Director of Policy and Advocacy

National Parks England

Role: Director of Policy and Advocacy
Hours: This role is full-time (37 hours per week). We encourage flexible working, and we will consider applications from someone wanting to work part-time or job-share this role.
We welcome applications from external candidates or for secondments from National Park Authorities or partner agencies.
Responsible to: NPE Executive Director
Location: Home (remote) with regular travel to English National Park Authorities and across the UK
Salary: from £60,000 per annum

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Director of Policy and Advocacy to lead the shaping of our policy and advocacy with a particular focus on nature recovery and climate change in relation to protected landscapes. This role will be crucial in helping government shape policies that impact national parks and protected landscapes, advancing our evidence base, supporting strategic advocacy and communications, and ensuring our policy recommendations are robust, well-informed, and effectively communicated.

As a senior leader in the National Parks England team, you will be a national voice for protected landscapes. You will work to build consensus across National Park Authorities and lead the development of clear policy positions and advocacy approaches on key issues. You will be responsible for communicating our new vision for the future of National Parks, horizon scanning, developing and overseeing an annual work programme, producing policy briefings, conducting desk-based research, tracking political developments, and supporting engagement with decision-makers and stakeholders. You will also oversee our policy communications function. This role will involve working closely with colleagues in National Park Authorities, CEOs and officers, the National Park England Board, National Parks Partnerships, the Protected Landscapes Partnership, and government departments. A key requirement of the role will be to strengthen relationships with other government departments, No. 10, HM Treasury, as well as arm’s-length bodies, particularly those of DfT, MHCLG and Defra.

This is a unique opportunity to work in a small but impactful organisation with a national reach and a passionate network of collaborators. If you share our commitment to nature, people, and place and have the skills we need, we would be delighted to hear from you.

About NPE

England’s National Parks represent our finest landscapes, famed for their spectacular beauty, varied wildlife and rich cultural heritage. National Parks are critical to supporting local communities, providing access to green spaces for the nation, and helping to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and declining biodiversity.

National Parks England is the collective voice for English National Park Authorities, helping us to achieve our statutory purposes through influencing policy. This includes playing a key role in representing National Parks to government, partners and stakeholders, including our work with colleagues across Natural England, National Landscapes, National Parks, and National Trails as part of the Protected Landscapes Partnership.

Selection process

You can apply for this role by submitting your application by 23.59 on Sunday 27 September 2026.

To apply, please click on the apply button, where you will be asked to upload 2 PDF attachments:

• A CV (2 pages)
• A cover letter (maximum of 2 pages) - please give evidence of how your experience and skills make you suitable for this role, addressing the criteria set out in our recruitment pack

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 19 October 2026.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the role, please contact us. We are a small team, and we will try to accommodate requests for an informal conversation.

We request no agency contact about these roles.