Post Background

JNCC’s Ecosystems Analysis Team brings together three elements:

• A set of long-term partnerships with organisations undertaking species surveys in terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems using networks of volunteers.
• An analysis and modelling capability producing rapidly deployable models. These include a range of models focussed on predicting outcomes from changing land uses and environmental pressures.
• An earth observation data processing and analytical capability which is migrating from an initial focus on spatial mapping of habitats to detecting change within spatial frameworks of habitats.

The team focus on helping to deliver the outcome of JNCC’s strategy which is designed to help JNCC’s stakeholders meet the challenges of managing our environment and the benefits it provides.  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, developing biodiversity impact indicators for UK consumption, and helping stakeholders make earth observation applications operational for upland management, forestry, waste, air pollution, protected site and other requirements.

The team delivers the outcomes needed by stakeholders by working closely with other teams in JNCC as well as external partner organisations. 

The post would work flexibly across the Ecosystems Analysis team helping with rapid synthesis of information from research, analytical tasks, project administration and communication.   Whilst much of the focus of the team is terrestrial, some work on marine environments is also possible.

Post Duties

• Investigations: Undertake short investigations to aid team analysis work from literature, stakeholders and other sources.  To summarise and communicate the results for either internal or external audiences.
• Meeting & Workshop support: Support preparation, delivery and reporting from workshops and meetings.  Includes the development of meeting and workshop materials (eg: briefs, agendas, speaker briefs, exercises) through drafting, collation and editing, note taking, and preparation of post meeting/workshop outputs.
• Communications: To contribute to the production (drafting, editing, assembly) and dissemination of appropriate material through a range of online and paper media, which communicates project objectives, outputs or practical tools to stakeholders, practitioners more generally, and which raises the profile of the work nationally and internationally
• Spatial data support: Manipulation of spatial data (earth observation, species samples, habitat maps, physical and human activities) using QGIS (or ArcGIS), earth observation data processing tools, and scripting tools to produce high quality and consistent inputs to analyses, or to prepare outputs for use by stakeholders.
  • Data Management: Ensure that the evidence base is well managed, including data, databases and outputs, with appropriate version control and archiving, properly described, and that priority elements are published externally in line with JNCC’s Information Management policies.
  • Quality Assurance: Providing support on projects to ensure organisational standards are met and quality products are delivered and well documented.
  • Working in partnership; To work collaboratively and maintain good relationships with stakeholders to contribute towards the management of projects and surveillance schemes.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will have:

·         A degree or equivalent qualification and or recent practical work experience that provides the foundation of the knowledge needed for the technical and experience requirements of the post.

• The ability to understand and synthesise information on ecosystem components (habitats & species), how these relate to intrinsic values and functions linked to ecosystem services, and how a wide range of drivers and pressures affect ecosystems.
• The ability to use spreadsheets, simple relational databases, GIS, and, at a basic level, scripting tools, to manipulate and interpret data sets

Experience

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• Knowledge of different types of data from field habitat sampling, field species sampling, citizen science data, satellite, airborne, and drone remote sensing. 
• Experience in collecting or processing and analysing any of these types of data.

Behaviours

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

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade ( Level 2 – EO or equivalent):

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, 11 October 2021

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 01 November 2021

To apply click here.