Equity, Rights & Social Safeguards Officer

Overview 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. 

NB: This is an 18 month FTC

Key responsibilities:

• Leading and coordinating the programme’s efforts to engage local actors
  meaningfully by integrating ZSL’s FAIRER conservation framework across the clean catch project
  components. 
• Lead on the design, delivery and analysis of qualitative and quantitative social science
  research (for example, focus groups, key informant interviews and questionnaires) across
  fisheries along the Southwest coast, to inform barrier 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 work packages 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 analyses and other approved ZSL related safeguards and
  policies across the Clean Catch programme. 
•  Collaborate with the Fisheries Liaison Officers to 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 equitable outputs 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 team to 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 YOU

This 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 and community voice methods.
•  Experience organising community-led initiatives and a proven ability to build trust 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
  priorities effectively.
• The post holder will demonstrate strong 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
• 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 Specialist and
  HR, as required. 
• Strong commitment to creating a culture that 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. 

Additional requirements:

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 US

We’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.