Marine Policy Officer (Maternity Cover)

Join our collaborative and supportive team to help deliver RSPB’s fisheries policy and advocacy work, supporting bycatch mitigation and sustainable fisheries management to protect seabirds and marine ecosystems.

What's the role about?

Working under the direction of the Senior Marine Policy Officer, you will research, analyse, and interpret policy developments to help shape clear, evidence-based RSPB positions.

You will play a key role in maintaining RSPB’s engagement across fisheries and bycatch forums, including NGO working groups and government-led processes. This includes representing agreed positions, contributing to collaborative advocacy, and gathering intelligence to inform internal decision-making.

A significant part of the role involves coordinating RSPB’s input into Fisheries Management Plans and wider consultations. You will work with colleagues across policy, science, and communications to draft high-quality briefings and responses that embed biodiversity priorities and influence policy outcomes and ensure RSPB’s fisheries advocacy is well-managed, well-governed, and effectively communicated.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

• Degree in environmental policy, marine science, conservation, public policy, or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Knowledge of UK environmental and biodiversity legislation and how it applies to marine and fisheries policy.
• Understanding of public policy processes, government decision-making, and the levers available for environmental advocacy.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret complex policy, technical documents, and scientific evidence.
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, concise, persuasive policy materials.
• Confident verbal communication, including the ability to represent organisational positions in meetings and group discussions.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and influencing skills, able to build constructive professional relationships.
• Good organisational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritise across multiple workstreams.
• Experience analysing policy issues and contributing to policy development within an environmental, public policy, or scientific context.
• Experience working with or engaging government officials, NGOs, regulators, or equivalent stakeholder groups.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience:

• Knowledge of UK fisheries management frameworks, bycatch mitigation policy, or Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM).
• Media or public-facing communication skills (e.g., providing comment, speaking at events).

This is a Full-Time role for 37.5 hours per week with a fixed term of up to 12 months.

The RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from Monday the 16th of February, 2026. For further information please 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

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.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

The RSPB is a licenced sponsor. This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

This role will require standard pre-employment checks.