Senior Policy Advisor

Rainforest Foundation UK; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 46,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Learning & development allowance

Work-from-anywhere flexibility

Job summary

Rainforest Foundation UK is seeking a policy and advocacy professional to shape international policy on climate, biodiversity and finance. The role focuses on the DRC and global work, coordinating consultants and multi-stakeholder coalitions with strong rights-based approaches.

The successful candidate will manage complex documentation in French, engage with diverse partners, and contribute to RFUK’s advocacy strategies and policy outcomes.

Qualifications

• Fluent in English and French (spoken and written).
• Minimum five years in policy, advocacy, research, or international development.
• Strong knowledge of climate, forest, biodiversity, and human rights issues.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives or coalitions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, with policy messaging experience.

Responsibilities

• Support RFUK’s policy and advocacy work at national and international levels.
• Coordinate with consultants and consortia of Congolese and international partners.
• Translate human rights and environment aims into practical policy outcomes.
• Lead meetings, workshops and consultations, especially with Francophone partners.
• Contribute to media, public affairs, campaigning and advocacy activities.

Skills

Policy advocacy

Stakeholder coordination

Research analysis

Communication

Project management

Job description

About us

Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) is a values-driven organisation working with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to protect the world’s rainforests and uphold their human rights. Since 1989, RFUK has partnered with forest peoples and grassroots organisations to secure land rights, challenge destructive industries, and influence laws and policies that safeguard forests and the people who depend on them.

Our mission is clear: to combine human rights and environmental protection to tackle deforestation. From the Congo Basin to the Amazon, our work has helped communities protect millions of hectares of rainforest. With a growing team of passionate advocates for social and environmental justice, we are committed to scaling up our impact to confront the accelerating climate and biodiversity crises.

About the role

The post holder will play a critical role in RFUK’s policy and advocacy work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and globally. Reporting to the Policy, Research and Learning Senior Manager, and working closely with the Executive Director and the programmes team, this is a unique and exciting opportunity to help shape the development of the world’s largest tropical reserve in the DRC, and contribute to RFUK’s cutting-edge international policy and advocacy work on climate, biodiversity and finance.

While the ability to support policy development will be important, the role would suit someone with experience in managing consultants, building diverse networks, and coordinating with consortia of like-minded Congolese and international organisations. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to human rights, social justice, and participatory development, together with the practical skills needed to translate these values into tangible policy outcomes. The role will suit someone who thrives on networking, challenging orthodoxies and connecting local realities to systems-level change.

A high level of proficiency in French is essential (minimum B2), including the ability to analyse a wide range of documents, including complex legal texts; lead contracting processes with Francophone partners; and facilitate meetings, workshops and consultations in French.

You can download the full job description here.

Location

This role may be based in London on a hybrid basis, or undertaken remotely from France or the Democratic Republic of Congo, with hybrid working possible where appropriate. Candidates must already have the right to work in one of these locations. Please note that RFUK is unable to cover relocation costs.

Benefits

We offer 30 days annual leave, Employee Assistance Programme, learning and development allowance, and four weeks of work-from-anywhere flexibility.

• Fluency in English and French (spoken and written), with French proficiency at a minimum of B2 level, including the ability to work with complex documents, facilitate meetings, and engage professionally with partners and stakeholders.
• At least five years’ experience in a policy, advocacy, research, or international development environment, preferably within an NGO, charity, or action-research organisation.
• Good knowledge of climate, forest, biodiversity, and environmental issues, particularly as they relate to human rights, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, extractive industries, and sustainable development in Africa.
• Demonstrable experience of developing, influencing, or contributing to policy and advocacy strategies, with evidence of achieving policy change, strengthening governance processes, or influencing decision-makers.
• Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and synthesise complex legal, policy, governance, and technical information and translate findings into practical recommendations and advocacy messages.
• Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives, coalitions, committees, or networks, bringing together organisations with diverse perspectives and interests to achieve shared objectives (including civil society organisations, community groups, government institutions, donors, and international partners).
• Excellent project and consultant management skills, including overseeing budgets, deliverables, partners, and reporting requirements.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex issues to a range of audiences and contribute to media, public affairs, campaigning and advocacy activities.