Director of Policy and Advocacy

National Parks England

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week). We encourage flexible working and will consider part-time or job-share arrangements.

Responsible to: NPE Executive Director

Location: Remote, with regular travel to English National Park Authorities and across the UK

Salary: From £60,000 per annum

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Director of Policy and Advocacy to lead our policy and advocacy work, with a particular focus on nature recovery and climate change in protected landscapes.

As a senior leader within National Parks England, you will be a national voice for protected landscapes, helping government shape policies affecting National Parks and strengthening our evidence base, advocacy and communications.

You will build consensus across National Park Authorities and develop clear policy positions and advocacy approaches. You will communicate our new vision for the future of National Parks, undertake horizon scanning and desk-based research, oversee an annual work programme and our policy communications function, produce policy briefings, track political developments and support engagement with decision-makers and stakeholders.

Working closely with National Park Authority CEOs and officers, the NPE Board, National Parks Partnerships, the Protected Landscapes Partnership and government departments, you will strengthen relationships with No. 10, HM Treasury and arm’s-length bodies, particularly those of DfT, MHCLG and Defra.

This is a unique opportunity to join a small, impactful organisation with national reach and a passionate network of collaborators.

About NPE

England’s National Parks are renowned for their natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage. They support local communities, provide access to green spaces and help tackle climate change and biodiversity loss.

National Parks England is the collective voice for English National Park Authorities, representing National Parks to government, partners and stakeholders and working with the Protected Landscapes Partnership.

Selection process

Apply by 23.59 on Sunday 27 September 2026 by clicking the apply button and uploading two PDFs:

- A CV (two pages)

- A cover letter (maximum two pages), demonstrating how your experience and skills meet the criteria in our recruitment pack

Interviews are expected to take place week commencing 19 October 2026.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the role, please contact us. We are a small team, and we will try to accommodate requests for an informal conversation.

We request no agency contact about these roles.

Apply here