Policy and Advocacy Manager (Wales)

About us

Wildlife Trusts Wales (WTW) represents the five Wildlife Trusts in Wales – Gwent, Montgomeryshire, North Wales, Radnorshire and South and West Wales working together in partnership to achieve common aims. The Wildlife Trusts in Wales collectively speak on behalf of more than 34,000 members and manage over 200 nature reserves, covering more than 8,000 hectares of prime wildlife habitat, from rugged coastline to urban wildlife havens. The Wildlife Trusts in Wales seeks a world where nature is in recovery with abundant, diverse wildlife. We believe that nature plays a central role in helping to address local and global problems and speak with a bold voice for nature and wild places on land and at sea.

The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) is the central charity which supports the federation of 46 independent Wildlife Trusts working for nature’s recovery across the UK, Alderney and the Isle of Man. The Wildlife Trust’s vision is of a thriving natural world, with abundant wildlife and healthy natural habitats playing a valued role in addressing the climate and ecological emergencies, and everyone is inspired to take action for nature’s recovery.

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. We have more than 944,000 members, over 38,000 volunteers, 3,600 staff and 600 trustees. There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts, each of which is a place-based independent charity with its own legal identity, formed by groups of people getting together and working with others to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations, starting where they live and work. 

About you

We are looking for a highly motivated individual to work in an experienced team seeking to recover nature in Wales. We are looking for an individual with experience in political advocacy and influence. With a passion for nature and an entrepreneurial spirit to support the work of the Wildlife Trusts in Wales.

The world of nature conservation is changing, in the face of the nature and climate crises no longer is it sufficient to maintain or simply enhance existing habitats instead we must look to restore nature at scale and at pace. To meet this challenge, we need to ensure that legislation recognises the nature crisis and seeks urgent interventions. This post will work alongside the Wildlife Trusts Wales team to seek action from key partners including the Welsh Government, Senior Civil Servants, businesses leaders and decision-makers to support nature recovery and improve the resilience of the Wildlife Trusts movement in Wales.

By working with the Welsh Wildlife Trusts and the wider movement of 46 UK Wildlife Trusts the post will bring innovative and forward thinking to develop the collective thinking to accelerate nature’s recovery. Wildlife Trusts Wales is already a respected partner with excellent links to the Welsh Government and key partners. The post will develop these relationships with local Wildlife Trusts to position and promote our work to enable greater impact.

You will need to understand the political, economic and social context that the Welsh and UK nature conservation sector operates within. With that understanding, you will be able to use your direct experience of political advocacy and influencing as well as facilitation skills to help the Wildlife Trusts in Wales combat the nature crisis.

You will be highly organised – prioritising time and workload effectively. You will be able to utilise ICT efficiently and effectively. Your personable approach will enable you to work with all, building collaborations and partnerships across Wildlife Trusts and with many different stakeholders.

Your knowledge of nature restoration and future trends together with relevant environmental legislation and policy will make you a key advocate in the Welsh environment sector. You will showcase how the Wildlife Trusts speak with a bold and confident voice for nature and in doing so inspire partners and individuals to take meaningful action for nature. 

The Wildlife Trusts value passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism and strength in diversity. Whilst we are passionate in promoting our aims, we are not judgmental and are inclusive. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within our sector,
including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.

RSWT take our Safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For applicable roles, applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level.

As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let us know if you require any adjustments to make our recruitment process more accessible. RSWT are committed to increasing the diversity of its staff through its Levelling the Field recruitment pledge and will put any ethnic minority applicants that meet all the essential criteria for the post through to the next stage of recruitment.

Please be aware we may not accept applications if we have reason to believe they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools.