About the job

Job summary

Post background

The Nature Conservation Policy and Advice (NCPA) Team in JNCC plays a key role in nature conservation in the UK, working with partners in the country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs), the UK and devolved governments and the wider nature conservation community. We maintain an overview of UK nature conservation policy and legislation; facilitate, convene and, where required, co-ordinate joint UK working on key topics; and work with UK countries on areas of priority where JNCC contributes complementary capabilities of evidence and advice. Within JNCC, the NCPA Team works collaboratively across the organisation delivering shared solutions, for example on protected areas, and in developing evidence-based approaches to addressing environmental threats and opportunities.

We are looking for someone with knowledge of nature conservation, environmental issues and particularly how land management is critical to achieving nature recovery across the UK. You will have the ability to rapidly understand, analyse and synthesise information from a range of sources, and help to integrate current evidence and advice into regular engagement with stakeholders. These stakeholders are the governments of the four countries of the UK the CNCBs and other government agencies, and wider stakeholders on the development of new initiatives for nature recovery and the provision of public goods (including the Environmental Land Management Scheme in England and supporting the agricultural transition in Northern Ireland).

You will need to understand the developing policy surrounding agriculture, land management and the wider environment including biodiversity. You will be involved in projects across the team and will lead specific areas, depending on your experience, skills, and interests. Your work will ensure JNCC’s evidence and advice is effectively deployed to deliver the best outcomes for nature recovery.

Job description

Post Duties 

• Provide policy and technical advice, and expertise on issues relating to land use and biodiversity in the UK.

• Contribute to and support the team’s work in facilitating joint-UK working on biodiversity, protected areas, land use, and natural capital, sharing your knowledge on land management with the wider team where necessary.

• Build effective relationships with key partners and stakeholders from across the UK to deliver best outcomes for nature recovery.

• Gather and interpret developments in relevant policy areas within UK and devolved governments, country nature conservation bodies and other stakeholders particularly those involved in land management across the UK.

• Communicate effectively, for instance through presentations, reports, and scientific papers, managing web content, newsletters, and other media.

• Identify new and emerging evidence and advice needs and work with team members and other partners to develop these ideas towards funding and implementation.

To contribute to the running of JNCC’s business through taking responsibility for any of:

• project management support and outcome dissemination, and where necessary act as project manager,
• convening and running joint UK groups and other project groups,
• manage contracts, including the drafting of specific

Person specification

Please demonstrate in your statement your suitability for the position.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,573, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £8,866 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), 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 Behaviours and experience section of this advert to show how you’re suitable for the role.

Please use the STARR technique

• Situation: Set the stage. 
• Task: Explain where you fit in. 
• Action: Describe each step. 
• Results: Impress with your achievements.
• Reflection: what have you learned 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window). 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.