Uk Fisheries Transparency Advocacy Officer & Coordinator

Position: UK FisheriesTransparency Advocacy Officer & Coordinator

Employer: Environmental Justice Foundation

Based: London – EJF has hybrid working (3 days in the office)

Contract: Full-time

Salary range: £40,000-48,000 per year (dependent upon experience)

Position overview

This is an exciting opportunity to work with leading UK NGOs dedicated to protecting, conserving, and restoring our ocean. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) will be working with ClientEarth and Open Seas to promote UK leadership in improving domestic and international Fisheries Transparency and governance to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related abuses.

This is a new coalition which pools the expertise of three leading NGOs in the marine space to improve the UK’s anti-IUU fishing systems and policies and to promote UK leadership on ocean governance and Fisheries Transparency across the world, such as through its spearheading of the IUU Fishing Action Alliance. We are intent on driving positive policy change at a UK-wide level towards sustainable and legal fishing, prioritising increased transparency in the UK fisheries sector, and endorsement and adoption of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which is the bedrock of our work. We are also encouraging the UK, as a significant global market for seafood, to work closely with other markets, such as the EU, the USA or Japan, to harmonise policies to stop IUU fishing. To make this happen, we are engaging with key decision-makers, strengthening relationships with the seafood industry and the NGO community, and using media engagement strategically.

To oversee the delivery of these objectives, we seek a full-time Advocacy Officer & Coordinator to drive positive change in the UK Government and Parliament and coordinate our project's successful management. You will have excellent advocacy, public relations and organisational skills and can work with a highly motivated and diverse team. You also possess great written and verbal communication skills, initiative and professional drive. Experience in working within coalitions and on fisheries policy are advantages.

Responsibilities

Advocacy delivery:

• Drive the coalition’s policy and advocacy goals towards the UK Government, parliamentarians, advisers and other relevant stakeholders.
• Develop and deliver effective advocacy strategies
• Draft persuasive, concise policy briefs that demonstrate why transparent fisheries benefit the UK, the devolved regions, and the UK’s relations with other countries.
• Support cross-party advocacy efforts in London in parallel to coalition efforts in Edinburgh.
• Help craft meaningful communication materials for both traditional and online media.
• Engage the UK seafood industry and retailers where needed to push for joint action towards policy-makers.
• Organise meetings and events to achieve policy goals.

Strategic coordination:

• Act as the focal point for the coalition's three NGOs, managing and overseeing the delivery of coalition outputs.
• Convene broader meetings with other NGOs working on relevant issues to update them on progress and seek inputs and perspectives.
• Ensure coalition processes are respected and coordinate the further development of the coalition’s strategy, vision, and mission.
• Advise and creatively support partner organisations in designing and implementing campaign strategies to achieve set objectives and outcomes.
• Organise and chair the coalition’s in-person meetings and regular update calls.

Project implementation support:

• Support the project team in implementing our clear objectives and allocating resources to various outcomes/outputs. Ensure that work plans and deadlines are adhered to or adjusted if needed.
• Facilitate discussion, negotiation, consensus-building and decision-making within the coalition. Although each coalition partner is responsible for designing and implementing their work plan and strategies, your guidance is essential to ensure that goals are met and progress is tracked.
• Oversee the project budget with support from EJF’s COO, including creating annual budgets, monitoring expenses, and ensuring all expenditures on planned activities are done on time.

Requirements

• Experience: At least three years experience in policy and public relations roles, preferably within environmental or advocacy organisations, or in government. Excellent organisational and project management skills, with a collaborative and positive attitude. Strategic and pragmatic thinker, ideally with expertise in policy and advocacy. Have a proactive attitude and an ability to function on your own initiative with limited supervision.
• Experience working in partnerships: Great interpersonal, facilitation and negotiation skills. and the ability to apply a structured and flexible approach are essential.
• Education/relevant experience: Relevant experience or degree in public policy or relations, environmental policy, political science, economics, organisational management or any relevant field is an advantage.
• Language skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Passion for conservation and human rights: Genuine interest in bringing about policy change on marine conservation, biodiversity, human rights and environmental issues.
• Travel: Availability for travel within the UK and potentially Europe.

What we offer

• The position will be based in EJF’s office on Exmouth Market in London, with EJF acting as the formal employer.
• Annual leave starting at 22 days that increases with every year of service. EJF’s offices are also closed between Christmas and New Year, giving additional paid leave.
• Flexible working arrangements can be considered.
• ‘Cycle to work’ programme.
• Pension contribution that increases with time of service.
• A highly motivated and open-minded team of committed colleagues and the opportunity to develop and implement compelling propositions to deliver campaign and organisational goals.
• An excellent opportunity to build experience working directly with some of the UK’s most renowned conservation organisations.
• The position offers excellent opportunities for your professional growth and personal development.

Applications: Please send your CV and a 1-page cover letter explaining why you are the right person for this job to: recruitment@ejfoundation.org. Please title your email ‘UK FisheriesTransparency Advocacy Officer & Coordinator’.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, and encourage applications from underrepresented candidates in the sector. If you feel you would be a good fit for this role but are unsure if you meet every requirement, we strongly encourage you to apply.

Closing date for applications: We would like to fill this position as soon as possible and will consider incoming applications until the 21st June 2024. We therefore recommend that you apply in good time before the deadline. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.