ZSL is Hiring a Sustainable Business Programme Manager

Overview of the role

The Sustainable Business Programme Manager shall lead ZSL’s engagement with the business sector. The role delivers against the ZSL Conservation Policy to embed biodiversity at the heart of corporate decision-making and ultimately achieve ZSL’s vision of ‘a world where wildlife thrives’. The successful candidate will have a passion for driving change in corporate sustainability practices as a means of conserving nature. This role is responsible for managing ZSL’s Sustainable Business Programme and team of staff as well as collaborating across the society to leverage pro-biodiversity action by the business sector. This includes delivering a portfolio of conservation projects and advisory services aimed at reducing risk and enhancing benefits to biodiversity. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in grant writing, fundraising and project management for programmes focused on private-sector sustainability and biodiversity conservation. Experience working with the forestry and agriculture sectors will be a benefit.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy – Overseeing implementation of the Sustainable Business strategy and collaboration with other ZSL departments to enhance ZSL’s impact on private-sector sustainability practices.
• Fundraising & Business Development – Lead on institutional donor fundraising processes for Sustainable Business projects and support development of Advisory service offering.
• Technical Service Delivery – Provide guidance and technical expertise to clients and the sustainable business team around responsible sourcing and production practices, especially in the forestry and agriculture sectors.
• Communications & Press – Represent ZSL at key private-sector events and in press interviews
• HR & Management – Manage 2-3 staff directly and a wider team of 7 staff and various contractors.
• Finance, Operations & Risk Management – Ensure financial sustainability of sustainable business programme, ensure quality assurance of all project outputs and implement a clear monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan and adherence to ZSL’s environmental and social management system (ESMS).

The ideal candidate will:

• Educated to Masters degree level in a related subject area, or equivalent qualification, or demonstrate such a level of equivalent qualifications and experience through relevant practical work experience
• Extensive project management experience, including successful track record of fundraising, project workplan delivery and donor relations.
• Extensive experience related to private-sector engagement for biodiversity conservation outcomes.
• Experience managing a team of staff
• Knowledge of international and national sustainability policy and legislative frameworks.
• Understanding of sustainable business strategies and ESG approaches.
• Well-connected with a range of stakeholders in the private-sector sustainability and/or conservation world
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex budgets, achieve income targets and develop funding partnerships.
• Proven fundraising and report-writing ability
• An excellent standard of written and spoken English.
• This post is a blended role for office and home working -regular travel to ZSL Regent’s Park site will be required.
• This position will be office/remote based but considerable international travel may be required.

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 ZSL

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
• 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 to buy a season ticket for travel between home and work
• Family friendly policies – we offer enhanced maternity and paternity packages

To Apply

Applicants will need to upload their CV and covering letter (detailing relevant experience and skills, stating why they want the position and including details of availability) and can do this by clicking the “Apply for this job online” button. If you require any reasonable adjustments, please contact recruitment@zsl.org

Closing date for applications: Midnight (23:59) on Sunday 12th November 2023

Provisional interview date: Thursday 16th and Friday 17th November 2023