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

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.  We can provide more details at the interview and offer stages.

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.                      

Post background

JNCC’s International Implementation Team are seeking experienced biodiversity professionals to support the development and delivery of conservation and biodiversity projects. The International Biodiversity Officer will provide advice and support the delivery of a range of projects. The posts will also support the implementation of work packages and the development of funding bids. Ideal candidates should be detail orientated with a good knowledge of biodiversity, nature-based solutions and climate resilience. You will need to be a confident communicator, able to work with a wide range of partners and stakeholders from a diversity of cultures and fields.

IIT has long established partnerships with the UK’s Overseas Territories (OTs) and has more recently developed partnerships in South America and Southern Africa. The strategic objective of these partnerships is to provide technical assistance and build capacity in partner Territories, countries and organisations enabling them to manage biodiversity, understand and respond to climate change impacts and build more secure food supplies.

The team implements a wide variety of projects on the ground with local partners in marine, terrestrial and coastal environments, maximising access to data, skills transfer through training and optimising land/marine management to protect and enhance biodiversity, maximising recognition of the economic and social value of biodiversity at national and community levels.

Current/planned projects include:

• Supporting monitoring and valuation of migratory bird species along European – African flyways.
• Assessing natural capital values and functions in the Overseas Territories.
• Supporting social and economic development through nature-positive activities in partner Territories.
• ‘Whole island’ landscape scale planning in Overseas Territories to support biodiversity conservation.
• Supporting the development of ‘nature-based solutions’ to mitigate hurricane related flood risks in the Caribbean/Western Atlantic OTs.
• Support for the OTs to implement coral reef action plans.
• Developing landscape scale decision support tools in Latin America to support agricultural production and land restoration programmes.

The work of the team supports and advises UK policy and departments in respect of the Overseas Territories and use of Official Development Assistance in the Territories and Latin America.

Job Description:

These posts will work with a broad range of international partners and stakeholders via projects designed to bring science and technology into the heart of decision making and help address some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges humans are facing. These are two-year post with a potential for extension.

Primary duties of this post will include:

• Work with a broad range of international partners and stakeholders on projects in the UK Overseas Territories and South America to support landscape decision-making and climate change resilience/adaptation.
• Undertake research and analysis in established and emerging fields of conservation and biodiversity science
• Support the identification and development of new strategic opportunities
• Facilitate collaboration with colleagues in the UK Overseas Territories, Defra and FCDO, NGOs and private sector partners
• Maintain and cultivate stakeholder relationships
• Contribute to project communications and other work in the Team, including through social media and the JNCC website.
• Contribute to the writing of bids for future project opportunities.
• Support the team’s administration tasks critical to effective running of projects.
• Support the wider work of the Team and JNCC as appropriate, including providing technical input into projects as required.

Technical

To be a successful candidates will have:

·         Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and/or relevant recent practical work experience that provides the following knowledge, experience and behaviours.

Experience

To be a successful candidates will have:

·         A good understanding of the components of biodiversity and how these can be related to the services provided to society.  

·         A good understanding of the pressures and impacts on biodiversity and how these might affect sustainable development based on examples especially within the UK Overseas Territories and/or ODA countries.

·         A logical, analytical approach?to?understand complex scientific or societal issues and?identify the knowledge and evidence?needed to inform them.?

·         Good?writing?skills and?be?able to?synthesise?complex information and communicate?concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.?

·         An ability to engage with?stakeholders and partners, determine their priorities and work collaboratively with them.

·         Experience in stakeholder communications and outreach is desirable but not required.

·         Experience in environmental modelling is desirable but not required.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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 Sunday, 05 June 2022

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 13 June 2022

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