Biodiversity Indicators Adviser 202439

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 13th October 2024

 
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Details

Reference number

370257

Salary

£30,573
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer
H (HEO)

Contract type

Fixed term

Length of employment

1 year

Business area

JNCC - Nature Conservation Policy & Advice

Type of role

Environment and Sustainability
Science

Working pattern

Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

This post will have a base in 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.

Job summary

Post background

The Nature Conservation and Policy 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, for example our work in land use. Within JNCC, the NCPA Team works collaboratively across the organisation delivering shared solutions, and in developing evidence-based approaches to addressing environmental threats and opportunities.

JNCC and Defra jointly produce and publish the UK Biodiversity Indicators. This is an accredited official statistics compendium, which shows the UK's progress towards meeting biodiversity goals and targets, including those set out through the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

In December 2022, at the 15th Conference of the Parties of the CBD, a new ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted. It contains 4 goals and 23 targets, with a Mission ‘to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030’ towards the vision of “a world living in harmony with nature by 2050”. The GBF is accompanied by a monitoring framework that sets out indicators to track progress, including mandatory headline indicators.

The UK Biodiversity Indicator suite is being adapted to align with the new headline indicators. This will involve the modification of some existing indicators as well as the development of new indicators. The UK’s headline indicators will be used in the UK’s National Reports to CBD.

The post-holder will work with a JNCC-led project team to develop the methods for the headline indicators for the UK and subsequently produce the indicators for publication at the end of 2025.

This is an exciting opportunity to help the UK measure its progress towards the targets and goals of the GBF and ultimately feed into the CBD’s Global Biodiversity Outlook.

Job description

Post Duties 

      The main focus of the post will be to develop and produce new indicators based on the methods published by the CBD’s Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Indicators.

      The post holder will carry out the functions listed below:

      • Investigate data sources and analytical options for the production of a selection of indicators.
      • As necessary, consult with experts and the project team, to make recommendations for the preferred options for appropriate data sources and indicator development approaches.
      • Develop the analytical approach for selected indicators. Create a methodological statement guiding the production of the indicator.
      • Contribute to the creation of reproducible analytical pipelines for the automation of indicator production in R Studio.
      • Lead on the production and publication of a selection of indicators. This includes data acquisition from data providers, analysis and interpretation of the data and drafting technical information documents setting out all relevant information about the indicators, including caveats and explanation for approach where appropriate.
      • Throughout all this work the post holder may support the Project Manager and Biodiversity Indicators Manager, or others, with engagement with stakeholders, experts and statisticians, and policy officials in Defra and the Devolved Governments. This could include organising events such as meetings and workshops for internal or external participants; including planning, logistics, writing papers and presentations, facilitation of groups and note taking.
      • Contribute to other duties of the NCPA team, including activities to further team cohesion and support delivery of other projects as required.

      Person specification

      Please demonstrate in your Behaviours 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 

      Behaviours

      We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

      • Managing a Quality Service
      • Delivering at Pace
      • Working Together
      • Making Effective Decisions

      Technical skills

      We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

      • A relevant degree or equivalent qualification and/or relevant recent work experience that provides the knowledge and experience described below.
      • A knowledge of ecology and nature conservation in the UK.
      • Experience of researching and utilising large environmental datasets, of analysing scientific information and, preferably, some experience of the development, implementation, and publication of indicators.
      • Experience in the use of standard office software, databases, and statistical packages (including proficiency in R coding and use of R Studio),
      • Good communication 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.
      Alongside your salary of £30,573, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £8,856 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
      Equality and diversity

      JNCC is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected and see this as a good place to work. JNCC has a responsibility to ensure that we have an inclusive culture where discrimination, harassment, bullying and prejudice will not be tolerated. Our selection process is determined on fair and open competition and regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership.

      Continuous professional development (CPD)

      Employees are encouraged to keep developing skills and professional knowledge.
      JNCC has made available, and encourages employees to use, on average, five working days per annum for CPD activities with access to related funding

      Leave entitlement

      JNCC annual leave allowance is 25 days per annum. After five years’ service, leave entitlement increases to 30 days per annum.
      In addition to annual leave, JNCC offers 12 public and privilege days per annum, three of which are explicitly reserved for office closure between Christmas and New Year.

      Work/life balance

      JNCC supports flexible working hours and practices to help employees strike a good balance between work life and personal life.

      Our policies are family-friendly and include flexi-time, flexible working patterns, compressed hours and dispersed working. JNCC also offers paid maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, over and above the minimum statutory entitlements. Some work/life balance benefits are available following a minimum length of service.

      Any move from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

      Civil Service Pension

      Employees will have the opportunity to join Civil Service pension arrangements, which include a valuable range of benefits. JNCC makes a significant contribution to the cost of employee pensions.

      Employee Assistance Programme

      JNCC provides employees with a free and confidential support service which gives unlimited access to information, advice and emotional support to help employees prepare for and manage all of life's ups and downs, events and challenges.

      Trade Union

      JNCC has entered into a partnership agreement with its recognised Trade Unions: Prospect and PCS, which employees are able to join and be involved with.

      Salary sacrifice schemes

      Employee Discount Scheme

      Civil Service Sports Club

      Selection process details

      This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
      If selected for interview there will be a test/Presentation required

      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.

      Diversity and Inclusion

      The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
      This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
      Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

      Contact point for applicants

      Job contact :

      • Name : Recruitment Team
      • Email : recruitment@jncc.gov.uk

      Recruitment team

      • Email : recruitment@jncc.gov.uk

      Further information

      Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact recruitment@jncc.gov.uk in the first instance.

      Attachments

      202439 Biodiversity Indicators Adviser Opens in new window (pdf, 160kB)

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