Team Lead – Forests

Earthsight is looking for an experienced researcher/campaigner to lead an exciting new
programme of work at our organisation. Working closely with senior management and other
programme leads, you will help shape and develop Earthsight’s research and advocacy on
Southeast Asian (principally Indonesian and Malaysian) and African (West African and Congo
Basin) supply chains linked to Western consumer markets, destruction of precious forests and
abuses of local people.

Earthsight is a non-profit organisation dedicated to researching and investigating
environmental and social crime and injustice. We use cutting-edge investigative methods to
uncover and expose wrongdoing. Since emerging as a fully-fledged organisation in 2016, our
reports have garnered headlines, won awards and triggered major changes by governments and
corporations.

We seek to create positive change by influencing government policy and raising awareness among
key constituencies about the impacts of global supply chains on the world’s forests and forest
communities.

You will play a key role in developing and managing investigations, research and advocacy on
Southeast Asian and African supply chains (especially timber, pulp and paper, palm oil, and to
a lesser extent rubber and cocoa) in order to contribute to Earthsight’s overall mission and
strategic priorities. You will manage the delivery of the team’s research outputs and advocacy
activities, and liaise closely with other teams and senior management to ensure complementarity
and overall strategic logic.

The position is offered as a full-time permanent contract. The successful candidate would
preferably be based in the UK and able to come into our office in London regularly. Flexible
working will be considered, as will some level of homeworking. Earthsight is an equal
opportunities employer and is committed to ensuring careers in the charity sector are open to
all. We value difference and believe it enhances our capabilities. We therefore particularly
encourage applications from people from a range of different backgrounds.

Main tasks and responsibilities

• Produce annual research and campaign plans relevant to Southeast Asia and African supply
  chains linked to Western consumer markets, under the co-ordination of the Deputy Director
• Monitor relevant information (including from NGO reports, academic studies, govt
  announcements, news media etc.) and stay abreast of general developments in Southeast Asia and
  Africa and in relation to wood and palm oil supply chains (and to a lesser extent also rubber
  and cocoa)
• Support recruitment and selection of new team member for the Southeast Asia and Africa
  Team, and line manage the selected candidate once they’re in place
• Lead on the delivery of the Southeast Asia and Africa Team outputs, including by conducting
  research, drafting and reviewing outputs for publication, building and maintaining relevant
  networks and relationships, managing the team’s overall work, undertaking research trips when
  needed and previously agreed with senior management
• Design and deliver associated advocacy and campaign tasks (e.g. coordinating open letters,
  writing to MEPs, meeting with key stakeholders, supporting social media campaigns etc) specific
  to your team’s remit, in coordination with the Policy and Communications Team
• Pitch stories and op-eds to relevant media outlets and work with journalists to secure
  press coverage of reports; draft press releases and ensure necessary material is made available
  for interested media partners
• Liaise with other programme leads and senior management to deliver on organisation-wide
  strategic priorities in ways that avoid clashes and duplication of work
• Manage the Southeast Asia and Africa Team’s agreed operational budget for travel, external
  consultants and other operational expenses
• Identify, contract and manage external research and other consultants
• Report regularly on progress and budget to Deputy Director

Person specification

Essential

• At least four years’ experience working on forest, environmental, climate, human rights or
  related campaigns and advocacy work, preferably with specialised audiences (for example, policy
  makers) and delivering high-impact outputs with positive outcomes
• Excellent written communication skills: able to produce compelling, persuasive, concise
  written material in English for targeted audiences
• Strong attention to detail and factual accuracy
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to face challenging situations with confidence
  and initiative
• Strong interpersonal and oral communication skills: confident presenting information to
  external audiences, and liaising closely with internal and external teams and partners
• Excellent organisational skills: proven ability to deliver agreed outputs on time,
  prioritising your team’s workload while fulfilling its workplan and responding to the overall
  strategic needs of the organisation
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel

Ideal

• Understanding of the complexities of global supply chains and demonstrable experience in
  researching them, preferably on timber, pulp and paper and/or agribusiness commodities
• Fluency in a relevant language, such as Bahasa Indonesia or French
• Field experience in Southeast Asia and/or Africa, especially Indonesia or the Congo basin
• Knowledge of forest policy issues, ideally in relation to Southeast Asia and/or Africa
• At least two years’ experience managing staff and research or campaign projects
• Experience pitching stories to journalists and working with media outlets to secure press
  coverage of reports

Desirable

• Experience working with shipment records and satellite imagery
• Knowledge of GIS software and platforms
• Advanced knowledge of and experience with Microsoft Excel
• Knowledge of libel laws and experience working with lawyers on libel reviews
• Knowledge or experience of video, photography and graphic design including associated
  software (e.g. Adobe CS)

How to apply

Please complete this application form by Tuesday 3rd October.