Ecosystems Evidence Specialist x2

Post Title: 2 x Ecosystems Evidence
Specialist
Team: Ecosystems Analysis
Ref No: 202503 & 202504
Grade: H (HEO)
Type of appointment: 1 x Permanent & 1 x FTA for 2 years

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
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. This post may also be suitable for job share.

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

JNCC provides advice and technical support to stakeholders in the UK, including the Government
(as well as to the Overseas Territories and other international partners). We assist with
capacity building, and project implementation, to manage and enhance biodiversity and nature
recovery. Key aspects of JNCC’s advisory and implementation roles are to develop and implement
the concepts of ‘nature-based solutions’ and ‘natural capital’ in the UK, and to deploy UK
science and technology to build effective partnerships to enhance the understanding of the
value of biodiversity to all sectors of society.

JNCC’s Ecosystems Analysis Team is inter-disciplinary, bringing together skills in citizen
science monitoring, rapid analysis and model deployment, and Earth observation applications to
make up three elements:

• A set of long-term partnerships with organisations undertaking species surveys in
  terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems using networks of volunteers.
• An analysis and modelling capability producing rapidly deployable models. These include a
  range of models focussed on predicting outcomes from changing land uses and environmental
  pressures.
• An Earth observation data processing and analytical capability which is migrating from an
  initial focus on spatial mapping of habitats to detecting change within spatial frameworks of
  habitats.

As a member of an interdisciplinary team, you will be expected to work across all three areas
as required. Our work involves devising practical evidence solutions to complex problems
including targeting investment for multiple ecosystem service outcomes, detecting the response
of biodiversity to interventions at the local scale, understanding the impact of consumption on
the environment, and devising workable indicators for soil health and biodiversity indicators
for Overseas Development Aid projects.

JNCC is looking for an Evidence Specialist with experience synthesising evidence from diverse
sources to devise approaches to complex problems. You will use your skills in research,
analysis and facilitation to help ensure that environmental decision making is based on the
best possible evidence. The team predominantly work on terrestrial projects, and you will be
expected to support on a range of dynamic topics such as soil health, the potential for DNA
monitoring, and supporting land use and spatial prioritisation within the UK.

The precise duties and responsibilities will be determined depending on the skills of the successful candidate. The post holder will be expected to be highly flexible, willing to work
with terrestrial advice and project implementation roles, to engage in long-term and short-term
projects and at times, work to tight and demanding deadlines.

Post Duties

• Establish the current state of knowledge and produce reviews on the tools and techniques
  available to quantify environmental pressures, activities or responses.
• Manage projects or work packages with support from senior staff, including contributing to
  work planning, scoping of potential future work, liaising with customers, staff and
  contractors, coordinating quality assurance processes for project outputs, and completing
  relevant project documentation.
• Collate and analyse information from stakeholders to help identify their evidence needs and
  to research options for tackling these needs. Deliver stakeholder engagement activities
  including workshops and briefings.
• Design and produce outputs from the evidence-base, including proofs of concept, tools,
  protocols, case studies, evidence for policy summaries, research reports, and published
  research, working collaboratively with others.
• Contribute to design of mechanisms for producing, integrating, and analysing local data
  such that it adds value to local and national scale assessments of the state of nature.

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• A good understanding of the main ways in which terrestrial species and habitats can be
  monitored, and how data can be interpreted for multiple purposes including relating results to
  ecosystem service delivery and natural capital values.
• Good writing skills with an ability to synthesise complex information and
  communicate concepts to technical and non-technical audiences through a variety of means.
• An ability to engage with stakeholders and partners, determine their priorities and work
  collaboratively with them.
• A logical analytical approach to understand complex scientific or societal issues and to
  identify the data and models likely to help inform them

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• 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 Communicating and Influencing

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

JNCC do not provide sponsorship.

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Sunday, 02 March 2025

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 24 March 2025