Planning Policy and Campaigns Officer

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust is a grassroots movement working for nature’s recovery and to bring people closer to nature.

‘Our vision for a wilder future is beautiful and vital!’

Our future has to be wilder!

We are seeking a Planning Policy and Campaigns Officer to join our cause.

This is a critical time for nature’s recovery. To meet the UK legal target of securing 30% of land for nature’s recovery and halting wildlife decline by 2030, we need positive and strong laws and policies and for decision makers at both local and national level to ensure that planning and development gives back more to nature than it takes.

Currently there is huge uncertainty with a new Planning and Infrastructure Bill passing through parliament, which could fundamentally change the protections afforded to our most important wildlife sites and the delivery of mitigation. There are also changes proposed for Biodiversity Net Gain policy and the National Planning Policy Framework.

Locally, our counties face huge development pressures – both through house building and infrastructure development, including major port expansion. We must challenge inappropriate development proposals which would negatively impact our nature reserves and other key strategic areas or ambitions. It is also essential that local plans align with the Local Nature Recovery Strategies for the two counties and enable properly sustainable nature-positive development.

With the forthcoming creation of a strategic mayoral authority for the region alongside local government reorganisation, there is a critical opportunity to ensure that spatial development strategies front-load environmental considerations and recognise the wider benefits of planning with nature in mind. 

Planning and development is an issue of huge interest to members and supporters who care about their communities and about wildlife. We have witnessed recently the power of people using their voice in our campaign with RSPB against the damaging development proposed at Tipner-West. We want to support and empower individuals and communities to respond, challenge and advocate on nature’s behalf.

This role is critical to achieving our strategic aims. As part of a small policy and advocacy team, you would lead on planning-related policy issues and work with supporters to achieve greater impact through campaigning.

This role sits within the Advocacy & Engagement team and will work with colleagues from across the Trust and beyond, to develop and deliver compelling, evidence-led policy positions. Your role will involve engaging with our MPs and councillors and supporting the development of the Trust’s campaigns to drive individuals and policy makers to act for nature.

Wild About Inclusion!

As an inclusive employer we recognise that our workforce needs to better reflect the communities in which we live and work. We encourage applications from all sections of the community, particularly those underrepresented within our sector, including people from black, Asian, minority Ethnic backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a Movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.

Disability Confident.

We are proudly a Disability Confident Committed employer. The scheme is helping us recruit and retain great people to meet our workforce needs. As a member of the scheme, we will ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this position will be offered an interview. You can request adjustments including accessible formats of this vacancy by emailing us.

To be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme you must:

• Identify as being disabled which under the Equality Act 2010 means a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial*, long term** adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities; or a long-term health condition; and;

 (*Substantial is more than minor or trivial **Long-term means 12 months or more)

• Set out how you meet all the minimum qualifying criteria set out in the person specification for the post at the application and testing stages. This is a requirement for all candidates, not just those applying under the scheme.

We are happy to discuss the possibilities of hybrid and flexible working

This role will be based at our office in Curdridge, however, we are happy to accommodate a hybrid working routine, and discuss a pattern of work which suits the candidate. Traditionally, office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm with an hour lunch break.

We offer a wide range of benefits including a competitive salary, generous annual leave allowance, a contributory pension scheme, life assurance, learning and development support, 24-hour access to our employee assistance programme, discounted staff travel with our corporate partners Wightlink (subject to T&Cs) and more.

To apply for the role, please click on the link below. In the ‘supporting information’ section, you’ll need to demonstrate, with detailed examples, how you meet the job requirements using the Job Description and Recruitment Pack. Please note that we may occasionally close vacancies early when we have received enough applications that meet the required criteria.

Please do not use artificial intelligence tools to assist you to complete the application form. We may not accept applications that have been completed utilising AI tools. If you would usually use tools such as these to assist you in filling in a form, please contact us to discuss this further and understand other options.