Department: RGS Explore – Director’s Office
Responsible to: Expeditions and Fieldwork Manager
Location: South Kensington, London
Salary: £35,897–£39,180 per annum (depending on experience)

Purpose of Post

Joining a specialised team at a time of growth, the Expeditions Officer will deploy first-hand exploratory field research experience in providing practical support for practitioners, helping reinforce the Society’s role as an international leader and convening power representing diverse forms of geographical exploration.

This operational role is central to evolving the Society's technical resources, strategic programmes, and flagship events, ensuring our support for both our grant recipients and the wider community of practitioners remains rigorous and impactful.

Duties and Responsibilities

Expedition Advisory Support

• Participate in the provision of advice and support to Society grant recipients and other expedition teams and individuals across their project lifecycles.
• Act as a specialised escalation point for external enquiries, as necessary coordinating responses that draw upon colleagues, volunteers and wider networks.
• Contribute to the consolidation and expansion of our constituencies across a range of expeditionary and field practice subject matter.

Training, Events and Content

• Work with colleagues and external trainers to develop and organise needs-based training opportunities, primarily for Society grant recipients and other supported individuals and teams, across a range of subjects.
• Support the development of multimedia resources to support Society members and the wider community of field practitioners in undertaking safe, ethical, impactful expeditions.
• Organise elements of the Society’s in-person, hybrid and digital public engagement programme in this area of work, including the annual RGS Explore Weekend.
• Assist with the production of a range of public engagement content in support of the Society’s activities on the theme of modern geographical exploration.
• Assist with ongoing efforts to leverage archival assets, including departmental history and that of the RGS Explore Weekend, as well as the legacies of the Society’s multidisciplinary field research programmes.

Governance and Reporting

• Contribute data and updates for the bi-annual reporting to the Expeditions & Fieldwork Committee and quarterly workplan reporting to management and trustees.

Selection Criteria

The following are the requirements for this post. These are the criteria against which candidates will be shortlisted and judged. Please ensure that you cover each of these areas in your covering letter.

Essential Criteria

• Field Experience: Demonstrable experience leading successful exploratory field projects, preferably through overseas, collaborative, impact-driven ventures in remote and challenging contexts.
• Education: Educated to Masters degree level or above in geography, earth or environmental sciences, or a related field, coupled with practical experience of field research.
• Ethics & Practice: Strong understanding of ethical and responsible practices in a field research context, including a working knowledge of relevant legal and good practice frameworks.
• Communication: Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to convey advice and information to diverse audiences.
• Technical Content: Experience in the production of technical resources in a variety of media.
• Event Delivery: Experience in the delivery of large-scale hybrid events.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively, effectively and flexibly as part of a small team.
• Organisation: Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams.
• IT Literacy: Competent in the use of web content management systems (CMS), cloud-based collaboration platforms, and office productivity software.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of attending the RGS Explore Weekend in any capacity.
• Experience in advisory or helpdesk environments.
• Proven expertise in science, research or policy communications with demonstrable impact.
• Authorship roles in the peer-reviewed publication of field research findings.
• Experience in producing educational materials for complex, technical subject matter.
• Experience in managing specialist volunteer networks such as professional working groups.
• Comfortable in public speaking or facilitation scenarios.

Salary and Application Details

This is a permanent, full-time post subject to successful completion of a probationary period of three months. The salary range for this post is £35,897–£39,180 per annum depending on experience and qualifications. The post is based in Kensington, London.

Benefits include:

• Full time working week of 35-hours with core working hours between 10.00am-4.00pm.
• Flexible working arrangements (mix of office-based and home working).
• 25 days annual leave per annum plus public bank holidays.
• Society closure between Christmas and New Year (in addition to basic annual leave).
• Pension scheme: 3% employee, 7.5% employer.
• Group Life Assurance at four-times basic annual salary.
• Free annual eye test and annual flu vaccination.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Free 24-hour Employee Assistance helpline with counseling support.

The Society aims to be an equal opportunities employer. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. The Society is unable to offer work visa sponsorships.

How to Apply: Please visit our website for additional information and instructions on how to apply.