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| Title | Senior International Biodiversity Officer - Disaster Resilience & Nature Based Solutions |
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| Description |
This post will have a base in either Peterborough or Aberdeen, but Peterborough is 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. 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.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 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. 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: JNCC are looking for a strong project manager with experience in nature-based solutions and disaster resilience to join the International Implementation Team. You will work under the guidance of JNCC’s International Implementation Team Leaders, with a range of other specialists, both within JNCC and internationally. Using your understanding of climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, and disaster risks in small island developing states and ODA countries, you will manage delivery of a significant programme of work to support the UK Overseas Territories with strengthening their biodiverse ecosystems to improve environmental and socio-economic resilience against climate change-related disasters. This will require skills in building and sustaining partnerships and managing complex and sometimes politically sensitive projects and teams. This is an exciting area of work that requires a strong project manager with excellent communication skills, a passion to work collaboratively, and an ability to make connections to other programmes and activities locally, regionally and globally. Post background The International Implementation team has long established partnerships with the UK’s Overseas Territories (OTs) and has more recently developed partnerships in South America and Southern Africa. These partnerships provide technical assistance and build capacity in partner Territories, countries and organisations enabling them to improve resilience against disaster risks, manage biodiversity, understand and respond to climate change impacts, improve food security, support sustainable livelihoods, and more. The team implements a wide variety of on-the-ground projects with local partners covering marine, terrestrial and coastal environments. Projects aim to maximise access to data, exchange knowledge and build technical capacity. The team collaborates with governments, communities and other stakeholders, taking into account the economic and social value of nature at national and community levels. Current/planned projects include: • ‘Nature-based solutions’ to mitigate hurricane and other disaster-related risks in the OTs. • Natural capital valuations and development of asset registers and indicators to inform to inform nature conservation investment and decision-making • Ridge to reef land use modelling and planning decision support tools to aid biodiversity conservation. • Post-Covid ‘green recovery’ and sustainable livelihoods initiatives with the OTs. • Implementation of coral reef action plans with the OTs, including response plans for stony coral tissue loss disease. • Advice to Defra and FCDO on high-impact investment strategies for nature-based solutions in the OTs and ODA-eligible countries. 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: Post Duties The main focus of the post will be to lead the team’s work in disaster resilience modelling, nature-based solutions, and capacity building and to manage high-value contracts and partnerships across the OTs. Responsibilities will include: • Overseeing the planning, management, reporting and delivery of contracts, projects and key outputs, including EQA and GDPR requirements; • Delivering existing disaster resilience projects in partnership with the Overseas Territories and other organisations (e.g. BGS); • Proactively collaborating with projects in JNCC, notably coral and economics projects, to maximise value for money and benefit from shred outputs e.g. role of coral reefs in providing protection against storm surge; • Identifying new funding opportunities, preparing funding applications and liaising with other JNCC teams to identify and make best use of staff resources across the whole organisation to deliver OT work; • Taking an active lead in developing and managing new opportunities for joint working with Defra, other departments (e.g. FCDO), agencies (e.g. Cefas, MMO, EA, UKHO and MCA) and other suitable partners; • Line-managing and supervising a small team to deliver the work described above and contribute to the running of the International Implementation Team as a whole; • Support the wider work of the Team as appropriate, including providing senior technical input into projects as required. The work will be largely office based, but there will be a requirement to travel to the Overseas Territories (potentially for several weeks at a time) to attend meetings, workshops and facilitate delivery of the work with partners and government officials. The post-holder will be required to work with colleagues in JNCC’s Peterborough and Aberdeen offices and may also be required to attend meetings elsewhere in the UK. Technical To be a successful candidate you will have: • Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject, such as environmental or biological science, environmental engineering, environmental management or similar and/or relevant recent practical work experience. • Knowledge of human activities, their pressures and impacts upon marine and terrestrial habitats and species and a broad understanding of environmental management practises. • Knowledge of data management processes and the use of databases to analyse, interpret and recognise patterns and trends in data to draw key conclusions. • Knowledge of ecology and nature conservation policy and practise in the UK Overseas Territories, ODA countries and/or internationally. • Understanding of environmental modelling and its application is highly desirable but not essential. Experience To be a successful candidate you will have: • Experience of managing complex projects with multiple partners, including tracking budgets, technical and financial reporting to funding bodies and relationship management. • Experience with on-the-ground implementation of nature-based solutions, and/or climate adaptation projects. • Proven ability to work independently in an international environment with a well-developed set of the communication and diplomacy skills to work with a wide range of overseas-based technical specialists, senior civil servants and politicians. • Experience managing small multi-disciplinary teams. Behaviours • Making Effective Decisions • Communicating and Influencing • Working Together • Delivering at Pace • Managing a Quality Service 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 Making Effective Decisions Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade: Closing date and interview date The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Tuesday, 10 May 2022 The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 16 May 2022 How to apply: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi |