Team Leaders, Marine Species (full time or part time)

~ Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation. ~

Our work helps maintain and enrich biological diversity and conserve geological features. It also helps sustain natural systems, which provide the core “services” we all depend on like food, fresh water and clean air. In this way they contribute to economic growth and social well-being and are integral to sustainable development.

Good policy-making, planning, development and risk management all depend on reliable, up-to-date information about biodiversity status and trends.  Our role is to provide evidence, information and advice so decisions can be made that protect our natural resources and systems.

JNCC itself is a forum that brings together the UK’s four country conservation bodies. We advise Government and a wide range of bodies to help join up policy and to deliver a strong and cost-effective evidence base by helping to see that the best possible return is achieved from investment in research and surveillance in the UK and internationally.

JNCC has a long history of specialist advice provision on marine species, primarily seabirds, cetaceans, sharks and turtles, the interaction of commercial marine practices with these species in the marine ecosystem (e.g. fisheries and energy sector activities), and the effects of those commercial practices on communities of organisms that live on or near the seabed.

Position Overview

We are looking for people who can provide clear and visible leadership to a team of specialists with a focus on quality science, technical delivery and advice.  Applicants should have a higher degree or the equivalent level of qualification or experience plus extensive relevant additional experience of policy, practice and the management of people.

You should have proven ability to communicate orally and in writing in a clear and effective manner, including the ability to discuss technical issues with both specialists and non-specialists.  You will be expected to develop external and internal partnerships and build consensus to deliver common objectives, to manage the expectations of customers (internal and external) around the services provided by the team, and to represent and promote JNCC at senior level within the UK and internationally.

You will have the ability to lead and manage a team, to direct, focus and prioritise their work and to inspire and motivate them.  In addition you will be able to solve problems where there is no precedent and to make decisions by pragmatically weighing up complex issues and risks.  You will have experience of project management, including identifying and allocating work and resources, target setting, risk assessment, evaluation, monitoring and reporting progress, plus ideally some experience of quality control and the use of project management systems.

The main work areas are:

• Cumulative impacts frameworks for seabirds & cetaceans (international)
• Cetacean & seabird management units/management plans (international)
• Management of relations with the fishing industry
• General fisheries conservation advice
• Advice on fisheries management policy & practice
• Inter-agency work (species ecology / fisheries practice)
• Research initiatives / Income generation projects
• Advice on the marine species role in ecosystem services provision

Support to:

1. Vertebrate monitoring development and implementation
2. Implementation of fisheries measures for biodiversity conservation
3. Implementation of Marine Protected Areas for marine species
4. Industry / regulator guidance (national)
5. Cumulative impacts (national)
6. Inter-agency work (marine industry impacts)
7. Overview & understanding of European obligations
8. Seabird/cetacean data management and access
9. Marine species indicators
10. Marine reporting
11. Support on international trade

Hours of Work:

• Normal hours of work for the post are 36 hours per week over a 5-day period, Monday to Friday
• Flexi time is available
• Part-time hours will be considered from a minimum of 18 hours

Annual Leave Entitlement:

Responsibilities

• Lead the Marine Species advice team (at present 9 direct reports and 8 other staff), developing the team and the individuals, leading them within the context of the organisations culture and acting as an effective member of the senior management team of the JNCC
• Have responsibility for some areas of work, lead subsets on behalf of other programmes, and provide staff resource into areas led and run by others
• As appropriate, represent work and the team outside the organisation with governments and departments, other statutory bodies, industry and other marine users, and non-governmental organisations
• External support for the function is critical to its success
• Ensure the skills of the team and its individuals are fit for purpose, workloads are manageable, a positive service culture is maintained, and performance is managed
• Contribute to the corporate management of the organisation and become member(s) of the senior management forum
• Ensure the appropriateness and quality of the advice being provided
• Contribute to direction of the work, corporate planning and ensure that programme plans are realistic in the context of the overall corporate strategy and business plan
• Manage the finances associated with the programme of work
• Be flexible at all times, engaging with changes in structure, content and external relations in a constructive manner

Qualifications

Appropriate scientific knowledge and experience in order to understand, challenge, lead, direct, quality-assure and represent internally and externally the following technical areas and their development for use in policy advice, and to manage and motivate the technical staff. Collectively, the two successful candidates would need to bring:

• Awareness of the main pressures threats and issues facing the marine environment in the UK
  1. Understanding of the effects of fisheries on marine biodiversity and the management of fisheries
  2. Knowledge of the pressures caused by a range of human activities in the marine environment and the management of those pressures
  3. Knowledge of UK and European legal and policy practices relevant to the regulation of commercial fisheries and other marine industries
• A knowledge of the population ecology, monitoring and conservation, of vertebrates, ideally with some marine application
  1. Knowledge of the UK's biodiversity and an understanding of its spatial and temporal variability, preferably with some marine focus
  2. Biology of vertebrates, their monitoring, management and ecology, preferably with a specialisation in at least one of the major marine groupings (seabirds, sea fish, seals, or cetaceans)
• Both candidates would need to have experience of providing a variety of advice to at least one of the following customer groups:
  1. Public sector
  2. Non government organisations (NGO’s)
  3. Industry
• An Understanding of the roles and functions of JNCC in relation to UK Government, the Devolved Administrations and other UK and European environmental agencies is desirable
• All candidates need to be proficient in the use of standard office software, including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentational software (preferably MS Office) and the internet
• An understanding of modern social media and collaborative tools is desirable

Additional Information

In addition to the specialist competencies, candidates will need to use the application form to demonstrate experience and ability in the following essential capabilities. These will be further tested through interview for shortlisted candidates.

Leading & Communicating:

• Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust and understanding with people involved in area of work
• Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals

Collaborating & Partnering:

• Encourage contributions and involvement from a broad and diverse range of staff by being visible and accessible
• Seek constructive outcomes in discussions, challenge assumptions but remain willing to compromise when it is beneficial to progress

Managing a Quality Service:

• Make clear, pragmatic and manageable plans for service delivery using programme and project management disciplines
• Review, challenge and adjust performance levels to ensure quality outcomes are delivered on time, rewarding success

Making Effective Decisions:

• Make difficult decisions by pragmatically weighing the complexities involved against the need to act
• Push decision making to the right level and encourage innovation to achieve delivery

Delivering at Pace:

• Get the best out of people by giving enthusiastic and encouraging messages about priorities, objectives and expectations
• Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging others to do the same
• Act as a role model in supporting and energising teams to build confidence in their ability to deliver outcomes

Compensation: £44,283 pro rata

To Apply

Please be sure to click here and follow the application instructions provided on our website.