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Campaigns Director (Maternity Cover)

Do you want to make a difference protecting and restoring the abundance of the oceans? Come join a dedicated team of professionals who are working to protect marine wildlife while also enhancing the capacity of the oceans to feed a growing world population. Ocean conservation is not only a plan to save ecosystems but also to save the livelihoods of fishers, their families, and their communities.

Founded in 2001, Oceana is the world’s largest ocean advocacy organization focused solely on restoring the resilience, diversity, and abundance of marine ecosystems to ensure that our oceans are a significant source of wild-caught fish that can help feed the world.

We achieve measurable change by conducting specific, science-based campaigns with fixed deadlines and articulated goals. Our campaigns extend to countries that, combined, govern nearly one-third of the world’s wild-caught fish, including Belize, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, the United States, Canada and the 27 countries in the European Union.

Who is right for the job?

The Campaigns Director will work to ensure that we meet our UK campaign goals for Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Fisheries, and Offshore Oil and Gas.  The position will be based in Oceana’s office in Paddington, London. Occasional travel will be required to meet team members and stakeholders in geographically diverse locations.

Reporting to the Executive Director, and working closely with the Senior Leadership Team, you will inspire and help to equip your colleagues with the tools, knowledge, and approach to be effective changemakers.  You will lead the Campaigns team (4 direct and 1 indirect reports working across campaigns, policy, research and public affairs) to ensure that we deliver and impactful political change campaigns.

Eligible candidates should be strategic and proactive, with experience of leading teams to deliver campaign goals.  They should be confident to coordinate the annual strategic planning cycles, comfortable to oversee multiple projects, and enthusiastic in response to the changing demands of leading in a small team.

Your contribution to the team includes:

  • Work as part of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to decision making and overall progress towards organizational goals.
  • Help to lead the London office providing direction and guidance and promoting a positive working culture with other members of the team.
  • Manage and support the campaigns team of 5, helping to build, coach and lead a high-performing team.
  • Oversee all projects across the campaigns team including (but not limited to) campaign actions, research, consultation responses, and potential legal challenges. Monitor progress against plans and ensure effective delivery of campaign objectives.
  • Work closely with the Executive Director, Leadership Team and global team members on the strategic development and innovation of campaigns, reviewing and setting annual plans and longer term goals.
  • Provide strategic insight on how to leverage opportunities for the greatest impact, particularly set against political and news cycles.
  • Develop and communicate a compelling campaign vision and strategy to Oceana staff, supporters, donors, and allies.
  • Ensure that Oceana staff at any level of the organization, have a clear understanding of our campaign strategy and the theory of change behind it.
  • Oversee funder and supporter reporting goals in a timely and accurate way.
  • Draft periodic reporting documents to update Oceana’s board about UK campaign goals and milestones.
  • Regularly review the ocean conservation space, threats and opportunities coming from other NGOs, to ensure Oceana UK continually strengthens our sector position, media voice, and impact.
  • Understand the latest digital campaigning tools and work closely with the communications director and team to drive supporter engagement and action.
  • Grow a broad network of allies, experts, and high-level contacts.
  • Represent the organization publicly, including through media interviews, speaking events, and writing.
  • Ensure a strong commitment to the organisation’s values and vision, as set out by Oceana globally.
  • Work closely with communications team colleagues to ensure our campaigning priorities are effectively reflected as part of our wider offer to supporters.
  • Build Oceana UK’s supporter base through effective campaigns.
  • Oversee management of campaign and policy budget lines, including forecasting and annual budget setting.

What you’ll need to be successful:

Education and work experience:

  • At least 7 years of professional experience in campaigning, ideally in oceans or the environment.
  • Experience operating as part of a Leadership Team in a similar organisation.
  • Experience line managing multiple reports.
  • Experience leading and developing campaign strategic plans and annual detailed plans and budgets.
  • Experience working closely and collaboratively with policy and communications colleagues.
  • Experience lobbying and negotiating with civil servants in government on policy matters.
  • Experience commissioning, managing and analysing complex research projects and ensuring their application to policy work and/or campaign delivery.

Skills and knowledge:

  • Familiarity with fisheries or marine and environmental regulations, legislation and policies in the UK, as well as with the key institutions and decision-making processes.
  • Excellent relationship building and stakeholder management skills.
  • Strong project management skills, with demonstrable experience managing multiple workstreams effectively.
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organise, analyse, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Excellent communication and public speaking skills, with the ability to speak confidently in the media and at events.
  • Integrity and the ability to work with confidential information with discretion.
  • Attention to detail and a commitment to robust and credible research outputs.
  • A commitment to ethical research principles.
  • Prioritising skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, projects, and timelines.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with staff and other organisations.

Oceana is committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the community it serves at all levels of the organisation. We therefore welcome applications from all backgrounds and all sections of the community. All offers of employment are conditional upon the successful completion of reference checks and a criminal background check.