Specialist/Expert Volunteer (International Site Protection Officer)

We are looking for volunteers with specialist skills to join some of our teams and help grow our capacity. This role is all about taking on a few tasks as part of an existing team that supports the RSPB’s operations.

Overall Purpose Of The Job: To work with the RSPB and its Partners to advocate internationally for the protection of Important sites under threat, through providing professional advice, guidance, training and other back up to RSPB International colleagues and Partners. The work is carried out under the supervision of the International Casework Manager and the Head of Global Policy and in close contact with RSPB colleagues from the International and other Directorates.

Key aspects include: • Constructive engagement with developers and decision makers • Identification and legal designation of sites • Coalition campaigning and communications • Capacity building and mentoring • Development consultations • Supporting and strengthening of planning frameworks • Review of Environmental Impact assessments

Main Duties: • To provide support, guidance and professional advice to relevant staff within the RSPB International Directorate and other Partners working on priority site casework (harmful developments or damage to sites which are important for biodiversity). • In collaboration with the International Casework Manager and other relevant colleagues in the RSPB International and other Directorates, to organise and provide advocacy support to high-profile international site cases through assisting the preparation of complaints, meeting with officials and organising events in relevant international institutions. • In collaboration with the International Casework Manager, to secure support for high-profile cases from relevant international institutions as and when it is appropriate. • To help communicate and raise the profile of RSPB’s international site casework to internal and external audiences (through briefings, guidance notes, reports, meetings, articles, Council Papers, RSPB website.

Desirable Skills

• Experience of international Conservation.
• Experience of the planning system.
• Motivated to use your skills and expertise to Save Nature.
• IT skills, creating documents, managing spreadsheets.
• Excellent communication skills for engaging with different audiences, internal and external to the RSPB.
• Organisational skills.

This is a highly rewarding role and offers a chance to make a positive impact. You will be making a genuine contribution to nature conservation, so if that is your motivation, you'll find satisfaction in this role. This role provides an excellent opportunity to donate your time and skills to have real impact on our work. You will learn all about how the RSPB works and gain experience working for an environmental charity. We like to think we're a friendly and welcoming team, so you'll have the opportunity to make new friends too.