Director of Communities (Maternity Cover)

We are looking for a focused and strategic leader who shares our values, and who will help build a movement of people taking action for wildlife while shaping a more inclusive future for Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Sussex Wildlife Trust

To deliver our new strategic plan – Our Wild Sussex – we need people with bold and innovative ideas to help us to achieve our ambitions for local wildlife and wild places.

We are committed to restoring and protecting at least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people to take meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger more inclusive and diverse organisation and becoming a net zero and climate resilient organisation.

We are looking for the best and most talented people to join our team and help us deliver this exciting and ambitious strategy. We are keen to hear from you even if you don't have all the skills and experience outlined in the Job Description but have the potential to grow into a role. 

So, if you are someone who is determined to see a Sussex rich in wildlife and you have drive, energy and commitment to our values of Innovation, Passion, Collaboration and Inclusion why not apply now to join our great team, working together to deliver Our Wild Sussex.

We are in the process of moving our office location from our Woods Mill offices, to a new office in Brighton, BN1 9BP.

In order to encourage diversity and inclusivity within the environment sector, we particularly welcome applications from people who have an ethnically or geographically diverse background, who are non-graduates and/or are living in economically deprived areas

The Role

Sussex Wildlife Trust is seeking a strategic leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Director of Communities (maternity cover). This vital role will shape and deliver our ambition to connect people with nature, inspire action, and build a movement for wildlife across Sussex. You will lead a dynamic directorate responsible for community engagement, education, volunteering, and individual action - ensuring our work is inclusive, impactful, and aligned with our organisational goals.

As Director, you will provide strategic oversight of our communities work, contribute to cross-organisational leadership, and ensure effective collaboration with partners, funders, and stakeholders. You will be responsible for delivering strategic and organisational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), ensuring that progress is effectively monitored, evaluated, and reported. A key responsibility is to lead our journey to becoming a more inclusive and diverse organisation by 2030. You will champion our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy, embedding inclusive practices across programmes, partnerships, and internal culture. This is a rare opportunity to drive meaningful change at the intersection of nature, people, and equity.

The Person

You are a focused and experienced leader with a strong track record of strategic leadership, programme development, and cross-sector collaboration. You understand how to engage diverse communities, foster inclusive participation, and create opportunities for people to take meaningful action for nature.

You will be a driving force behind our EDI work - bringing clarity, courage, and compassion to this vital agenda. Whether through lived experience, professional expertise, or personal conviction, you are passionate about making nature accessible to all. You are confident navigating complex challenges, influencing change, and leading with integrity.

You live and lead by our values - collaborative, passionate, innovative, and inclusive - and bring them to life in your work with colleagues, communities, and partners. If you believe in the power of people to restore nature and want to help shape a more inclusive future for Sussex Wildlife Trust, we would love to hear from you.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays each year (pro-rated for part time staff)
• Pension – company contribution from 6% and employee contribution of 3% 
• Life Assurance - Pension Scheme Members 2 x Salary, Non-Pension Scheme Members 1 x Salary
• 2 days paid leave for volunteering each year
• Flexible working policy
• Enhanced Sick Pay
• EAP
• Employee discounts
• Informal car share arrangements

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the vacancy early so please get your application in as soon as possible.