TRAFFIC is a leading non-governmental organisation working to ensure that global trade in wild species is legal and sustainable, for the benefit of the planet and people. At a time of unprecedented biodiversity loss, TRAFFIC provides evidence, solutions, and influence to combat environmental degradation and ensure a nature-positive future. TRAFFIC has significantly grown in recent years, and our new 2030 Strategy lays out an ambitious vision for transformational change and impact.

We are seeking a Director of Policy to provide strategic direction and overall coordination of TRAFFIC’s global policy and advocacy work.

The salary for this position is £60,000 - £70,000 p.a dependent on skills and experience.

Characteristic Duties:

Working closely with other members of the leadership team, the Director of Policy guides TRAFFIC’s policy engagement in international multilateral environmental processes (including CITES and CBD) and strengthening the global policy frameworks that govern biodiversity and trade. This includes developing policy actions to strengthen international responses to illegal wildlife trade and strengthening international policy drivers for greater attention to legal and sustainable trade.

Specific Duties:
• Lead the development and implementation of a multi-year policy and advocacy strategy for wildlife trade, and related work plans, that define priorities and outcomes in line with TRAFFIC’s 2030 Strategy.
• Lead the development and coordination of policy approaches to priority multilateral processes including CITES, CBD, and other relevant intergovernmental conventions and institutions related to biodiversity, climate change, and One Health.
• Conduct research, analysis, and horizon scanning to identify emerging trends, opportunities, and challenges related to global wildlife trade policy.
• Provide support and guidance to TRAFFIC thematic and regional leaders to integrate global policy issues in their work plans and programmes, including strengthening the monitoring and evaluation of policy work in programmatic impact reporting.
• Provide support and guidance to TRAFFIC thematic and regional leaders to develop advocacy strategies to influence their key partners and stakeholders, including national governments; regional political and economic organisations; international and regional law enforcement organisations; international and regional organizations related to timber, fisheries, and other sectors; and civil society organizations and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative partnerships with key partners in the global policy space, in line with strategic priorities set out in TRAFFIC’s 2030 Strategy and in close collaboration with the leadership team.
• Lead the development of policy briefs, statements, messaging, and other communication assets to disseminate TRAFFIC’s policy work and enhance TRAFFIC’s positioning and influence in global policy agendas, in close coordination with the communications team.
• Support the quality assurance and technical review of policy issues in TRAFFIC publications, and contribute to the development of “evidence to influence” plans for major knowledge products.
• Support capacity building of staff involved in policy work throughout the organization and help ensure their alignment on key policy priorities, strategies, positions and standards.
• Contribute to organizational leadership, including participating in the Extended Leadership Team, and contributing to the development of policy-related funding proposals.
• Represent TRAFFIC in high-level global policy fora as needed.