Position Summary

We are seeking to appoint a Conservation Policy Officer who will support delivery of BGCI’s conservation policy activities. BGCI is currently expanding its conservation policy team; being a new team we are gradually increasing our engagement with gardens regarding different aspects of plant conservation policy. This includes activities related to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in particular the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. The role will provide support for these activities and additionally will be involved in the coordination of two new exciting projects at BGCI focused on data gathering for African timber species (funded by the Biodiversity Challenge Fund) and a behaviour change campaign tackling the illegal plant trade. 

Title of post: Conservation Policy Officer

Job Purpose: To support help BGCI's Global Trees programme on delivery of conservation policy activities Policy team in the delivery of two focal projects, and support other global plant conservation policy activities. 

Reports to: Conservation Policy Manager

Contract Type: Full time (35 hours per week), open to part-time negotiation 

Duration: 12 months fixed appointment (with potential to extend) 

Location: BGCI Offices, Kew, London; Hybrid

Remuneration: £27,000-£30,000 pa dependent on level of skills within a broad range (experience, qualification, training), performance related to project management, fund-raising, budget management, people management and other measures. 

About BGCI

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) is a membership organisation and a global network for plant conservation located in Kew, London with regional bureaux in China, Kenya, Singapore, and the USA. Our membership comprises over 800 botanical institutions working in plant conservation - botanic gardens, arboreta, NGOs, restoration organisations, government, and universities - in over 120 countries all around the world. We work with this extensive network of members, and the wider conservation community, to use our collective knowledge and hands on expertise to reverse the threat of extinction facing plants and to secure plant diversity for the well-being of people and the planet.

BGCI coordinates efforts to enhance regional networking and scale up technical networks by facilitating, coordinating, and supporting the consolidation and functioning of botanic garden networks.

Person Specification

BGCI is seeking to appoint a person with project management, conservation policy, communication and networking experience. Candidates for this post will require a proven track record in a conservation or scientific organisation, having played integral roles in conservation/science projects, ideally in the international NGO sector. The post holder will demonstrate sensitivity to complex, multicultural and multinational institutions and structures. Working within a partnership model, candidates must be able to show their capacity to innovate and to manage change. 

Closing date for applications is Sunday 29th September 2024

The interviews will be conducted online on Thursday 10th October 2024

BGCI is committed to putting equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our organisation. We are committed to ensuring a working environment in which all individuals are free from discrimination and in which opportunities are equal to all. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly those underrepresented within our sector.