Careers

About Us

Hedgerows Ireland CLG is a not-for-profit charity dedicated to the conservation and nature-friendly management of hedgerows across the island of Ireland. We are an All-Ireland organisation with Directors based both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. We are a member of the Irish Environmental Network and the Environmental Pillar and also receive funding from the Heritage Council. This role is funded through the IEN Flagship Programme

  • Our Vision: A network of native hedgerows across Ireland managed in a nature-friendly way to sequester carbon, protect biodiversity, and provide shelter and water quality benefits.
  • Our Mission: Raising awareness about the value and appropriate management of hedgerows; promoting the craft and profession of hedge laying; and documenting our hedgerow heritage.
  • Our Strategy: Sharing knowledge through social media, talks, and hedge walks; organising projects and training days in hedgerow establishment, management, and rejuvenation; and working with other environmental groups to create policy and legislative change.

Currently Open for Application:

Hedgerows Ireland Policy and Advocacy Officer

The Role:

  • Job Title: Policy and Advocacy Officer
  • Reporting to: The Board of Hedgerows Ireland/Executive Officer of Hedgerows Ireland
  • Location: Remote, but must be based in Ireland.
  • Contract type: Fixed term, part-time 2 year contract (20 hours per week) (6 months probation). Self-employed contracted to Hedgerows Ireland.
  • Remuneration: €25,000 per annum

Overview of the Role:

  • The Policy and Advocacy Officer will represent and advance the interests of Ireland’s hedgerows within the framework of the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL).
  • The Officer will ensure that hedgerows, defined under the NRL as high diversity landscape features, are fully recognised and represented in discussions and policy development under forthcoming national and local restoration plans.
  • In turn the officer will seek to ensure the NRL, once defined, is disseminated via on-the-ground, actionable outcomes through coherent toolkit creation for stakeholders including landowners and community groups.
  • The officer will also liaise with Local Authorities on appropriate actions to link hedgerow protection and restoration goals into local area plans and county biodiversity plans.
  • The officer will represent Hedgerows Ireland on the Environmental Pillar Land Use Hub and other relevant committees or groups, working alongside other IEN and Pillar members to ensure coherence across the land use sector from IEN and Pillar members.
  • Over two years, this position will lead on policy engagement, hedgerow advocacy stakeholder coordination, and ensure vertical policy coherence to secure appropriately measurable outcomes for hedgerow restoration and management across Ireland.

Key Areas of Work:

  1. Policy Integration: Ensure hedgerows are fully recognised as key ecological corridors and carbon sinks in Ireland’s implementation of the Nature Restoration Law through attendance at consultations and cross-sectoral forums, the development of policy positions, submissions and position papers, in consultation with the Hedgerows Ireland team.
  2. Advocacy and Representation: Act as the national voice for hedgerows in consultations with government, local authorities, and EU institutions, national media and wider public discourse.
  3. Evidence and Research: Collate best available data on hedgerow condition, carbon value, and biodiversity and effectively disseminate same. Act as the point of contact for external parties with regard to queries on research. Develop research protocols and projects in line with Hedgerows Ireland’s goals. Liaise with county and town councils in order to ensure best practice guidance on hedgerow surveying and management are enshrined in local area, county and biodiversity plans
  4. Public Engagement: Coordinate campaigns and outreach to strengthen public and political support for hedgerow protection. Liaise with environmental coalitions, grassroots organisations, tidy towns and biodiversity community groups, sports clubs and agricultural organisations in order to disseminate national policy via the development of easily accessible guidelines and toolkits for best practice hedgerow management, maintenance and restoration.
  5. Partnership Building: Collaborate with fellow Environmental Pillar organisations, IEN members, farming organisations, local authorities, NGOs, and community groups to promote sustainable hedgerow management.
  6. Reporting: Ensure that agreed action plans and reports with detailed targets and time lines are implemented and communicate these reports to relevant stakeholders including the Hedgerows Ireland Board and funders.

Person Specification:

  • Recognised qualification to degree level in a relevant field or discipline i.e. ecology, biodiversity, climate, conservation, sustainability, agriculture and land use.
  • At least two year’s experience (paid or voluntary) in policy, advocacy and/or campaigning
  • Experience of engaging with stakeholders from a diverse range of backgrounds
  • Experience in researching and developing policy positions or proposals using scientific evidence
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and in person, including report writing skills
  • An excellent understanding of national and international policy and policy development
  • An excellent understanding of the wider context of agriculture and land use, as well as other environmental and biodiversity issues in Ireland
  • The ability to work on own initiative
  • Some web development experience would be advantageous, particularly previous experience of WordPress
  • Active and experienced in use of social media and online meeting software.
  • Own transport with full clean driving licence essential.
  • Must be willing to travel to attend meetings nationally and possibly internationally.

Please send CV and brief covering letter outlining your suitability for this role to info@hedgerows.ie by close of business on Wednesday 21st January 2026.

If you have any queries regarding the Policy and Advocacy Officer role, do not hesitate to contact us.