CITES Licensing Assistant - 2026035

Job summary

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.

Job description

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.

Person specification

Please demonstrate your Technical, Experience and Behaviours in STARR format where applicable

• 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:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• 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 of studying 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.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £28,558, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £8,273 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).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

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 has been 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. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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 selection process you will be required to attend an interview.

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

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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

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

CITES Licensing Assistant - 2026035 JD_O Grade Opens in new window (pdf, 243kB)