International Biodiversity Officer x4

Job Description

Post Title: International Biodiversity Officer x4

Team: International Implementation

Ref no: 202390-93

Grade: H (HEO)

Type of appointment: Fixed-term 2 years: posts 1, 2 & 3

                                      Fixed-term 6 months: post 4

Location: Peterborough or Aberdeen

Salary:  £28,958 (Please note a pay award is pending so this figure is expected to increase)                                         

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. 290 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.290 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.                  

Short Summary: Post background

JNCC’s International Implementation Team (IIT) is seeking 4 biodiversity professionals to work with a broad range of international partners and stakeholders to bring science and technology into the heart of decision-making, and to help address some of the most pressing environmental and social challenges faced by communities around the world.

The 4 posts will contribute to work across the team and will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects. However, each post will have a different focus, and thus diverse profiles and backgrounds are welcome to apply.

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 Sub-Saharan 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:

• Assessing natural capital values and functions in the Overseas Territories.
• Supporting social and economic development through nature-positive activities in partner Territories.
• Facilitating the development of a new Overseas Territory Biodiversity Strategy.
• Supporting awareness-raising and behaviour change campaigns to engage the public on issues of biodiversity conservation and environmental protection in the UK Overseas Territories.
• Leading the development and implementation of the new Darwin Plus Local grant scheme.
• 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.

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.

The focus areas of these posts are as follows:

• Post 1: Engagement and outreach
• Post 2: Overseas Territory Biodiversity Strategy
• Post 3: Darwin Plus Local Grants Scheme
• Post 4: Socioeconomic/social science analysis & advice for conservation

Appointment offers to each post will be based on an assessment of the ‘specialisms’ that you demonstrate and evidence through your application form and at interview.

Job Description: Post Duties

All four posts will have the following primary duties:

• Work with a broad range of international partners and stakeholders on projects in the UK Overseas Territories and South America to support landscape-scale decision-making, nature-based solutions, 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.

The task list associated with each post will depend on prevailing business need and may include the following:

Post 1: Engagement and outreach

• Support the team with developing communications and outreach strategies for projects across the team’s portfolio.
• Effectively communicate JNCC’s international implementation work across a range of channels to generate meaningful impact.
• Support the development of publications, briefings, write and create outreach materials and social media posts.
• Liaise closely with JNCC’s communications department to ensure team deliverables are in line with corporate strategy, standards, and timelines.

Post 2: Overseas Territory Biodiversity Strategy

• Support the development of the new UK Overseas Territories Biodiversity Strategy and associated implementation plans.
• Assist with drafting briefings, reports, and implementation plans in consultation with stakeholders.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners to deliver the strategy and develop implementation plans.

Post 3: Darwin Plus Local Grants Scheme

• Support delivery of the Darwin Plus Local grant scheme.
• Review and evaluate grant applications against established funding criteria.
• Support training and capacity building activities on grant management, application writing and project design.
• Actively engage diverse stakeholders in the UK Overseas Territories to iteratively improve and develop the grant scheme’s offer.

Post 4: Socioeconomic/social science analysis & advice for conservation

• Support the scoping and delivery of projects and proposals relating to sustainable development, triple-win nature-based solutions, and other interdisciplinary environmental topics
• Contribute to the development of analysis and advice using social science techniques, including statistical analysis
• Assist with engagement, outreach and capacity building activities with local communities in the countries where IIT works.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will be/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 (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have the following experience, plus experience from one of the four specialist focus areas. You may use the application process to express interest in more than one of the specialist areas, but you must provide evidence as to how you meet that experience.

Required experience for all posts:

• Knowledge of the pressures and impacts on biodiversity and how these might affect sustainable development in the face of climate change.
• Experience of synthesising, analysing and mapping environmental data and evidence.

Post 1: Engagement and Outreach

• Experience of developing and implementing communication strategies targeting specific audiences.
• Experience of stakeholder or community engagement, outreach and/or communications.

Post 2: Overseas Territory Biodiversity Strategy

• Experience of social science research and analysis.
• Experience of the development and implementation of indicators.

Post 3: Darwin Plus Local Grants Scheme

• Experience with project design, funding bodies, monitoring, evaluation and learning and/or grant making organisations.
• Experience of delivering training to a variety of audiences.

Post 4: Socioeconomic/social science analysis & advice for conservation

• Experience of social science research and analysis.
• Experience with interdisciplinary environmental projects, including fields such as environmental economics, environmental finance, public health, behavioural economics/behaviour change, environmental sociology, or other related fields.

Behaviours

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

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 Communicating and Influencing.

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 

JNCC do not have the amenities for sponsorship.

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Sunday, 29 October 2023

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 06 November 2023

Apply Here