Location
Home based with regular travel within/to London and across the UK

Hours
37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)

Salary
From £40,000 per annum

About the Role
River Action is a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue Britain's rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end pollution. We are building a talented team of positive disrupters and community mobilisers to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of community and wildlife. Britain’s rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life.

We are seeking a dynamic and self-motivated Policy and Advocacy Manager who shares our passion for protecting rivers. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong policy insights capable of blending analytical problem-solving with intelligent advocacy to drive meaningful change. The ideal candidate will have excellent writing skills, able to draft complex policy documents and top-line arguments for wider communication. You will bring expertise, energy and ideas to amplify our impact, holding decision-makers and polluters accountable with a professional and diplomatic approach.

As Policy and Advocacy Manager, you will lead River Action’s policy and advocacy work on agricultural, sewage and industrial water pollution, focusing on regulation, funding and legal frameworks. You will work closely with the Head of Legal and Policy, Chief Executive and wider team to develop and execute an impactful policy and advocacy strategy. River Action is the Co-Secretariat for the APPG on Water Pollution, providing a unique opportunity to influence policy development across Parliament. You will collaborate with our public affairs agency managing Westminster activities.

Your responsibilities will include leading policy and advocacy efforts, developing robust policy analysis to support campaigns, translating complex policy into clear messages, monitoring political developments, drafting consultation responses, increasing political influence, building relationships with key stakeholders, supporting grassroots advocacy, organising political meetings and managing strategic partnerships. You will ensure alignment between policy efforts and creative campaigns to maximise impact.

The role requires UK travel, occasional overnight stays with costs covered, and adherence to health and safety policies. You will actively engage in professional development and contribute to an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace, working collaboratively to deliver our mission.

Experience
- Experience in a similar policy and advocacy role, ideally within the environmental sector
- Policy and/or legislative experience with a good understanding of UK government and Parliamentary procedure
- Good understanding of the UK water industry, key water-related policies and issues impacting rivers, land and wildlife
- Excellent communication and writing skills with close attention to detail, able to produce concise and persuasive briefings, reports and consultation responses
- Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to working creatively and at pace with colleagues, stakeholders and partners
- Excellent organisational skills with the ability to proactively plan, prioritise and report progress and impact
- Ability to work flexible hours and travel as necessary

About you
- Self-motivated, strategic and determined individual
- Passionate about protecting and restoring waterways and holding decision-makers and polluters to account
- Comfortable representing River Action and engaging with diverse stakeholders
- A good and supportive team player with a willingness to contribute as needed

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are stated, but relevant experience and skills in policy, advocacy and environmental sectors are essential.