Location
Home-based with occasional travel to Newark, Nottinghamshire and Central London.

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£65,000 per annum

About the Role
The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from diverse backgrounds united by a shared belief that nature and people need each other. With over 944,000 members, 38,000 volunteers, 3,600 staff, and 600 trustees across 46 independent Wildlife Trusts, we work locally to make a positive difference for wildlife and future generations. The Wildlife Trusts federation, known as The Wildlife Trusts, is a corporate member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT), a registered charity founded in 1912 and a founding member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The coming years are critical for reversing wildlife loss and driving nature’s recovery at scale to prevent climate and ecological disaster. This will require bold changes in how The Wildlife Trusts operate, including how we mobilise and support communities.

As Associate Director of Legal Services, you will lead the Legal Services function, collaborating with Trustees, senior leaders, and colleagues across RSWT and the wider federation. You will build a commercially led legal team that enables confident, bold action in pursuit of our mission to bring nature back. This pivotal leadership role requires outstanding legal and strategic skills, the ability to inspire confidence, and embed a strong commercial culture within a diverse and dynamic organisation.

You will navigate the unique landscape of a federation of 46 independent Wildlife Trusts, delivering high-impact outcomes through your legal expertise in complex commercial contracts, environmental issues, campaigning support, and charity sector work. You will embody our values of passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism, and strength in diversity, helping to build an inclusive movement that celebrates individual differences and identities.

Experience
- Extensive legal experience with proven leadership in a complex organisation.
- Expertise in commercial contracts, environmental law, charity sector legal issues, and supporting campaigning work.
- Experience working within or alongside federated or multi-entity organisations is highly desirable.

About you
- Highly motivated, self-directed, and able to inspire confidence at all levels.
- Strong strategic thinker with excellent judgement.
- Committed to inclusivity, diversity, and safeguarding.
- Able to embed a commercial culture within a legal function.
- Shares our values of passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism, and strength in diversity.

Qualifications
- Qualified lawyer with relevant professional legal qualifications.
- Commitment to ongoing professional development and safeguarding responsibilities.