You will:

• Lead River Action’s development and delivery of our policy and advocacy strategy on sewage, industrial water pollution, and water scarcity
• Collaborate with River Action’s team and external partners to ensure our collective work is underpinned by robust and forward-thinking policy analysis and evidence.
• Develop policy analysis to support campaign, communications and policy strategies, based on a strong evidence base and a sound understanding of the relevant legal and policy frameworks.
• Translate complex policy and evidence into concise documents with clear messages and compelling campaigns to engage political and policy stakeholders.
• Monitor and analyse political and policy developments, interpreting their implications and opportunities for River Action and its supporters.
• Generate analysis to enable participation in public consultation processes, including drafting high-quality and persuasive consultation responses and briefings for Westminster and Whitehall audiences.
• Increase our political influence with exciting policy interventions, ensuring River Action’s voice is heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
• Build and maintain relationships with key policymakers, civil servants, industry experts and partner organisations.
• Support grassroots community groups and third-sector partners in engaging with their local representatives for effective advocacy.
• Organise and attend key political meetings and events, including the Water Pollution APPG, stakeholder roundtables and parliamentary events.
• Manage strategic policy partnerships, including our relationship with Wildlife and Countryside Link and other third-sector organisations.
• Ensure River Action’s policy and advocacy efforts align with our creative campaigns, by making sure colleagues and spokespeople are well-briefed and communications content is well-informed to maximise reach and impact.

You will also:

• Actively engage in professional development and training.
• Adhere to health and safety policies while working in different locations.
• Maintain confidentiality in all areas of work at River Action.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across River Action to collectively deliver our mission while being true to our values.

UK travel will be required and regular trips to London. Training and operational activities may require overnight stays away from home, in which case costs will be covered and standard River Action procedures will apply.

What You’ll Bring

The position will suit a self-motivated, strategic and determined person. You will be an excellent communicator, with exceptional writing skills and comfortable representing River Action and engaging with diverse stakeholders in positions of responsibility. You will have a passion to protect and restore our waterways and to hold decision-makers and polluters to account.

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience in a senior policy and advocacy role, ideally within the environmental sector and including experience of water policy.
• Policy and/or legislative experience, with a good understanding of the workings of the UK government and Parliamentary procedure.
• A good understanding of the UK water industry, the key UK water-related policies and the issues that are impacting our rivers, land and wildlife.
• Knowledge of the challenge of water scarcity.
• Excellent communication and writing skills with close attention to detail and the ability to produce concise and persuasive briefings, reports and consultation responses.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to working creatively and at a fast pace with colleagues, stakeholders and partners.
• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to proactively plan and prioritise work and to report your progress and impact.
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel as necessary.
• A good and supportive team player with a willingness to muck in as and when required.

Why join us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation working to restore and protect the UK’s rivers.
• Work at the heart of political and environmental change, influencing decision-makers at the highest levels.
• Work in an agile, supportive and happy work environment where your ideas and expertise will have real impact.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organisation.

Diversity and inclusion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we’d still love to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this role.

How To Apply

To apply, please submit via the button below with the subject 'Senior Policy and Advocacy Manager’:

• Your CV (2 pages)
• A cover letter (2 pages) explaining why you want to work for River Action and how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role
• A written submission (2 pages) as described below.

Only applications including all three documents will be accepted. Please provide your documents in pdf format.

Written submission

Please prepare a 2 page policy briefing for Parliamentarians on the issue of water scarcity and water justice and how it affects UK rivers and our security. Your briefing should be written in a clear, persuasive style suitable for a Parliamentary and government audience and:

• Identify causes of water scarcity and injustice.
• Provide a concise analysis of the impact on rivers, biodiversity and our economy.
• Summarise and assess gaps in relevant UK Government policies, legislation and plans.
• Propose two or three practical policy recommendations for decision-makers.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 5pm on Wednesday 15th July.

Should your application be selected during sift, the next stage will involve an initial 15-minute interview. You may then be invited to attend a second interview with a panel.

Interviews will be held in the weeks commencing 19th July and 26th July via video conference.

Please indicate in your covering letter or in a covering email your availability for interviews.

If you have any questions about the role or your application, please contact us on jobs@riveractionuk.com.