JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Policy Support Officer
REPORTING TO:
Head of Conservation Programmes, England and Wales
OVERALL PURPOSE OF JOB:
 To support the development and delivery of Plantlife’s position on a range of
environmental policy issues
 To provide the Head of Conservation Programmes with admin support
BASE:
The Policy Support Officer will need to be able to work regularly both in Nottingham,
where our Head of Conservation Programmes is based, and in London with additional
travel to meetings elsewhere in England and Wales
MAIN DUTIES:
Plantlife policy support (England/Wales and UK)
 Develop and advocate Plantlife policy lines and position statements to seek positive
change for plant diversity with key audiences and influencers including government,
agencies and partners
 Research and prepare technical information summaries on priority policy areas in
relation to Plantlife’s strategic conservation programmes (including Ecosystem
Services/the green economy, the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, Forestry,
protected areas and non-native invasive species)
 Ensure effective communication with experts in and outside Plantlife in support of policy
development as needed
 Develop Plantlife’s response to policy consultations at national and local level
 Represent Plantlife at selected external policy forums and meetings and feedback to
colleagues as appropriate
 Support colleagues with development of communication materials and events to deliver
policy and campaign objectives
 Keep a watching brief on developments in key external policy areas as needed
Plant Link support
 Liaise with members of the Plant Link (PLINK) networks in England, Wales and the UK to
ensure full participation and contribution
 Organise network meetings including venues, refreshments, teleconferencing facilities
and travel for Plantlife staff
 Prepare and distribute papers, take and distribute meeting notes and follow up actions
 Assist with development and management of PLINK pages on the Plantlife website
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Admin support for Head of Conservation Programmes
 Diary management including coordination with central Office Diary system and
management/trustee meetings calendar
 Organise meetings, including coordinating dates and venues with external partners;
produce and disseminate meeting notes and follow up on actions
 Communications support including responding to selected emails and maintaining a
database of key contacts
 File management including electronic filing and preparation of documents for meetings
 Manage personal contact schedule with Head of Conservation Programmes to ensure
effective level of support
General
 Provide informal support and guidance on policy matters to colleagues
 To undertake other duties as required by Plantlife’s Chief Executive from time to time
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
 Degree or equivalent in an environmental subject
 Experience of influencing policy agendas including proven ability to present and advocate
policy arguments
 Understanding of policy campaigns
 Knowledge of at least one key environmental policy area (e.g. ecosystem services,
biodiversity, agriculture, forestry)
 Previous administrative experience including strong spread sheet and IT skills (MS Office)
 Ability to multi-task, plan forward, prioritise and manage a large workload
 Excellent written and spoken English
 Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to engage and persuade different people
 Supportive and energetic with good sense of humour
Desirable:
 Knowledge of local government, Westminster and Whitehall
 Interest in wild plants and/or wildlife conservation
 Experience of working with committees and/or networks
 Experience of organising meetings and/or producing meeting notes
 Knowledge of the voluntary sector
Salary:
Up to £25,000 depending on experience
Hours:
This is a full time post, 35 hrs/week with some additional hours required for
which time off in lieu can be taken.
Location:
The Policy Support Officer will need to be able to work regularly both in
Nottingham, where our Head of Conservation Programmes is based, and in
London with additional travel to meetings elsewhere in England and Wales.
Office space in Nottingham or London can be provided depending on
requirements of the post holder.
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Benefits:
 25 days holiday/pa excluding bank holidays with extra day on completion of 1, 3, 5 and
7 years service.
 Up to 4 days additional holiday provided between Christmas and New Year
 Contribution to personal pension scheme (current rate 5.5% of gross Salary) dependant
on employee contribution of 2%
 Eye care voucher scheme
 Informal working environment
 Sabbatical leave available after 10 years service.
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Plantlife International (“Plantlife”) is a charity registered in England and Wales and with
the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Plantlife is also a registered company in
England and Wales. www.plantlife.org.uk
Our mission is to champion the conservation of plants and fungi in the wild
Our vision is of a world that values wild plants – now and for the future.
Our goal is to halt the loss of plant diversity.
Plantlife was formed 21 years ago to champion the conservation of wild plants and fungi in
the wild. Plantlife was instrumental in the creation of the Global Strategy for Plant
Conservation that was formally adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biodiversity in 2002 and renewed at Nagoya COP in 2010. Today, Plantlife is
the UK’s leading charity that speaks up for the nation’s wild plants. We work hard to
protect them on the ground and to build understanding of the vital role they play in
everyone’s lives. Wild plants are essential to life – they clean our air and water, provide
food and shelter for our insects, birds and animals and are critical in the fight against
climate change.
Plantlife carries out practical conservation work, manages nature reserves, influences
policy and legislation, runs events and activities that connect people with their local wild
plants and works with others to promote their conservation for the benefit of all.
In 2009 Plantlife launched its ‘manifesto’ for wild plants – the Ghost Orchid Declaration –
at Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff.
http://www.plantlife.org.uk/campaigns/ghost_orchid_declaration/
Plantlife is a membership organisation with over 11,000 supporters. HRH The Prince of
Wales is our Patron. Plantlife is governed by a Board of Trustees and managed by the
Chief Executive with a staff team of 46.
Plantlife has its main office in Salisbury, Wiltshire but also maintains offices in Wales,
Scotland and at its nature reserve, Ranscombe Farm, in Kent. Plantlife owns and runs 23
nature reserves across England, Scotland and Wales covering more than 4,500 acres.
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