Head of Engagement

ead of Land Use Planning 

Location: Flexible with home working 

Salary: up to £48,000 

Benefits: Private medical insurance, staff Electric vehicle scheme, generous pension and annual leave entitlement 

Full time – 35 Hours per week 

Permanent contract 

Closing Date for Applications: 18 February 

First Interview: 27/28 February 

Second Interview: 4 March 

Are you looking for an exciting new opportunity and the chance to work at one of the UK’s best-loved nature charities? Our client are looking for someone with the drive, and experience of high-level advocacy and facilitation skills to lead generating and implementing appropriate policies that will drive change. This is an exciting opportunity for an innovative, capable, and passionate leader who understands both nature and people. You will need to be able to inspire politicians, funders, the media, developers and communities. 

As Head of Land Use Planning, you will lead the delivery of the movements’ ambitious response to the current climate and nature crisis. 

Who our client are 

Our client are a federated movement of 46 charities, supported by a central charity. Together they have over 900,000 members, 32,500 volunteers and 3,400 staff across the UK, Isle of Man and Alderney. They are at an exciting moment in our 110-year history, with the development of an ambitious new strategy, setting out a vision of nature in recovery, with abundant, diverse wildlife and natural processes creating wilder landscapes where people and nature thrive. 

Our client have restored and care for some of the most special places for wildlife in the UK. Collectively they manage more than 2,300 nature reserves, operate 123 visitor and education centres and own 29 working farms. They undertake research, stand up for wildlife and wild places under threat, and they help people access nature. 

The next few years will be critical in determining what kind of world we all live in. We need to urgently reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. Our client recognise that this will require big, bold changes in the way they work, not least in how they mobilise others and support them to organise within their communities. 

What our client are trying to achieve 

The twin crises of nature and climate emergencies have forced the Trusts to rethink their role. Collectively, they have set out the new and ambitious Strategy 2030. Goal 1 of that strategy is to get nature into recovery with the Wildlife Trusts providing the leadership required to achieve 30 by 30: 30% of seas and land in nature’s recovery by 2030. 

Nature’s recovery rests on five critical interventions: (1) the development of a nature recovery network; (2) creating landscape recovery areas at a scale where natural processes can operate to drive up species abundance; (3) regenerative agriculture; (4) green infrastructure threading through our towns, cities and countryside and, (5) at sea, an effective network of highly protected marine areas. 

About you 

You will need to enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, be organised and resourceful, have great attention to written detail as well as confidence in public speaking. They need these skills to come through in your clear passion for their cause. You will be part of a tight and dedicated central policy team. You will need to have excellent collaboration and facilitation skills and always strive to ensure that everyone can come together effectively across the movement of The Trusts to achieve their new and exciting vision. 

Our client are interested in someone who is able to demonstrate experience of working with political adversaries and has no fear of engaging in robust discussions on the future of environmental law and a reverse in the destruction of our biodiversity, our client need someone who has knowledge of the Planning system in England and some experience of judicial review process. 

Our client are particularly interested in someone who has experience of working with the House of Lords, backbenchers, and the shadow front bench. 

Our client value passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism and strength in diversity. Whilst they are passionate in promoting their aims, they are not judgemental and are inclusive. They want their people to be as diverse as nature, so they particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within the sector, including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. They are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities. 

Our client take their Safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. Please visit their website to read their commitment statement. 

Our client are 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, our client are committed to offering an interview to anyone with a disability that meets all the essential criteria for the post. Please let them know if you require any adjustments to make their recruitment process more accessible. 

Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. Our client may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools.