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The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people  to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees. 

THE ROLE

To maximise the Trust’s influence amongst UK Government and parliamentary audiences – particularly in Westminster- ensuring that political decision makers act upon the enormous potential of woods and trees to deliver meaningful outcomes for nature and people. Influencing Government policy and legislation to reflect the Trust’s priority policy objectives and goals is vital to making that potential a reality. Through this, the post-holder will play a key role in helping to deliver our organisational objectives of protecting, restoring and creating a UK rich in native woods and trees, providing real and meaningful outcomes for people and for wildlife.

This role sits within the External Affairs team, which covers both Westminster and local government influencing focusing on UK and England legislation and policy. It also works closely with external affairs and policy colleagues in the other three countries. The team works primarily remotely, spread across a wide area of England and has a strong emphasis on self-motivation, initiative, delivering for the cause and the forging of strong working relationships both internally and externally. This role can be based remotely but will require regular travel to meetings and events in London, and occasional travel to HQ (Grantham) and site visits and events UK wide. Working in collaboration with other organisations to maximise advocacy effectiveness is a key aspect of the role.

THE CANDIDATE

  • Setting the Trust’s local and regional government advocacy agenda in conjunction with the Head of External Affairs and other key internal stakeholders across the Trust such as Regional and Country Directors and has substantial experience in a government/external affairs role, ideally within the environment or similar relevant sector;
  • Highly motivated self-starter with strong leadership skills including the ability to spot influencing opportunities and mobilise others – both internally and externally - to help act upon them;
  • Able to take on board the expertise of ecologists and policy leads and act upon it in the political arena;
  • Skilled in developing political strategies and influencing tactics as part of broader advocacy and influencing plans;
  • A political communications specialist with a strong understanding of political processes especially with regard to Westminster and Whitehall;
  • Excellent communication skills and the confidence to represent the WT effectively in variety of external influencing fora including the ability to work effectively in partnership with other organisations;
  • Experience and skill in producing high quality clear and timely briefings at pace for both senior staff internally and for external audiences and allies;
  • Able to perform to a high standard against a constantly changing external environment, managing risks;
  • Identifying and capitalising on opportunities in line with the Trust’s cause;
  • Educated to degree level or above in a relevant subject or possess substantial experience in lieu of a degree;
  • Excellent eye for detail, proactively monitoring, gathering intelligence, and quickly understanding key risks and opportunities for the Trust’s objectives;
  • Creative thinking skills and experience using digital communications channels, able to work at pace with others to find innovative and effective ways to secure influence;
  • Experienced in-line management, excellent performance management and the establishment of clear priorities amongst direct reports and colleagues;
  • Ability to undertake travel across a wide area, sometimes to remote locations with overnight stays.

Closing date

Applications for this post closed 11:59pm on Sunday 25th June 2023