Senior Advocacy Officer - Illegal Gold Mining & Protected Areas

About the role

The Senior Advocacy Officer will lead Frankfurt Zoological Society’s global campaign to curb illegal gold mining in and around protected areas. Working from the Frankfurt Conservation Center, you will translate field evidence into policy change, influence financial systems and shape responsible gold market practices.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and promote international policy frameworks that address illegal gold mining and its impact on biodiversity and climate.
• Build and maintain relationships with multilateral financial institutions, regulators, NGOs and research institutes.
• Advocate for stronger due‑diligence and enforcement mechanisms across gold supply chains.
• Engage gold buyers, refiners and downstream actors to foster responsible sourcing and traceability.
• Produce evidence‑based tools to identify high‑risk supply chains and support decision‑makers.
• Coordinate joint advocacy actions, represent FZS at international conferences and lead the FCC Working Group on Illegal Gold Mining Threats for Protected Areas.

Required profile

• Significant experience in international environmental policy or advocacy, preferably related to natural resources or mining.
• Demonstrated ability to influence financial institutions, governments and industry stakeholders.
• Proven track record of building strategic partnerships and coalitions.
• Strong analytical capacity to convert field data into actionable policy recommendations.

Required skills