EKN is an award-winning and trusted source of knowledge and expertise for everyone with a role in improving the environment. Through our events, resources, advice, and communications, we benefit the work of a wide range of people. These range from volunteers in small local environmental projects to representatives of large organisations whose primary focus is not the natural environment. Our membership, which is free and open to all, comprises of 3,500 people across the UK. EKN’s job is to help them harness the value of the natural environment for everyone’s well-being and prosperity. We are a registered charity and a social enterprise, with three staff and plans to recruit more.

Nature Finance Co-ordinator (Northern Ireland focus)

EKN is working to ensure that the public, private, academic and third sectors in Northern Ireland collaborate on nature finance projects suited to its needs and interests. This includes building the capacity of land and marine managers, as well as enablers of nature market transactions and buyers. For this reason, we are seeking to employ a Nature Finance Co-ordinator with a focus on Northern ireland.

• 15 hours per week
• Post based at the offices of NI Environment Link, Belfast, with the option for homeworking.
• £30,000-36,000 pro rata, 12-month fixed term contract, renewable dependent on future funding secured through the success of the role.
• Reports to: EKN Director
• Closing Date: 19 October 2024 (applications will be considered on receipt and therefore the closing date may be earlier)
• To apply for this role please send your CV with a covering letter to admin@ecosystemsknowledge.net, or contact us if you wish to discuss the role further.

Tasks

1. Providing content for an e-bulletin on nature finance resources and examples – connecting with the UK-wide Nature Finance Learning Group.
2. Facilitate meetings and events on the topic that will enable learning and networking amongst an emergent nature finance community of interest in Northern Ireland.
3. Act as a point of contact for enquiries about nature finance, signposting to relevant resources and expertise.
4. Speak at relevant events that will foster inclusive and informed action on nature finance (such as at agricultural shows and business meetings).
5. Find ways to build a long-term community of practice on nature finance in Northern Ireland, including means to support this.
6. To support dialogue on nature finance in other parts of the UK, establishing connections with priorities for Northern Ireland.
7. To integrate work on nature finance with other aspects of the work of EKN and its partners.
8. To support other activities of EKN, in accordance with its mission and service provision.

Skills required

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to simplify complex concepts.
• First class inter-personal skills, including the ability to work effectively with suppliers, sponsors and partners.
• Self-motivation and organisation of a complex workload; managing projects and maintaining attention to detail.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Innovative use of graphics and digital media to reflect an organisation’s mission.
• Efficient use of IT, including website Content Management Systems, digital mailing systems and graphics.
• Capacity to secure great value from suppliers.
• Ability to play a positive role in our small and dynamic staff team, enabling others to deliver great content and impactful events.

Higher education qualifications relating to the relationship between the environment and business, as well as sustainable finance and rural affairs are desirable but not essential.

We would like our Nature Finance Co-ordinator to have a strong personal interest in our mission of harnessing the value of the natural environment for everyone’s well-being and prosperity.

As we are a small team, our Nature Finance Co-ordinator Manager will need to be self-motivated. They will need to contribute to the development of nature finance in Northern Ireland as well as beyond, supporting other EKN activities. A ‘can do’ attitude is essential to success at EKN

The postholder needs to have the capacity and willingness to travel occasionally to EKN or other events in the UK, including overnight stays.