Senior Conservation Planner

Would you like a unique job in the charity sector where you can make a real and tangible difference for nature? Does a job that combines ensuring that the interests of nature are addressed in the planning process with cutting edge environmental policy development appeal to you?

About the Role

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our Edinburgh based planning team, which is part of our policy and advocacy department. We aim to influence policy in a way that protects and enhances our natural environment. This includes through the planning and other consenting processes and through marine and terrestrial policy development, in Scotland and the UK.

RSPB Scotland is involved biodiversity enhancement, marine and terrestrial spatial planning, on and offshore wind development, and associated habitat protection, focussing on the need to halt biodiversity decline, restore our environment and deliver upon our climate aspirations.

Working closely with colleagues across RSPB Scotland, and the rest of the UK, the post involves scrutinising and responding to large scale and high-profile development proposals, primarily (but not exclusively) offshore. The job requires close liaison with RSPB science and area based conservation officers.

You’ll help to shape marine conservation policy in Scotland and the UK, feeding in, for example, to statutory marine planning processes such as the production of Scotland’s National Marine Plan 2, and to wider policy development on ‘strategic compensation’.

This is a crucial time for nature, and this is a great opportunity to gain skills and knowledge in a rapidly changing planning policy and development landscape.

Benefits:

• 34 days annual leave (including BH, which can be worked if desired to get time back)
• Life Assurance scheme - 5 x yearly salary
• Pension matched up to 7% contribution
• Sabbatical opportunity every 5 years - up to 4 weeks with a RSPB-approved scheme
• Confidential assistance programme with a qualified counsellor
• Annual employee volunteer day - get paid to volunteer with a charity of your choosing

Essentials:

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in an environmental or planning-related subject.
• Chartered member of Royal Town Planning Institute (MRTPI) or other equivalent (e.g. CIEEM), or working towards chartered membership, or willing to undertake further education leading to chartered membership.
• Good knowledge, or ability to quickly assimilate knowledge of the planning process and / or other regulatory processes and their relevance to site conservation, e.g. Environmental Impact Assessment, Habitats Regulations Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment.
• Good knowledge, or ability to quickly assimilate knowledge of environmental issues and policy, ecology and biology of key species and habitats, and principles of biodiversity enhancement.
• Able to analyse complex issues in a fast-paced environment.
• Able to act independently to generate and lead on policy positions and project development at a senior level of influence.
• Good time management and organisational skills, ability to prioritise, and to manage projects effectively.
• Good negotiating and influencing skills (to, for example, advocate RSPB positions to key decision makers and negotiate common positions with partners).
• Good written and verbal communication skills (to, for example, ensure that consultation/casework responses are professional and persuasive, and to engage in debates/discussions in a professional and persuasive manner).
• Confident and capable of being a public face for the RSPB where required.
• Competent use of Microsoft Office.

Additional Information

This is a Permanent Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week, although other working patterns will be considered. There will be a need to be present in the RSPB Edinburgh office on a periodic basis, to attend meetings in central Scotland, as well as to attend occasional meetings elsewhere in the UK.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position on either Tuesday 11th or Wednesday 12th June 2024.

For further information please contact: peter.hearn@rspb.org.uk

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV, and compete and application form where you will be able to to include evidence which shows how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

If you wish to provide a cover letter with your application, please include this at the end of your CV document upload.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

We are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse RSPB, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. To achieve our vision of creating a world richer in nature, we need more people, and more diverse people, on nature’s side. People of colour and disabled people are currently underrepresented across the environment, climate, sustainability, and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we are particularly interested in receiving your application. Contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application.

We reserve the right to close this advert at any time.