Senior Transport Campaigner

Friends of the Earth Scotland; Aberdeen City, City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

An environmental advocacy organization in Scotland seeks an experienced Campaign Leader to drive a public campaign for better buses. The candidate will strategize and execute campaign plans, train volunteers, and engage with local communities. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential, along with a commitment to social and environmental justice. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on Scotland’s transport system by advocating for accessibility and sustainability.

Qualifications

• At least three years of relevant experience in campaigning or organizing.
• Significant experience in planning, delivering, and evaluating campaigns.
• Experience in training and supporting volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the better buses campaign and transport programme.
• Create and execute campaign plans at local and national levels.
• Monitor and evaluate campaign effectiveness.

Skills

Campaign planning

Volunteer training

Public speaking

Relationship building

Negotiation

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Job description

Job Purpose

To lead the delivery of an engaging and impactful public-facing campaign for better buses across Scotland, working towards our vision of an extensive, accessible, publicly-owned bus network that is free for everyone to use.

About this role

This role is key in building power in our movement to win a better transport system in Scotland – one that cuts climate emissions, connects communities and is run in the interests of passengers, not profit.

Transport is Scotland’s largest polluting sector, so tackling the transport system is vital for cutting fossil fuel use and climate emissions.

The focus of this role is our campaign for better buses. Our vision is of an accessible, extensive, publicly-owned bus network that’s free for everyone. A comprehensive, reliable bus network is essential for tackling climate change and reducing inequality – connecting communities and getting people out of private cars. However, the current network is run by private operators, often expensive and unreliable with routes cut and standards declining.

Friends of the Earth Scotland is committed to building a powerful movement for system change, and we believe that communities must take the lead in the transition away from our car-dominated system, so that what replaces it works for all of Scotland.

The successful candidate will have experience and skills in local organising or supporting volunteers. We are looking for someone who can bring new people into the movement, and support and motivate volunteers and local organisers in their communities.

We're looking for someone with excellent listening skills, who can build relationships with people and organisations and support them to campaign for change in their communities.

The successful candidate will be a strong campaigner, with a vision of a better system and a good understanding of strategy to get there. You will have excellent communication skills and be confident speaking to media and using social media, in direct advocacy and public speaking.

You will also be responsible for other work within the transport programme, such as maintaining a watching brief on major developments in transport policy and responding as required.

Principal Accountabilities

Responsible for the overall development, delivery and success of the better buses campaign and the transport programme, including:

• Creating and executing effective campaign plans, strategies and tactics to advance the campaign at national, regional and community levels.
• Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the campaign, adapting strategies to implement learning.
• Work with organising colleagues in the northeast of Scotland to support the delivery of the campaign at a regional level.
• Designing meaningful opportunities for people to get involved in the campaign at both local and national levels, motivating and supporting FoES members and local groups to participate.
• Work with the communications team on planning and responding to media stories, creating engaging digital content and supporter communications.
• Represent Friends of the Earth Scotland externally as our key spokesperson on transport e.g. in media, coalitions, at events and in advocacy meetings with MSPs and Scottish Government.
• Work with FoES’ Policy and Advocacy Manager to influence relevant decision makers in the Scottish Parliament and Local Authorities.
• Research, write and adapt materials for the campaign, including public materials, policy positions and responding to relevant consultations, and co-ordinate publication and dissemination.

Knowledge / Skills & Experience

• At least three years of relevant experience, preferably working or volunteering in a senior campaigning or organising role.
• Significant experience of successfully planning, delivering and evaluating campaigns or projects.
• Experience of training and supporting volunteers, preferably in local organising or campaigning.
• Listening, negotiation and relationship building skills. Ability to quickly absorb new and complex information and communicate it to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to work with a diverse range of people, groups and organisations, and to motivate and support people to take action.
• Experienced communicator adept at crafting compelling written communications, impactful digital communications in addition to confident public speaking and media spokesperson skills.
• Highly motivated with strong organisational skills; the candidate must be able to work independently to prioritise tasks and organise their own work, with remote support. Experience of working to tight deadlines.
• Knowledge in the key campaign areas and the policy and political context around transport in Scotland.
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of social movements and collective organising in creating progressive change.
• Demonstrable commitment to environmental and social justice.
• Knowledge of the work of FoES is desirable, but not essential.