Post title: Biodiversity Policy
Support Officer
Team: Nature Conservation and Policy Advice
Ref no: 202338
Grade: O (EO)
Type of appointment: Permanent
Location: Peterborough or Aberdeen
Salary: £24,735

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. 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.

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.

Short 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 works collaboratively across the organisation delivering shared solutions, and
in developing evidence-based approaches to addressing environmental threats and opportunities.

This role will provide support to UK and country engagement work, to Chief Scientists Group
(CSG), and projects on biodiversity, protected areas and species lists. The work includes:
• Supporting UK-coordination work on protected areas, especially JNCC’s duties under the
Habitats Regulations; and their relationship where relevant to multi-lateral environmental
agreements (e.g. Bern Convention);
• Supporting successful engagement with UK government and devolved governments, as well as
partner arm’s length bodies to support the development and implementation of policies for
nature recovery; especially the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, helping to
ensure JNCC’s evidence and policy advice is effectively deployed;
• Building knowledge of the evolving legislation and policy landscape across UK countries
relevant to JNCC’s work, analysing the implications for JNCC and communicating this to JNCC
staff.
• Providing secretariat support to CSG, and possibly other groups, including convening
meetings, collating of papers, distributing to group members, writing agendas and minutes.

Job description: post duties

The main focus of the post will be to provide project support to JNCC’s NCPA Team. This
includes contributions to groups for which the team provides the secretariat: the Chief
Scientists Group (CSG), 4 Countries Biodiversity Group (4CBG), and GB Red List Working Group.
The role will assist with delivery of UK co-ordination work in biodiversity, protected areas
and species lists contributing to nature recovery. The post-holder will assist the Engagement,
Legislation and Policy (ELP) project which will include building knowledge of the evolving
legislation and policy landscape across the UK, reviewing and updating JNCC’s current policy
and legislation documentation and supporting work with devolved governments and
CNCB’s.

The post holder will work closely with others including Country Liaison Officers,
Senior Biodiversity Advisors and NCPA team leaders. This post can assist on a range of
projects, evidence gathering and advice requests concerning biodiversity, protected areas work
and species lists. This will be achieved through a combination of government, Country Nature
Conservation Bodies (CNCBs), and other relevant groups engagement, with UK co-ordination work a
very important remit for JNCC.

The post holder will carry out the functions listed below:
• Provide the secretariat for CSG and other groups. This will include organisation of
meetings, note taking, following up actions, assisting with the production of agendas and
papers.
• Support the ELP project with different tasks, such as the update and communication of JNCC
Legislation and Policy documentation, and collaborative work to support colleagues deliver
JNCC’s priority areas of work.
• Assist with NCPA’s work related to UK biodiversity and protected areas.
• Support the projects across the team on a range of tasks as needed; for example, this could
include producing material for JNCC’s website and newsletters, analysing and summarising new
policies and researching topics.
• Organise events such as meetings, workshops and webinars for internal or external
participants; includes planning, logistics, facilitation, notes and reporting.
• Support to the NCPA team as needed, including planning, administration, project and task
management, and activities of further team cohesion.

In addition, and depending on experience, the post holder will:
• Be able to work within a team, to contribute to wider team goals and to lead on particular
tasks as necessary to deliver agreed work programmes; together with the ability to work
independently and to manage personal workloads by assessing priorities and planning work
programmes.
• Have experience of working with partners and stakeholders and building effective
collaborative relationships.
• Have knowledge of ecology and nature conservation in the UK.
• Assist with data gathering, review and management for a variety of species and other
relevant spreadsheets and databases.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will have:
• Relevant degree or equivalent qualification and/or relevant recent work experience that
provides the knowledge and experience described below.

Experience (responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:
• Knowledge of ecology and nature conservation in the UK, with good knowledge in at least one
topic (e.g., plant/animal ecology, species specialism, data analysis, indicators, etc.)
• Good communication skills and ability to communicate technical information to an audience
of varying levels of technical understanding and ability.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage busy schedules and work at
pace, deliver secretarial duties such as organising meetings, papers and writing minutes.
• Good analytical and writing skills, with an ability to summarise information to produce
succinct briefing papers and to communicate complex concepts to non-technical audiences in
simple, concise, and easily accessible terms.

Behaviours
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• 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 Delivering at Pace

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.

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

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Monday, 22 May 2023.

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 05 June 2023
Peterborough UK

Salary Criteria