Land Management Policy Adviser 202419

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 27th May 2024

 
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Details

Reference number

349769

Salary

£30,573
A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer
H (HEO)

Contract type

Fixed term

Length of employment

2 years

Business area

JNCC - Nature Conservation Policy & Advice

Type of role

Science

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

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 our office base or at external meetings or events 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

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.

Behaviours

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

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

  • Good understanding of the relationship between biodiversity, ecosystem services, sustainable development and benefits to society
  • Knowledge of the policy and legislative framework for environment and nature conservation in the UK with a focus on farmland conservation and/or agri-environment schemes
  • Excellent evidence synthesis and writing skills, including experience of analysing complex information, graphic presentation and communicating complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Experience of working in interdisciplinary teams, including building and maintaining effective collaborative relationships
  • Experience working with land managers on the ground with a high-level understanding of some of the challenges land managers face would be Desirable
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.
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.

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.

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

202419 Land Management Policy Adviser Opens in new window (pdf, 112kB)

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