Job Title: Advocacy and Communications Manager
Reports To: CEO
Location: Home-based with regular travel across Wales to attend meetings and site visits
Employment Type: Full-time, fixed term contract for two years in the first instance
Salary: Dependent upon experience, initially capped to a max of £45k
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Job Purpose
Afonydd Cymru is seeking an experienced, fluent Welsh-speaking advocacy and communications manager to join our team as we continue to identify a greater range of pressures on our rivers. The successful applicant will play a major role in increasing awareness of Welsh river issues, influence decision-makers, engage stakeholders and drive positive environmental change.
We have flexibility to mould this role depending on the successful candidate’s expertise, but we would welcome a new team member who can demonstrate experience across the water sector and rivers, while also having strong knowledge of the legislative and policy landscape in Wales. The expertise and experience in advocacy, comms and writing skills should come first, but knowledge of the water sector and its policies would be very beneficial to the role. We are looking for an individual to help support the team on a range of advocacy areas including, for example, land management, the water industry, nature-based solutions and climate change.
The role will also be key to delivering communications on our advocacy work, so we need someone who is comfortable with writing press releases and capable of undertaking media interviews. The role will involve supporting the CEO to deliver Afonydd Cymru communications.
Afonydd Cymru operate with an open team structure, with every member supporting others to enable continual and fluid delivery of work activities. The applicant will need to demonstrate that they are a team player and we will be seeking an individual that can fit into this model.
This role has substantial opportunity to drive change with Welsh Government officials, politicians, regulators, community groups and land managers across a wide range of areas. The post holder will be required to work with some independence and must be able to make appropriate judgements to ensure delivery of Afonydd Cymru’s strategic aims, represent regional rivers trusts effectively and enhance our recognised position as a technical lead for rivers in Wales.
Key Responsibilities
Advocacy
- Develop and deliver effective advocacy and communications strategies aligned with the organisation’s mission and strategic objectives.
- Identify emerging issues for rivers, policy developments and opportunities for advocacy and public engagement.
- Build compelling advocacy cases based on evidence, research and stakeholder perspectives in areas such as agriculture, water industry, biodiversity, climate change.
- Build and maintain relationships with policymakers, elected representatives, government departments, environmental organisations, community groups and other stakeholders.
- Represent the organisation at meetings, conferences, working groups, consultations and relevant public forums.
- Help coordinate responses to government consultations, policy proposals and relevant environmental strategies.
- Develop advocacy briefings, position statements, consultation responses and policy communications.
- Monitor political, regulatory and environmental developments and assess their potential impact on the organisation and its stakeholders.
- Support the organisation’s participation in relevant networks, coalitions and partnerships.
- Identify opportunities for collaborative communications and collective advocacy.
Communications
- Lead the communications strategy, supporting the organisation’s objectives.
- Lead the production of high-quality communications materials, including press releases, briefings, reports, newsletters, articles, website content and campaign materials.
- Develop clear and compelling messages around complex environmental issues for different audiences.
- Oversee the organisation’s digital communications and social media activity.
- Work with colleagues to identify stories, case studies, achievements and environmental issues suitable for external communication.
- Develop communications plans for campaigns, reports, policy announcements and organisational initiatives.
- Ensure consistency in organisational messaging, tone of voice and visual identity.
- Build relationships with journalists and relevant media organisations and conduct media interviews when required.
- Monitor media coverage and public discussion of relevant environmental issues.
- Manage communications during sensitive or potentially high-profile environmental issues or reputational situations.
- Support the Chair of our Board and our trustees in delivery of our charitable articles.
Strategic Leadership
- Develop annual advocacy and communications plans with clear objectives, audiences, activities and measures of success.
- Manage budgets, external suppliers, consultants and agencies where required.
- Establish effective systems for monitoring and evaluating advocacy and communications activity.
- Use data, research, audience insight and campaign performance to improve impact.
- Contribute to organisational strategy and business planning.
- Identify opportunities to increase the organisation’s profile, influence and impact.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- At least 5yrs experience in environmental advocacy, campaigning, communications, public affairs, policy or a closely related field.
- Demonstrable experience developing and delivering successful advocacy or campaigning strategies.
- Experience influencing decisionmakers, policymakers, public bodies or other stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrable ability to communicate complex environmental or policy issues clearly and persuasively.
- Experience working with media and conducting media interviews.
- Experience developing relationships with a range of stakeholders and partners.
- Strong political and environmental awareness.
- Experience working collaboratively across teams and organisations.
- Fluent Welsh speaker and writer.
Desirable Experience
- Knowledge of UK and Welsh environmental policy and legislation.
- Experience managing external agencies or consultants.
- Experience with crisis communications or reputational issues.
- Experience engaging communities in environmental advocacy and communications.
- Experience using analytics and insight to measure communications and campaign impact.
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant degree, professional qualification or equivalent experience
Desirable
- Relevant training in campaigning, advocacy, media relations or environmental policy.
We offer:
- Competitive salary with annual performance related pay reviews
- Pension
- Life Insurance
- Employee Training and Assistance Schemes
- Flexible working policy
Closing Date for Applications: 30 October 2026
Interviews: mid-November 2026 (face to face in Cardiff)
Applicants must provide a covering letter, with links to some recent communications work they have led, starting their application with ‘Advocacy and Communications’. Please also provide a copy of your CV. Both the letter and CV should be a maximum of two-pages each. Applications will be rejected on failing to meet these criteria.
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Afonydd Cymru, we are committed to building an inclusive working environment. We proudly welcome applications from all individuals who meet the role criteria, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Application Process
We sincerely appreciate the time, effort, and energy that goes into every application submitted to us. As a small charity, our resources are limited, which unfortunately means we are unable to provide individual feedback or respond to unsuccessful applicants.
If you have not heard from our team by 30 November 2026, please assume that your application has not progressed to the interview stage on this occasion. Thank you for your understanding and for your interest in supporting our work.