Job Description

Post Title: Biodiversity Policy Support Officer

Team: Nature Conservation and Policy Advice

Ref No: 202338

Grade: O (EO)

Type of appointment: Permanent

Location: Peterborough or Aberdeen

Salary: £24,735                                      

This post will have a base in either Peterborough or Aberdeen.

JNCC has adopted a hybrid working approach, allowing colleagues to benefit from time in the office, with the flexibility also to work from home. Employees are expected to work from our office base for 1 – 2 days a month as a minimum, this will vary by team and the exact balance will depend on the nature of your role. We can provide more details at the interview and offer stages.

Who are JNCC?

Established in 1991, we’re the UK’s statutory advisor on issues affecting the natural environment across the UK and internationally. Our primary role is advising all four Governments of the UK. We also work with private sector organisations to support decision making on the sustainable use of marine waters and natural resources around the UK. JNCC is led by the Joint Committee, which brings together members from the nature conservation bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and independent members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under an independent Chair. Support is provided to the Committee by approx. 270 people who bring together scientific and technical expertise, extensive knowledge of policy at global, European and national levels, and skills in working with other organisations. Staff are based in two main offices in Peterborough and Aberdeen.

Why JNCC?

We’re small enough (c.270 staff) that your voice is heard by everyone including the CEO, but big enough that we have all the skills, resources and people you’ll need to get the job done. All our staff are passionate about conservation and making a difference to the world we live in. We have a very flexible, inclusive and welcoming organisational culture. Our Executive Management provides employees with the freedom and tools you will need, and our friendly team will assist you in your role. 

JNCC is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities as well as an exciting job in a unique environment. 

Hours of work:                     Full-time

Normal minimum hours of attendance for the post are 36 hours per week over a 5-day period, Monday to Friday.

Flexi time is available. This post may also be suitable for job share.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years service.  There are also 12 days public and privilege leave.  Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years’ service. There are also 12 days public and privilege leave. Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.                  

Short Summary: Post background

The Nature Conservation Policy and Advice (NCPA) Team in JNCC plays a key role in nature conservation in the UK, working with partners in the country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs), the UK and devolved governments and the wider nature conservation community.  We maintain an overview of UK nature conservation policy and legislation; facilitate, convene and, where required, co-ordinate joint UK working on key topics; and work with UK countries on areas of priority where JNCC contributes complementary capabilities of evidence and advice.  Within JNCC, the NCPA works collaboratively across the organisation delivering shared solutions, and in developing evidence-based approaches to addressing environmental threats and opportunities. 

This role will provide support to UK and country engagement work, to Chief Scientists Group (CSG), and projects on biodiversity, protected areas and species lists.  The work includes:

• Supporting UK-coordination work on protected areas, especially JNCC’s duties under the Habitats Regulations; and their relationship where relevant to multi-lateral environmental agreements (e.g. Bern Convention);
• Supporting successful engagement with UK government and devolved governments, as well as partner arm’s length bodies to support the development and implementation of policies for nature recovery; especially the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, helping to ensure JNCC’s evidence and policy advice is effectively deployed;
  • Building knowledge of the evolving legislation and policy landscape across UK countries relevant to JNCC’s work, analysing the implications for JNCC and communicating this to JNCC staff.
  • Providing secretariat support to CSG, and possibly other groups, including convening meetings, collating of papers, distributing to group members, writing agendas and minutes.

Job Description: Post Duties

The main focus of the post will be to provide project support to JNCC’s NCPA Team.  This includes contributions to groups for which the team provides the secretariat: the Chief Scientists Group (CSG), 4 Countries Biodiversity Group (4CBG), and GB Red List Working Group.  The role will assist with delivery of UK co-ordination work in biodiversity, protected areas and species lists contributing to nature recovery. The post-holder will assist the Engagement, Legislation and Policy (ELP) project which will include building knowledge of the evolving legislation and policy landscape across the UK, reviewing and updating JNCC’s current policy and legislation documentation and supporting work with devolved governments and CNCB’s.

The post holder will work closely with others including Country Liaison Officers, Senior Biodiversity Advisors and NCPA team leaders.  This post can assist on a range of projects, evidence gathering and advice requests concerning biodiversity, protected areas work and species lists.  This will be achieved through a combination of government, Country Nature Conservation Bodies (CNCBs), and other relevant groups engagement, with UK co-ordination work a very important remit for JNCC.

The post holder will carry out the functions listed below: Provide the secretariat for CSG and other groups.  This will include organisation of meetings, note taking, following up actions, assisting with the production of agendas and papers.

• Provide the secretariat for CSG and other groups.  This will include organisation of meetings, note taking, following up actions, assisting with the production of agendas and papers.

• Support the ELP project with different tasks, such as the update and communication of JNCC Legislation and Policy documentation, and collaborative work to support colleagues deliver JNCC’s priority areas of work.
• Support the projects across the team on a range of tasks as needed; for example, this could include producing material for JNCC’s website and newsletters, analysing and summarising new policies and researching topics.  

• Assist with NCPA’s work related to UK biodiversity and protected areas.
• Organise events such as meetings, workshops and webinars for internal or external participants; includes planning, logistics, facilitation, notes and reporting.
• Support to the NCPA team as needed, including planning, administration, project and task management, and activities of further team cohesion.

In addition, and depending on experience, the post holder will:

• Be able to work within a team, to contribute to wider team goals and to lead on particular tasks as necessary to deliver agreed work programmes; together with the ability to work independently and to manage personal workloads by assessing priorities and planning work programmes.
• Have experience of working with partners and stakeholders and building effective collaborative relationships.

• Have knowledge of ecology and nature conservation in the UK,

• Assist with data gathering, review and management for a variety of species and other relevant spreadsheets and databases.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will have:

·       Relevant degree or equivalent qualification and/or relevant recent work experience that provides the knowledge and experience described below.

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

·       Knowledge of ecology and nature conservation in the UK, with good knowledge in at least one topic (e.g., plant/animal ecology, species specialism, data analysis, indicators, etc.)

·       Good communication skills and ability to communicate technical information to an audience of varying levels of technical understanding and ability.

·       Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage busy schedules and work at pace, deliver secretarial duties such as organising meetings, papers and writing minutes.

·       Good analytical and writing skills, with an ability to summarise information to produce succinct briefing papers and to communicate complex concepts to non-technical audiences in simple, concise, and easily accessible terms.

Behaviours

•   Delivering at Pace
•   Working Together
•   Communicating and Influencing
•   Managing a Quality Service

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on the Lead Behaviour of Delivering at Pace

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

Nationality requirements 

This job is broadly open to the following groups: 

• UK nationals 
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK 
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland 
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) 
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service 
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service 
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals 

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Monday, 22 May 2023

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 05 June 2023

How to apply: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi