Habitats and Fisheries Campaigner

Job Purpose

The Habitats and Fisheries Campaigner will manage and deliver our marine habitats and sustainable fisheries campaigns.

Reporting to the Head of Campaigns, this role will be responsible for the design and practical delivery of innovative, engaging, and clear campaign plans to meet Oceana’s goals to deliver effective marine protected areas and safeguard well-managed fish populations in UK seas and reduce the pressure of destructive fishing and overfishing.

Eligible candidates should have proven experience in managing and delivering complex public campaigns to drive national policy change. They must be passionate, and able to develop and implement creative and bold campaign activities, alongside our small but experienced team.

The position will be hybrid, based three days per week (Tues-Thurs) in Oceana’s UK offices in Newquay, Cornwall or Paddington, London. Regular national, and occasional international, travel will be required to meet team members and stakeholders in geographically diverse locations, including Washington, DC.

Oceana

Oceana is dedicated to protecting and restoring the world’s oceans on a global scale. We are a leader in science-based advocacy, and we campaign for policies to make the world’s oceans more abundant, vibrant, and biodiverse. Globally, Oceana has won more than 325 policy victories for marine life and habitats. From stopping bottom trawling in sensitive habitat areas to protecting sea turtles from commercial fishing gear, our victories represent new hope for the world's ocean. Our talented staff consists globally of about 240 people, working in more than twelve countries, including scientists, communications, fundraising, finance, administration, policy, and advocacy experts. All team members have the opportunity for occasional travel to our headquarters in Washington, DC to connect with the global network.

Oceana in the UK is tightly focused on some of the biggest threats facing UK seas, including protecting seabed habitats, ending overfishing, and preventing new offshore oil and gas developments.

We fight for UK seas to get the protections they deserve through highly visible campaigns and detailed policy interventions to secure measurable changes to rebuild and maintain ocean abundance and health. We act as a vital public-policy interface – raising the profile of our issues through campaigns, science, communications, and expeditions, and influencing policymakers directly for commitments at key moments throughout the year.

Our small, experienced, and highly motivated team work in geographically diverse locations in London and Cornwall, coming together both digitally and in person as part of developing and delivering our ambitious campaign strategy to restore ocean biodiversity and abundance.

We’re proud to be bold, creative, agile and visual in our campaigns, and proud of the team we’re creating here in the UK. We’d love for you to join us.

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage and deliver Oceana UK’s Habitats and Fisheries campaigns, taking accountability for their quality, timeliness and success.
• Contribute and advise on campaign strategies through annual planning and budgeting process, and through on-going detailed project planning.
• Design and manage delivery of all of Oceana UK’s Habitats and Fisheries campaign activities, including (but not limited to) campaign actions and launches, public mobilizations, digital actions, NGO partnerships and allies, coalitions and potential legal challenges.
• Plan all projects in detail, securing approval of all details, and documenting clear methodology, roles, responsibilities, and timelines in advance.
• Manage the campaign calendar and budget, ensuring that all campaign deliverables are managed and delivered on time and to budget, with any updates accurately reflected in the quarterly reforecast process.
• Monitor and evaluate progress against plans, ensuring effective delivery of campaign objectives.
• Work with Science and Research colleagues to ensure that the Habitats and Fisheries campaigns have scientifically robust foundations and evidence.
• Work with Policy colleagues to ensure campaign plans deliver effective lobbying and advocacy toward our goals, including through drafting briefings and letters, meeting and engaging decision makers, planning and attending events, and responding to consultations.
• Support the Communications team to ensure our campaigning plans and delivery are effectively reflected to engage supporters and other relevant audiences.
• In collaboration with the Communications team, manage consultants to design and deliver creative, digital, and design assets in support of campaign actions.
• Collaborate internally with UK Leadership Team and other relevant colleagues, including internationally, taking on board all relevant input, to ensure strong campaign impact.
• Commission and manage consultants to deliver campaign activities and events.
• Build strong external relationships and represent Oceana UK to ensure we advance our campaign goals with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil servants, politicians, the fishing industry, NGOs, and businesses.
• Be spokesperson for these campaigns, representing Oceana externally in the media, social media, events, relevant networks, with partners, and in meetings.
• Line manage the Habitats and Fisheries Campaign Officer, offering day-to-day support and learning, as well as longer term career development.
• Be present in person in the London or Cornwall office 3 days per week (Tues-Thurs), promoting a positive working culture.
• Help to draft timely, accurate and compelling funder and supporter reporting.
• Ensure a strong commitment to the organisation's values and vision, as set out by Oceana globally.
• Travel occasionally, both nationally and internationally, to meet with team members and wider internal and external stakeholders.
• Other responsibilities as appropriate and necessary to achieve campaign and organisational objectives.

Candidate Requirements

Education and work experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in campaigning, ideally toward ocean or environmental goals (essential).
• Experience managing environmental protection or oceans or fisheries related campaigns in the UK, with an understanding of the main issues, processes and stakeholders involved.
• Experience turning complex policy issues into innovative and engaging campaigns.
• Degree or masters in fisheries, marine science, or a related field (preferred).
• Line management experience.

Skills and knowledge:

• Familiarity with fisheries or marine and environmental regulations, legislation and policies in the UK, as well as with the key institutions and decision-making processes.
• Proficiency at understanding and distilling complex scientific issues for campaigning purposes.
• Excellent project management skills, with demonstrable experience managing and prioritising multiple workstreams, tasks, projects and timelines effectively.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to quality and impactful campaign outputs.
• Excellent management skills, and proven ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff and with other organisations and allies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organise, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Good understanding of the principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and a proven commitment to improving these in the environmental space.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to speak confidently in the media and at events.
• Integrity and the ability to work with confidential information with discretion.

Equal Opportunities

Oceana is committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the community it serves at all levels of the organisation, and we particularly welcome applications from candidates who are currently underrepresented within the conservation sector.

All offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal background check.

• Application Deadline: Sunday 11th January
• Interview Dates (TBC)