Wilder Communities Campaign Officer

Sussex Wildlife Trust; Brighton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and Flexible Working

25 Days Annual Leave

Pension Contributions

Life Assurance

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Cycle to Work Scheme

Volunteering Days

Café Discount

Job summary

Sussex Wildlife Trust, based in Brighton, is seeking a Wilder Communities Campaign Officer to empower local communities to shape wildlife-friendly actions. The role involves facilitating campaigns, coordinating events, and building partnerships with councils, organisations and volunteers across Sussex.

You will drive evidence-based activities, navigate planning consultations and engage elected representatives to promote nature-friendly decisions.

Qualifications

• Experience in campaign work or community organising.
• Ability to develop persuasive asks and campaigns.
• Knowledge of local authority processes and planning considerations is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Identify campaign goals with local communities and volunteers.
• Organise meetings, workshops and awareness events across Sussex.
• Produce practical guidance and campaign resources for communities.
• Support communications, monitoring, evaluation and reporting for campaigns.

Skills

Campaign planning

Community organizing

Advocacy

Public engagement

Facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Job Title: Wilder Communities Campaign Officer

Location: The Keep, Brighton

Salary: £29,330

Contract Type: Fixed term contract - 12 months

Hours: 35 per week

Closing Date: 13th November 2026

Interview Date: 2nd December 2026

Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT)

To deliver our new strategic plan - Our Wild Sussex - we need people with bold and innovative ideas to help us to achieve our ambitions for local wildlife and wild places.

We are committed to restoring and protecting at least 30% of Sussex land and sea for nature, inspiring one in four people to take meaningful action for wildlife, building a stronger more inclusive and diverse organisation and becoming a net zero and climate resilient organisation.

We are looking for the best and most talented people to join our team and help us deliver this exciting and ambitious strategy. We are keen to hear from you even if you don't have all the skills and experience outlined in the Job Description but have the potential to grow into a role.

We particularly welcome applications from people currently underrepresented in the conservation sector, including disabled people, people from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse backgrounds, people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, non-graduates, and people from geographically diverse communities. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

The Role

We want communities across Sussex to be able to shape a better future for wildlife by taking meaningful action on the nature issues they care about most. As a skilled and engaging campaigner, you will enable local people to make that happen. You will support communities to identify campaign goals, develop clear and persuasive asks, understand how local decisions are made and plan, constructive and evidence-based activities.

You will bring people together around shared goals for nature, building the relationships and momentum needed for collective action. This will involve working closely with community groups, Sussex Wildlife Trust colleagues, local authorities and other partners, you will organise meetings, workshops and awareness events; produce practical guidance and campaign resources; build productive relationships; and help people navigate consultations, planning processes and engagement with elected representatives.

You will also support communications, monitoring, evaluation and reporting, contribute to budgets and funding bids, and act as an ambassador for the Trust. The role requires a flexible approach, with occasional evening and weekend work to match the needs to the communities you are working alongside.

The Person

You are a change-maker. Full of imagination and resourcefulness with a collaborative approach and a talent for bringing people together around a shared goal. You know how to build energy and momentum for change, supporting communities to take effective action, and influence decisions through advocacy, campaigning, community organising or public participation.

You are a confident facilitator and community organiser, with a proven ability to turn community concerns into effective action. Able to help groups agree clear campaign aims and develop persuasive asks of decision makers. You'll already have a number of campaign wins under your belt and be able to demonstrate how you've influenced decisions and delivered positive outcomes. You will have knowledge of wildlife and conservation issues and understand how environmental policy, planning and consultation processes shape outcomes for nature.

You will also recognise the barriers communities can face when seeking to influence change and be motivated to help overcome them. You are able to engage effectively with a wide range of communities and diverse groups, including when managing sensitive or challenging conversations with confidence and diplomacy.

Experience of working with local authorities, councillors or the planning system, and knowledge of Sussex wildlife and nature-recovery issues, would be an advantage. You will share our commitment to reducing barriers to participation, valuing different perspectives and ensuring that a wide range of voices can be heard in decisions affecting local nature, places and people.

You will have a full, clean driving licence and be happy to travel across Sussex to meet groups and support their ideas and campaigns where necessary. This role is subject to a basic DBS check.

Benefits

• Hybrid and Flexible Working- Supporting healthy work-life balance through flexible working arrangements where role requirements operationally allow.
• 25 Days Annual Leave - Plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 5 years' service; entitlement pro rata part-time.
• Pension Contributions - With an optional salary sacrifice scheme to help maximise your retirement savings.
• Life Assurance - Pension Scheme members receive 2x salary cover; non-members receive 1x salary cover.
• Health Cash Plan - helping towards the cost of everyday healthcare expenses.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - Providing confidential support, advice and wellbeing resources.
• Cycle to Work Scheme - Helping you save money while supporting a healthier and more sustainable commute.
• Volunteering Days - Dedicated two days paid to support causes and communities that matter to you.
• Café Discount - Enjoy discounted food and drinks at our Rye Harbour Discovery Centre cafe

For more detailed information see the What we offer page in the Recruitment Pack.