Senior Fisheries Advisor 2022-88 (Peterborough or Aberdeen)

Location: Peterborough or Aberdeen, JNCC have adopted a flexible approach to work options and the expectation is that you will work from an office base for 1-2 days per month as a minimum with all duties carried out from a UK location.

About the job

Summary

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

Post Background

As part of the Marine Management Team within JNCC, we provide expert advice on the impacts of fishing on marine biodiversity in UK waters and beyond. The team works closely with other teams responsible for advice on conservation of marine ecosystems and mobile species.

Managing fisheries to minimise impacts on the wider marine environment presents a complex set of challenges.  JNCC is responsible for the provision of clear, evidence-based advice to fisheries managers in the UK and Devolved Administrations on the environmental impacts of fishing in the offshore, particularly across the UK MPA network. This work is highly topical in the context of EU exit and the new UK Fisheries Act as the UK regains full control of fisheries management of its waters for the first time since 1973. This presents an opportunity to support UK Government, the Devolved Administrations and respective fisheries regulators to develop bespoke MPA fisheries measures through use of emerging fisheries powers.

We are therefore seeking a Senior Fisheries Advisor to work closely with colleagues in the Marine Management Team to carry out a range of functions in relation to the implementation of fisheries measures within MPAs, assessing the effectiveness of those measures and to assist in the implementation of wider policy ambition to deliver a more sustainable approach to fisheries management. The post-holder will be expected to work very closely with partners in its sister statutory nature conservation bodies, with other scientists, with regulators and with the Governments within the UK. It is also expected that the post-holder will routinely engage with industry representatives.

The post-holder will work collaboratively with existing senior fisheries staff but will also be expected to lead on certain issues 

Job description

The postholder will carry out a range of functions with the overall objective of contributing to the provision of advice on the impacts of fishing in UK offshore waters, such as:

* Lead on the provision of advice regarding fisheries management measures for offshore MPAs in Secretary of State waters through the MMO byelaw process

* Support ongoing work on the provision of fisheries management advice for Scottish offshore Marine Protected Areas.

* Support JNCCs International team in delivering fisheries projects with the UK Overseas Territories.

* Continue to develop scientific understanding of the effects of different fishing gears on marine habitats and species.

* Ensure that all fisheries advice work produced by JNCC is well-informed, relevant and meets evidence quality standards.

* Act as line manager for Marine Management Team colleagues as needed.

* Support the Marine Management Team in the identification of opportunities and development of bids for externally funded income (e.g. fisheries impacts’ projects)

The post-holder may be required to carry out other work to support JNCC’s marine programmes as necessary.

Responsibilities

Please demonstrate in your statement of suitability your reasons for applying and any other information you feel may be relevant to your application.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and/or relevant recent practical work experience
• Knowledge of the main provisions of UK fisheries legislation and management
• Detailed knowledge of the main provisions of UK and Devolved Administration marine conservation policy
• The ability to critically review scientific information, appraise and effectively communicate uncertainty and provide high quality, risk- based, impartial advice.
• Experience of developing and managing a wide range of customer and stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of the UK fishing industry
• General knowledge of UK marine biodiversity

Benefits

Equality and diversity

JNCC is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected and see this as a good place to work. JNCC has a responsibility to ensure that we have an inclusive culture where discrimination, harassment, bullying and prejudice will not be tolerated. Our selection process is determined on fair and open competition and regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership.

Continuous professional development (CPD)

Employees are encouraged to keep developing skills and professional knowledge.
JNCC has made available, and encourages employees to use, on average, five working days per annum for CPD activities with access to related funding

Leave entitlement

JNCC annual leave allowance is 25 days per annum. After five years’ service, leave entitlement increases to 30 days per annum.
In addition to annual leave, JNCC offers 12 public and privilege days per annum, three of which are explicitly reserved for office closure between Christmas and New Year.

Work/life balance

JNCC supports flexible working hours and practices to help employees strike a good balance between work life and personal life.

Our policies are family-friendly and include flexi-time, flexible working patterns, compressed hours and dispersed working. JNCC also offers paid maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, over and above the minimum statutory entitlements. Some work/life balance benefits are available following a minimum length of service.

Any move from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Civil Service Pension

Employees will have the opportunity to join Civil Service pension arrangements, which include a valuable range of benefits. JNCC makes a significant contribution to the cost of employee pensions.

Employee Assistance Programme

JNCC provides employees with a free and confidential support service which gives unlimited access to information, advice and emotional support to help employees prepare for and manage all of life's ups and downs, events and challenges.

Trade Union

JNCC has entered into a partnership agreement with its recognised Trade Unions: Prospect and PCS, which employees are able to join and be involved with.

Salary sacrifice schemes

Employee Discount Scheme

Civil Service Sports Club

Things you need to know

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a statement of suitability. In your statement, refer to the responsibilities and experience section of this advert to show how you’re suitable for the role. Make your statement no longer than 1000 words.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

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

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name :Recruitment Team
• Email :recruitment@jncc.gov.uk
• Email :recruitment@jncc.gov.uk

Recruitment team :

Further information

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@jncc.gov.uk in the first instance.

Further details and applications here.

Attachments