Equity, Rights and Social Safeguards Officer

Purpose of the roleOverview of the role:
ZSL is looking to hire an Equity, Rights and Social Safeguarding Officer to join our Aquatic Species & Policy team, which sits in the Conservation & Policy Department. Supported by ZSL’s FAIRER team based in London, the Equity, Rights and Social Safeguarding Officer will coordinate, oversee, and provide technical expertise related to inclusion and social safeguarding within the Defra-funded Clean Catch programme of work. This role will work together with a consortium of partners across the Programme to ensure we meet our duty of care and Environmental and Social (E&S) safeguard compliance and monitoring requirements.This position will require frequent field visits to UK-based sites to co-design and implement fairer community engagement approaches and associated tools and safeguards. There is flexibility regarding working, but regular travel in England and occasional travel to London will be required.
Key responsibilities:
Leading and coordinating the programme’s effortsto engage local actors meaningfully byintegratingZSL’s FAIRER conservation framework across the clean catchproject components.
Lead on the design, delivery and analysis of qualitative and quantitativesocial science research (for example, focus groups, key informant interviews and questionnaires)across fisheries alongthe Southwest coast, to informbarrier removal when engaging with a new fishery (to be identified in 2024).
The role holder will be required to take on project management tasks, including leading the organisation and management of relevant meetings, contributing to annual funder reports, managing and reconciling project expenditure, attending project consortium meetings, and supporting other partner workpackages as and when required to ensure that deliverables are achieved according to the grant contract, work-plan and budget.
Lead on the organisation and management of engagement meetings, workshops and community focus group discussions that enable the participation of diverse actors, including preparing materials and taking minutes and sharing learnings.
Lead on the development of key environmental and social safeguarding instruments such as Environment and Social Risk Assessments and Management Plans, Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) processes, GESI analysesand other approved ZSL related safeguards and policies across the Clean Catch programme.
Collaborate with the Fisheries Liaison Officersto communicate and report on environmental and social safeguarding instruments with local actors, ensure safeguarding instruments meet local actor needs and create positive action interventions to support local actors, in particular underserved groups.
Work closely with ZSL’s FAIRER team to streamline FAIRER processes, ensure continuity of delivery of high-quality equitableoutputs and embed FAIRER values across the Clean Catch programme.
Act as a focal person to communicate and work with partners to effectively deliver and establish environmental and social safeguarding instruments and co-design a new programme governance structure. This will require support to implementing partner organisations to uphold FAIRER standards and may require an assessment of partner capacity needs. The role holder may also need to represent ZSL in different fora, attend meetings and provide support to wider partners as needed.
Lead on human ethics processes for research approval. Communicate any environmental or social risks, responses to the safeguards related complaints to the senior management team and DSOs, and work closely with the FAIRER teamto coordinate a response to safeguarding concerns.
The role will work closely with FAIRER co-leads (Lucy Archer and Surshti Patel) to support the integration of learnings from the Clean Catch programme into ZSL’s wider development of the FAIRER programme, and will work closely with ZSL’s project managers and M&E officers to ensure FAIRER approaches are embedded across activities and their Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E).
The role holder will be expected to provide advice and suggest adaptations or improvements where needed.
The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned from time to time that are in line with the level of the role.About YouThis position will primarily involve working with the wider Clean Catch network of fishers, academics, NGOs and government bodies,to co-design solutions within UK fisheries to tackle bycatch of sensitive marine species. The Officer will need experience delivering multi-actor community focussed projects, implementing social safeguarding, the ability to build the trust of community groups and a commitment to promoting the value of a diverse and inclusive collaboration environment.Previous work and experience working with UK fisheries would be a significant advantage.
Essential experience:
The post holder should have at least a degree in social science/development studies or a similar field or relevant experience in implementing E&S safeguard systems or qualitative research and working with local actors
Prior experience of delivering social equity and inclusion processes with experience leading work with a social inclusion focus.
Experience implementing participatory social science research methods such as focus group discussions, key informant interviews, questionnaire surveys andcommunity voice methods.
Experience organising community-led initiativesand a proven ability to buildtrust with local community groups, using cultural bridging and sensitivity.
Ability to think critically and analyse complex and nuanced problems – the post holder will be capable of dealing with complex matters and communicating them effectively and in a timely manner.
Essential knowledge and skills:
Fluent English (spoken and written).
Good knowledge of current and emerging best practice related to National and International Environmental and Social Safeguards instruments, human-rights laws, environmental rules and regulations.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain relationships with a wide network of relevant actors, including focal communities, local groups, policy makers and other organisations to maintain and support engagement and action.
The ability to maintain collaborative work practices to build strong working relationships and be capable to cope with variety of work and workloads and manage competing prioritieseffectively.
The post holder will demonstratestrong conflict-resolution skills.
A commitment to professional self-development, through participation in self- learning and training as necessary to carry out the role.
Advanced skills and knowledge of computer applications including data collection software, advanced excel and other MS packages.
Strong time management skills, including the ability to respond quickly to demands, effectively prioritise and meet deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment
Additional requirements:
This position will be office or home based but considerable travel will be required.
This post may require occasional work during evenings and/or weekends.
The work may involve dealing with conflict and controversial or politically sensitive issues.
The work may involve dealing with sensitive topics that intersect with lived experiences of the role holder. On these occasions, the role holder will need to be able to raise this so that ample support can be provided from ZSL’s Environmental and Social Safeguarding Specialistand HR, as required.
Strong commitment to creating a culturethat lives ZSL values and commitment to safeguarding, equality and diversity(collaborative, inspiring, inclusive, innovative, impactful and ethical).
To comply with and promote Health and Safety policies and procedures.
Flexibility is important; the post holder needs to be able to respond to changing priorities as required.
This role is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including the candidate's right to work in the UK.
We strongly encourage applications from all backgrounds and celebrate the value of having a team of employees with diverse skills, experiences, and heritage. We are committed to ensuring our teams can bring their authentic selves to work without fear of discrimination. ZSL has active equality networks for our staff with lived experience and those who provide active allyship in Race and Culture, Team Pride, Disability Network, and Menopause Network, complemented by our strategic EDI Steering Group.About UsWe’re ZSL, an international conservation charity. Through our unrivalled animal experts in our two zoos (London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo), the work of our pioneering scientists, our dedicated conservationists, our purpose is to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wild animals going extinct. Our vision is a world where wildlife thrives and we’re working every day to achieve this. From investigating the health threats facing animals, to helping people and wildlife live alongside each other, we are committed to bringing wildlife back from the brink of extinction.
What do we offer?
At ZSL, we are proud of our approach to employee benefits. Our benefits include:
Our vision and purpose - you’ll work alongside colleagues who are passionate about science-led conservation, knowing that you will help us to inspire, inform and empower people to stop wildlife going extinct
Pension scheme -we offer a generous pension scheme with up to 12% contributory pension
Flexible working – talk to us about your flexible working requirements and we will do everything we can to make sure you work in a way that suits you
Holidays – 25 days annual leave allowance, plus UK bank holidays
Wellbeing – access to a blended programme of wellbeing initiatives, including confidential access to our 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
Life assurance – eligible employees will be enrolled in ZSL’s life assurance scheme from their first day
Complimentary tickets – annual allocation of Whipsnade Zoo and London Zoo tickets, with a 30% discount in online and retail shops
Cycle2Work - our cycle to work scheme enables you to lease a bicycle
Season ticket loan - we offer an interest free loan for eligibly London-based employees to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work
Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption packages
NB: We reserve the right to close our advertisement early or extend the advertising date until a suitable candidate has been found.
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