These posts 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.  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 200 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.200 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. 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

The International Advice Team (IAT) leads on providing advice to governments across the UK on a range of biodiversity-related Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to which the UK is Party and meeting reporting obligations under these. These include the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), African Eurasian Migratory Birds Agreement (AEWA) and Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance, amongst others. A major focus at present is supporting government on the negotiation of a new post-2020 Global Biodiversity framework to replace the, now expired, Aichi targets.

The United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union (EU) provides an unprecedented opportunity to transform policy affecting the environment in the UK and internationally. This is also a vitally important decade to address the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. The UK has pioneered the ‘Leaders’ Pledge for Nature’ (LPN), which sets the scene for ambitious action on climate and nature throughout 2021. The four countries of the UK have been developing their approaches to these issues with the 25 year Environment Plan in England,  The Scottish Environment Strategy and  Scottish biodiversity strategy post-2020: statement of intent,  Nature Recovery Action Plan in Wales and the Northern Ireland Climate Change Adaptation Programme 2019-2024.

These strategies and plans are set against the expectation of an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework (to replace the recently expired CBD Aichi targets).  An important outcome of the adoption of the framework will be adjusting UK policies which directly affect the natural environment. This will require that biodiversity considerations are fully mainstreamed (integrated and embedded) in other sectors so that policies on climate change, poverty alleviation, and social and economic development do not have unintended consequences for biodiversity (and that biodiversity conservation contributes to these agendas).

Two posts are now available within the International Advice Team (IAT).

One post will develop evidence to underpin advice on the conservation of migratory birds and the second will develop advice to UK Governments on implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, especially in relation to the development of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. 

Post 1 Migratory birds advice - Job Description:

This post will focus on advising policy on the conservation of migratory birds which face a variety of threats during their annual movements between breeding and wintering areas.  You will work alongside colleagues in International Advice Team (IAT) and from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), to develop and deliver the UKs contribution to international efforts to protect and manage migratory bird populations and the habitats throughout their flyways. The post will advise on implementation of various international agreements under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), including the African-Eurasian Waterbirds Agreement (AEWA), the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) and the CMS Raptors Memorandum of Understanding.  You will also work with colleagues across JNCC to develop and potentially implement proposals for a programme of work to help conserve UK breeding bird populations when they spend the winter in Africa. 

This post will require you to be aware of the bigger picture to ensure that the UK’s work on migratory birds under CMS is aligned with other UK processes, including the outputs and activities under other relevant international agreements and mechanisms, such as the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI), under Conservation of Arctic Flora & Fauna (CAFF), and the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Northeast Atlantic.

Post 1 Duties

• Lead (in close collaboration with Defra) the UK work programme under AEWA;
• Participate in UK delegations to the AEWA Standing Committee and Technical Committee, and in other groups as required (e.g. Action Plan Working Groups)
• Input to other work on migratory birds under the Convention on Migratory Species, including CMS-AEMLAP and CMS-Raptors MoU and lead on the collation and drafting of UK national reports to AEWA and other relevant MEAs;
• Participate in other relevant international fora to ensure UK CMS activities on migratory birds are adding value to the work under other MEAs including CAFF-AMBI, OSPAR and CBD;
• Contribute to the development of proposals for conserving UK migratory birds overseas
• Maintain and develop relationships with relevant policy leads in Defra and in the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland;
• Work with colleagues across JNCC to ensure that UK monitoring and information flows sufficiently reflect the requirements and activities of MEAs, with respect to migratory birds;
• Maintain and develop links with colleagues in other JNCC teams and with technical specialists from the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) involved in the collection and dissemination information on migratory bird populations in the UK;

• Undertake the effective management and leadership of relevant staff, projects and budgets as required; 
• Contribute to other duties of the international advice team as required.

Post 2 Convention on Biological Diversity advice - Job Description:

The post holder needs to have a good understanding of the importance of the relationship between scientific research, evidence and policy development.  You will be working closely with officials in the Department for Environment & Rural Affairs (Defra), other UK government departments and the devolved governments and with specialists from across JNCC and the Country Nature Conservation Agencies to develop advice and guidance on a variety of international issues, focused on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).  Discussion and input from other agencies and stakeholders will also be required. You will need to work with a wide range of specialists and stakeholders to undertake policy analysis and to develop practical advice in a fast-moving policy environment.

Post 2 Duties

The post-holder will:

• Support UK governments in development of positions on biodiversity with respect to the UK’s international obligations;
• Contribute to the development of the UK’s approach to the development of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, including the development and review of related indicators at global and UK scale;
• Participate in UK delegations to relevant international meetings, including meetings of the CBD’s Conferences of the Parties and of SBSTTA (its scientific subsidiary body) lead on the production of JNCC advice to government for such meetings and be responsible for undertaking relevant actions arising from such meetings;
• Lead on the collation and drafting of the UK’s national report to the CBD and other relevant agreements;
• Contribute to the development and implementation of a revised UK Biodiversity Framework and to the work of the Four Countries Biodiversity Group;
• Contribute to, or lead on, the development of JNCC bids and partnerships to increase our access to external funding;
• Be responsible for effective management and leadership of relevant staff, projects and budgets as required;
• Contribute to other duties of the international advice team as required including, where necessary, overseeing the production of relevant web content.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will:

-       have a degree or equivalent in the natural sciences;

-       be knowledgeable about biodiversity, in the UK or internationally, and the benefits it provides to people and sustainable development and, for post 1, knowledge of migratory birds and the threats they face;

-       have a good understanding of the various remits and provisions of international biodiversity agreements and obligations and the legal & policy frameworks for conservation in the UK;

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• .A logical analytical approach to understand complex scientific or societal issues and to identify the knowledge and evidence needed to inform them. 
  • Good writing skills and the ability 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.
  • An ability to think strategically and to make effective use of project management skills and other techniques to deliver outcomes, including identifying risks and mitigating actions
    • Seeing the Big Picture
      •    Communicating and Influencing
      •    Working Together
      •   Delivering at Pace

Behaviours

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, 15 August 2021

The anticipated interview dates will be between 23 August – 10 September with the exact date to be confirmed

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