobbying, and negotiation.
• Experience leading coalitions of civil society organisations.
• Ability to meet deadlines, work independently, and learn new skills quickly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to engage effectively in high-level policy processes.
• Diplomatic with strong negotiating skills.
• Experience writing reports and policy position papers, conveying technical information clearly to various audiences.
• Team player, adaptable, problem-solver with attention to detail.
• Proficient in English; knowledge of Spanish and/or French is advantageous.
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed.

See the full job description here.

Some of our benefits:

• We are able to offer a hybrid model of working on-site and from home/remote for most roles, which helps to ensure a flexible work-life balance.
• A chance to work in the award-winning David Attenborough building, which brings together much of the Cambridge-based conservation community on a ‘conservation campus.’ 
• A generous pension scheme, up to 12% company contribution.
• Holiday starting at 25 days excluding Bank Holidays and increasing for every year of service up to a maximum of 28 days.
• Full access to LinkedIn Learning with access to more than 13,000 high-quality, on-demand courses.
• Cycle to work scheme. 
• Employee Assistance Programme, including access to Health Assured online health portal (webinars, nutritional advice, 4-week programmes, financial wellbeing and more).

BirdLife values a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Find out more about our Diversity statement.

We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive and supportive culture, a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit. We aim to promote a more inclusive environment, which attracts all candidates and signals our commitment to celebrate and promote diversity.

We will consider putting into place appropriate reasonable adjustments for candidates who may have a disability.