Senior Policy Officer – Bioenergy

This is a unique opportunity to influence important decisions across the UK and internationally
on climate, nature and land use in the bioenergy policy space. You will influence both the UK
government and UNFCCC processes at a pivotal moment for bioenergy and bioenergy with carbon
capture and storage (BECCS) policy. Through joint work in coalition with UK and international
partners. You will lead the RSPB’s work on bioenergy and BECCS, building on our existing
positions and shaping and delivering an advocacy plan. The RSPB is a leading organisation in
this policy area, and this role provides an exciting opportunity to become a key expert in an
increasingly critical policy area.

What’s the role about?

Despite growing concerns about its ability to truly reduce emissions and questionable
sustainability credentials, bioenergy has grown significantly as a ‘renewable’ energy in the
last decade both in the UK and internationally. Increasing efforts are being made to develop
bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), with the promise that this could deliver net
negative emissions, despite warnings that this could damage climate and nature.

This role will require a self-starter to provide strategic leadership in RSPB’s bioenergy and
BECCS policy advocacy through the latest evidence to influence relevant government policies and
input into international advocacy via the UNFCCC process. You will coordinate a growing
coalition of UK NGOs to work in partnership and develop joint positions on this key issue.

The Senior Policy Officer will work within the UK Land and Climate Policy team in the RSPB’s UK
Policy and Advocacy Department. Internally, the role will involve working with policy staff
across the UK to build and advocate RSPB’s bioenergy policy across the devolved, UK and global
context. It will involve building relationships with RSPB country teams and communications
staff to ensure that the RSPB’s position is aligned.

Externally, the role will focus on building off the existing evidence base and RSPB policy
positions and delivering an advocacy strategy centred on securing key outcomes with the UK
Government, Devolved Administrations (DAs), and UNFCCC decision makers. You will build
relationships and common approaches to bioenergy and BECCS across NGOs in UK and international
networks. The postholder will be responsible for the RSPB’s Westminster and Whitehall decision
maker facing advocacy, whilst working closely with colleagues in other teams to ensure
positions are aligned and effectively communicated in the media and our own publications.

 Key aspects of the role include:

• Developing effective policy positions based on sound science and evidence and translating these
  into impactful policy briefings.
• Contributing to, and maintaining awareness of, the development of knowledge and evidence of
  climate change, nature and conservation responses in the bioenergy space.
• Developing and delivering effective advocacy strategies in conjunction with policy and advocacy
  colleagues.
• Undertaking advocacy and communicating persuasively to decision makers.
• Building, tracking and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders.
• Helping to plan and coordinate work across different teams and disciplines to ensure we
  influence policy decisions in each of the four UK countries.
• Working closely with colleagues to develop and deliver communications material that effectively
  further RSPB ‘s policy advocacy objectives.
• Coordinating UK NGO coalition work on bioenergy policy and expanding sector-wide participation
  in this policy area.
• Inputting into international networks to influence bioenergy policy at the UNFCCC level.

Essential skills

• You will be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of climate and nature policy in the UK or
  wider, with relevant academic or professional qualifications
• You will have a working scientific knowledge of both climate change and land use and the
  interaction of the former on the latter
• You will be able to act independently to generate, lead and coordinate work with others to
  develop policy positions, associated influencing strategies and lead their implementation
  effectively
• You will have a proven track record in good project management.
• You will be able to analyse complex issues in a fast-paced environment.
• You will have well-developed advocacy and influencing skills and be able to engage with a
  wide range of individuals and organisations, including at senior levels.
• You will have a good understanding of the role of public facing communications/campaigns to
  support policy advocacy.
• You will have written and verbal communication skills to a very high standard; professional
  and persuasive.
• You will be confident and capable of being a public face for RSPB policy and advocacy to
  the media and social media.
• You will have strong time management, prioritisation and organisational skills.
• You will be a competent user of core MS Office programmes

Desirable skills

• Knowledge of up to date bioenergy and BECCS policy and science.
• Knowledge/experience of UNFCCC processes.

This is a One year Contract Full Time role for 37.5 hours per week. 

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising
dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from w/c 8th April . For further
information please contact [email protected] .

As part of this application process you will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and complete
an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience
listed above.

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