Senior Scientific and Policy Officer - Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

Do you want to create a better world for animals? At the RSPCA, we believe all animals deserve kindness and respect. We work for the benefit of every animal - as well as pets, that includes farmed animals, wildlife, and animals used in science. Choose a career with us and make a difference for every kind.

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Wildlife team, within the Policy, Prevention and Campaigns Division, as a Senior Scientific and Policy Officer - Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation.

This role is essential for the RSPCA to further safeguard sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife and achieve the RSPCA's objective of securing better legal protection for wildlife in animal welfare establishments (wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres).

Currently, anyone can set up a rescue/rehabilitation centre or sanctuary with no oversight. This can lead to these establishments becoming overwhelmed despite good intentions.

This role will develop and implement an advocacy strategy to achieve statutory regulation of these facilities, to protect the welfare of wild animals.

The post-holder will work closely with the Veterinary and Operations teams to ensure the RSPCA's rescue and rehabilitation standards are based on the latest scientific evidence.

This role will achieve measurable improvements in welfare standards and legal protections, reinforce the RSPCA's commitment to leading positive change and strengthen the Society's position as an influential leader in this field.

This role is being offered as a 24 month fixed term contract. We are open to flexible working options, such as part time hours and the role will be offered on a hybrid working basis; working from home and from our London and or Horsham office.

Are you ready to join our movement?

What a day might look like for you

You can find a full description of what the role entails on the attached role profile but in a nutshell, we will look to you to:

• Generate and maintain RSPCA policies, strategic aims, goals and objectives relating to sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.


• Generate and manage the implementation of an impactful influencing strategy to secure improved legal protection of casualty wildlife in animal welfare establishments.


• Prepare and deliver evidence-based briefing papers, policy reports, position statements, articles, and press releases.


• Work with RSPCA colleagues to ensure RSPCA's wildlife rehabilitation standards are based on the latest scientific evidence and best-practice, and address key research gaps.


• Stay up-to-date on animal welfare science, legislation, ethics, and developments in the field.


• Network within the wildlife rehabilitation sector and represent the RSPCA in advocacy coalitions., Please note we're not responsible for the content of job ads, as they're posted by the recruiter. We'll aim to resolve the reported issue and we'll use your feedback to improve the quality of our ads.
  
  To succeed within this role, it is essential that you have proven experience of liaising with civil servants, MPs and other members of the government.


You must have strong communication skills and the ability to juggle conflicting priorities, along with a strong background of working within policy.

Along with this experience, we are keen to receive applications from those with:

• A degree level qualification in a relevant biological discipline.


• Broad knowledge of wild animal welfare issues and specific knowledge and experience relating to wild animals specific to the post.


• Strong relationship building, negotiation and influencing skills.


• Proven experience of high level influencing and setting the strategic direction for advocacy on animal welfare issues.


• The ability to build and utilise networks of contacts effectively and to work in coalition with others.


• Expertise in developing compelling policies, shaping agendas and working in coalition to achieve change.


• Experience of project coordination and organisation.


• Experience of translating policy and research into change through advocacy, and a strong track record of driving policy change with national and local governments.


• Excellent research and writing skills with the ability to effectively condense, summarise and make sense of large amounts of information quickly, pulling out salient points and spotting potential weaknesses or problems.


• You must also be aligned to our vision and values.