Senior International Conservation Officer
RSPB
Are you passionate about protecting vital habitats and species across the globe? In this role, you'll play a key role in safeguarding some of the world’s most irreplaceable natural areas by influencing international conservation policy and developing strategic site-based projects and environmental protections. You'll work closely with international partners, conservation practitioners, and policy teams to achieve meaningful protection for nature.
What's the role about?
This exciting and impactful role focuses on supporting the delivery of the RSPB’s international site conservation work across important regions in Europe, Africa, and the UK Overseas Territories. You'll work as part of the Global Policy team, contributing to projects designed to protect globally significant biodiversity sites under threat. These include Ramsar wetlands, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Key responsibilities include managing and supporting cross-border collaborations with BirdLife International partners to secure legal protections for high-value ecological sites. You will also research and identify threats, coordinate responses to development and policy risks, and champion site-focused advocacy at global and national levels.
You’ll contribute to funding bids, provide technical input to campaigns and advocacy strategies, and ensure delivery aligns with conservation priorities. Your role will also include tracking project progress, producing compelling reports, and engaging internal and external stakeholders to scale up the impact of RSPB’s international site protection work.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone outcome-driven, highly organised, and enthusiastic about innovative, large-scale conservation.
Essential skills, knowledge & experience
- Solid grasp of national and international planning laws, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations, and how they relate to biodiversity
- Expertise in site designation systems and legal frameworks (e.g. Ramsar, Natura 2000, KBAs)
- Experience managing or coordinating projects across countries and cultures
- Strong analytical skills and ability to draft compelling advocacy and funding content
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across diverse stakeholder groups
- Willingness and capacity to travel internationally
- Degree in environmental science, biology, or equivalent experience
- Proficiency in MS Office and collaboration tools
Desirable skills, knowledge & experience
- Familiarity with international policy instruments (e.g. Convention on Biological Diversity)
- Experience of the political systems effecting Nature conservation both in the UK and internationally
- French language proficiency
- GIS or spatial data analysis experience
- Experience leading advocacy campaigns or public engagement
- Knowledge of BirdLife International and experience in conservation NGOs
Additional information
This is a permanent, full-time role for 37.5 hours per week. Interviews are scheduled to begin on 15 September 2025.
For more details, 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.
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.
About RSPB
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist.
We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to
save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen.
As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
The RSPB is a charity for the conservation of birds and nature. We bring people together who love birds and other wildlife, and who want to take action to restore the health and diversity of the natural world. We carry out conservation on a large scale, protect and restore habitats, and save species from extinction. We’re living in a nature and climate emergency, and we won’t stop whilst the threats persist. We believe our work makes a real difference to the world we live in. It takes a great team to save nature and we need a wide range of skills to make it happen. As an RSPB employee, you will be helping to save nature every time you come to work. There’s never been a more important time to protect our wildlife and wild places, so we want to make sure you feel rewarded for everything you help us to achieve.
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