Director of Science and Impact

• Posted: 17th July 2026
• Closing Date:9th August 2026
• Location: Oxford Office as required / flexibility to work from home. Must be able to travel on occasion to support meetings in various locations and attend two all staff meetings in Oxford per annum
• Salary: £60,000 - £65,000 (DOE) gross, per annum FTE
• Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday
• Contract: Permanent
• Department: Science & Impact
• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
• Interviews: First Interviews from 17th - 28th August (this will take place online) and second interviews Late September - to be confirmed (F2F interviews in Oxford)

Apply for this role

Are you passionate about science and its potential to drive positive change for the natural environment?

What we are looking for

Earthwatch Europe is recruiting a Director of Science and Impact. We are looking for someone with a deep understanding of the pressures facing our natural world and how citizen science and community action can help address these challenges, using high quality data, knowledge and practical demonstration to influence governments and corporations.

You will have a background in citizen science and an in depth understanding of current and future environmental policy trends and priorities.  You will be an experienced leader with excellent interpersonal skills and a track record of successful relationship and partnership development at all levels. You will have strong project and budget management experience, and you will be an exceptional strategic thinker with the ability to create and deliver effective strategies and action plans

WHO ARE WE?

We are an environmental charity with science at our heart. We help people to take action to protect the nature around them; by connecting them with it and giving them the tools they need to do so. We passionately believe in citizen science and are leaders in it. Our current focus areas include helping to create nature-friendly urban spaces, growing the impact of internationally known citizen science programmes such as Freshwater Watch, developing early career scientists and sharing learning internationally, and working with partners to advance the science, tools and thinking behind citizen science.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Role purpose: 
To lead Earthwatch Europe’s work in Science and Impact, ensuring all its delivery activities achieve the highest scientific standards and achieve the greatest possible influence and effect in furthering its mission

Key deliverables:  

Team Leadership

• Lead the science and impact team to deliver inspiring and impactful programmes that engage key audiences and contribute to nature connection, data and scientific knowledge, and environmental enhancement.

Line Management

• Line manage the staff in the science and impact team, ensuring they have clear plans and targets and that performance is optimised, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and learning.

Citizen Science

• Ensure that we play a leading role in citizen science in the UK, Europe, SW Asia and Africa, actively contributing to the citizen science communities, improving society’s understanding of what makes great citizen science, and developing the tools to support it and advance it.

Policy

• Keeping up to speed with policy developments and maintaining an active profile in environmental policy circles, spotting opportunities for Earthwatch Europe to have influence.

Project development and funding

• Work with colleagues across the organisation to develop new projects and activities linked to our strategy that appeal to partners, funders and potential citizen scientists.

External representation      

• Represent Earthwatch at senior level events, in public forums, at conference speeches and with the media.

Planning & Financial Management

• Lead successful planning, resourcing and financial management across programmes and projects, ensuring targets and budgets are set, achieved and monitored effectively.

Relationships

• Build and maintain effective relationships with policy makers, government agencies, academics and NGOs to have a timely understanding of opportunities for collaboration, funding, policy needs and channels for effective dissemination of our work.

Executive

• Act as a key member of the Executive Team, working closely with the CEO and contributing actively to organisational decisions and plans.

Collaboration

Encourage strong collaboration, especially between science and other areas of delivery.

Strategy

• Provide comprehensive advice and sector knowledge to help shape organisational strategy and priorities.

Reporting

• Ensuring high quality reports are provided to trustees, Executive colleagues, funders and partners as appropriate.

In undertaking these roles, the postholder should also have regard to: – 

• Acting as an ambassador for Earthwatch Europe and a model for its values.
• Upholding scientific standards across the organisation and maintaining and enhancing its reputation as an Independent Research Organisation
• Maintaining strong working relationships with trustees, partners and funders, as well as colleagues.

REQUIREMENTS

Personal Specification: 

Essential

Knowledge & Experience 

• Sound understanding of citizen science
• Extensive experience of partnership development and delivery.
• A minimum of one year’s team leadership at senior management or director level.          
• In depth understanding of current and future environmental policy trends and priorities.
• Working knowledge of all the scientific fields in which Earthwatch works.
• Strong project and budget management experience with a good understanding of project and organisational finances.

Skills & aptitudes

• Exceptional strategic thinker with the ability to create and deliver effective strategies and action plans.  
• Outstanding people manager with experience of leading and contributing to a highly collaborative team.
• Outstanding influencing and communication skills with the ability to network effectively and inspire audiences.
• Decisive and action/results oriented.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a track record of successful relationship and partnership development at all levels.
• Innovative self-starter, willing to challenge assumptions and with the passion and drive to deliver increased impact.
• Commitment to Earthwatch’s mission and values.
• A team player, willing and able to put the interests of the organisation first.
• Creativity and drive to design and deliver engaging and successful pitches and new business approaches.

Desirable

• Doctorate or similar level academic qualification of working in the charity sector.
• An in depth/expert level knowledge in at least one field in which Earthwatch works. 
• Experience of working overseas, especially in SW Asia and/or Africa.
• Experience of creating and pitching complex funding proposals.
• Specialist knowledge in at least one subject of relevance to citizen science.
• Experience of securing funding from the EU and/or research funding bodies such as UKRI.
• Good media skills, with an external profile.
• Good public speaking skills

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK; Earthwatch is unable to support visa applications. 

Earthwatch is committed to making any adjustments we can for short-listed candidates, to facilitate participation in our interview process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check and other due diligence checks, given the nature of this position within the charity.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Earthwatch is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences. We welcome and encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply, and we will consider all applications fairly and consistently. 

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment – a place where individuality is embraced and everyone has the opportunity to thrive. We value the benefits that different backgrounds, working approaches and ways of thinking can bring. 

If you require reasonable adjustments in making an application for this role, please contact the HR team at uk.hr@earthwatch.org.uk ahead of the application deadline.

Download Candidate Brief here: