Senior Scientific and Policy Officer - Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation (1601)

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?

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.

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.

This role is both rewarding and challenging and it is a very exciting time to join the RSPCA during our 200th year, so if you have the skill set we are looking for, please apply! We encourage people from all sections of our community to apply for jobs with us.

Interviews will take place on the 15th and 16th October.

We are really lucky that some of our roles attract a high level of interest and for this reason we review applications as they are received, unfortunately on some occasions this means roles may close earlier than advertised; so early submissions are highly recommended.  We are unable to accept applications past the close date.

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission. For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA.

Should you need any support with your application or interview process please contact resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk

Our mission is to ensure animals have a good life by rescuing and caring for those in need, by advocating on behalf of all animals and by inspiring everyone to treat them with compassion and respect