This post will have a base in either Peterborough or Aberdeen

JNCC will be adopting a more flexible approach to working options and, once we are able to return to working in our office locations, our people will have more flexibility about where they choose to work. The expectation is that we will be expected to work from our office base for 1 – 2 days a month as a minimum.  One of the posts may require foreign travel, subject to JNCC, Government and international regulations and guidelines on Covid-safe international travel. 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 almost 230 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.  The International Implementation and Ecosystems Analysis teams are mainly based in Peterborough.

Why JNCC?

We’re small enough (c.230 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 advisers with the freedom and tools you will need, and our friendly team will assist you in your role. You will benefit from our supportive workplace culture, excellent holiday and pension benefits, 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. One of these posts 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.                    

Post background

Two Biodiversity Project Managers are being sought, one to join our International Implementation Team and one to join our Ecosystems Analysis Team.  Projects will be wide-ranging and likely to involve multiple JNCC teams.  In both posts, you will need to be a strong logical thinker with a good knowledge of biodiversity and natural capital.  You will need to be a confident communicator, able to work across teams and with external stakeholders.

International Implementation Team:

Our International Implementation Team (IIT) has recently secured exciting new funding to support the UK Overseas Territories (OTs) with implementing a variety of biodiversity projects.  We are seeking a Biodiversity Project Manager who is able to provide strategic project management leadership, assisting others with project delivery and implementation, including undertaking financial tracking and reporting to funders, with scope to lead work packages and develop funding bids.  

IIT has long established partnerships with the UK’s OTs and has recently developed partnerships in South America and Southern Africa.  The team undertakes a wide variety of on-the-ground projects, from ridge to reef.  Projects aim to maximise access to data, exchange knowledge and build capabilities to protect and enhance biodiversity. The team collaborates with governments, communities, and other stakeholders, taking into account the economic and social value of biodiversity at national and community levels.  Recent projects include working with the OTs to tackle disease on Caribbean coral reefs, identifying the role of nature-based solutions, and sharing Covid-19 green recovery experiences.

Ecosystems Analysis Team:

The Ecosystems Analysis Team is also seeking an experienced Biodiversity Project Manager.  You will need to be capable of developing initial project concepts into coherent sets of work packages and deliverables.  Once projects are developed, the postholder would provide ongoing leadership and project-tracking, whilst assisting others in project delivery. 

JNCC’s Ecosystems Analysis Team brings together three elements:

• A set of long-term partnerships with organisations undertaking species surveys using networks of volunteers.
• An analysis and modelling capability producing rapidly deployable models.
• An earth observation data processing and analytical capability which is working on detecting change within spatial frameworks of habitats.

Recent projects have included modelling and mapping ecosystem services in the UK and overseas, creating apps to help land managers consider the trade-offs of nature based solutions within their land, using machine learning to identify potential areas of peat restoration from EO imagery, and building an app to aid remote habitat change detection.

Job Description:

There are two posts being advertised as part of this recruitment with similar duties as follows:

• Develop logical frameworks for projects using your understanding of natural capital and biodiversity systems to achieve conservation outcomes.

• Provide strategic and timely support to Team project managers and Team Leaders to ensure that:
• planning, delivery and project budgets are well managed and auditable;
• relevant agreements, contracts and reports are submitted internally, to partners and funding bodies, and
• that risks are appropriately managed.  

• Liaise with the Finance & Planning Team, developing expertise in JNCC project management systems, including finance, contributing to systems development and ensuring that the Team has accurate information for project management and reporting purposes.

• Contribute to project communications and other work in the Team, including through social media and the JNCC website.

• Support the wider work of the Team and JNCC as appropriate, including providing senior technical input into projects as required.

• Line-manage and supervise staff to deliver the work described above.
• Contribute to the writing of bids for future project opportunities.
   

Technical

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

·         Experience of managing large and complex projects with multiple partners, including tracking budgets, technical and financial reporting to funding bodies and customer relationship management and ideally of government Monitoring & Evaluation processes. 

·         At least one of:

o   Experience working with funding bodies and ideally international partners and developing strategic funding bids.

o   Experience of project design, particularly early project design when objectives may be unclear and need significant work with stakeholders

·         Experience of government Monitoring & Evaluation processes desirable.

·         Knowledge of ecology and nature conservation work with an in-depth knowledge of at least one topic (e.g. marine/ terrestrial plant/animal ecology, species specialism), and of key nature conservation approaches used in policy and practice.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture

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 Making Effective Decisions

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

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Monday, 14 June 2021

The anticipated interview date is Wednesday, 23 June 2021