CITES Licensing Assistant

Post Title: CITES Licensing Assistant
Team: International Advice Team
Ref No: 2026035
Grade: O (EO)
Type of appointment: Fixed-term (1-Year)

This post will have a base in Peterborough.

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 one of our office bases for a few days a month as a minimum with attendance expected at regular face to face team meetings. Arrangements 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. 300 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.300 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.

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.

Post background

The International Advice team provides, amongst other things, advice across the range of multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs) to which the UK is Party, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on Migratory Species. Our experts regularly form part of UK delegations at international meetings and engage with other international programmes and capacity-building initiatives. Our international portfolio continues to expand, and we increasingly draw on our experience in the UK and Overseas Territories to support the sustainable use of natural resources at a global scale.

JNCC is appointed by the Secretary of State (Defra) as the UK’s CITES Scientific Authority (fauna). Our statutory responsibilities under CITES are currently implemented through retained European Union (EU) Wildlife Trade Regulations; as incorporated into UK law.

The post holder will support delivery of these functions, including providing scientific advice to the UK CITES Management Authorities (Defra & the Animal & Plant Health Agency) on over 20,000 import and export license applications annually, as well as contributing to wider aspects of CITES implementation.

Post Duties

Duties will principally involve advising on applications for permits issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (on behalf of Defra, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive) for the import, export and commercial use of CITES-regulated species.

On appointment the post-holder will undertake an initial training period of approximately 6 weeks, comprising a combination of in-person and virtual sessions. During this time they will develop a working knowledge of CITES and associated Resolutions, relevant UK regulations, licensing procedures, decision-making processes and Evidence Quality Assurance requirements. By the end of this period, the post holder will be expected to be able to advise on the more straightforward permit applications independently, while recognising when case require escalation or referral to more experienced colleagues.

Other duties will include carrying out trade analyses and desk top research to support sustainability assessments and CITES implementation as well as providing support to the wider International team on a range of MEAs, and related international work.

The post holder will:

• Advise APHA on individual CITES licence applications and ensure advice is based on sound scientific evidence with appropriate levels of peer review. This involves assessing the application, applying detailed knowledge of the legislation governing trade and commercial use, undertaking research of scientific literature, and in some instances, consulting other CITES Parties and/or independent specialists, and also determining existing and past levels of trade.
• Undertake desktop studies and research to assist in CITES implementation – covering specific topics or groups of applications, for example determining the importance of captive breeding in ensuring sustainable trade in a particular group of species or assessing whether levels of trade may be becoming unsustainable.
• Collate and review specific information on international trade in endangered species to assist in the preparation of briefings for senior team members and contribute to JNCC advice to Defra for meetings of the Conference of Parties and other CITES Committees. This briefing will require research, analysis and decision-making.
• Provide support to enforcement authorities responsible for enforcing CITES regulations (including: Police, UK Border Force, National Wildlife Crime Unit & HM Wildlife Inspectors). This may include the provision of prompt advice on scientific aspects of CITES to assist them in their enforcement role and/or assistance with re-homing of seized specimens.
• Contribute generally to the wider work of the International advice team as required, including the provision of advice on issues related to international biodiversity, or assist colleagues in the wider International advice team to meet their project targets.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will be/have:

• ability to learn, recall and apply the complex requirements of CITES and the UK Regulations (or any future Statutory Instrument) that govern the work of the Scientific and other CITES Authorities [Essential]
• knowledge and understanding of animal taxonomy, ecology and population biology, and of conservation policy and practice [Essential];
• knowledge and understanding of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (especially CITES) and issues relating to sustainable use of wildlife and wildlife trade [Essential];

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

Experience of studying and/or practical experience gained through employment, volunteering, placements, fieldwork, or other activities in a relevant field such as wildlife biology, wildlife management, conservation, or a related discipline [Desirable]

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

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.

Artificial Intelligence Guidance

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism is identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own), applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Artificial intelligence and Recruitment /Civil Service Careers

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 JNCC do not provide sponsorship.

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Sunday, 19 July 2026

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 10 August 2026