International Biodiversity Adviser 2026067

Job summary

Post background:

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the statutory adviser to the UK Government on nature conservation in the UK and internationally, working at the science-policy interface.

The International Advice Team leads on providing advice to governments across the UK on a range of Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to which the UK is Party. These include the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), as well as to the subsidiary bodies of the MEAs and other affiliated science-policy platforms, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES). Our experts regularly form part of UK delegations at international meetings and engage with other associated international-level fora. Our work at an international scale is constantly changing as international and domestic priorities develop and as reflected in the JNCC Strategy.

The post holder will have the opportunity to work across a number of MEAs and assist in delivering JNCC’s duties to enable the UK to meet its international obligations. The position will be supporting policy development and increased UK ambition in the area of international nature conservation.

The post holder needs to have a good understanding of the importance of the relationship between scientific research, evidence and policy development. You will be reporting to a Senior International Biodiversity Adviser, and working closely with officials in Defra, other UK government departments and the devolved governments, and with specialists from across JNCC and the Country Nature Conservation Bodies. This will support the development of advice and guidance on a variety of international issues and their implementation throughout the UK.

Discussion with and input from other stakeholders will be required for this role. You will need to work with a wide range of specialists and stakeholders to undertake policy-relevant analysis and to contribute to developing practical advice in a fast-moving science-policy environment. There may be opportunity for international travel associated with this post.

Job description

Post Duties:

While staff often work across multiple MEAs to support team resilience and create learning and development opportunities, past experience, skills, and interests of the incumbent are taken into consideration. Tasks may include:

• Providing scientific and technical advice to Defra, the Devolved Administrations, and the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies on issues relating to international biodiversity.

• Preparing for international meetings including drafting documents, gathering and analysing relevant evidence, and preparing briefings for UK delegations.

• Compiling and drafting international reports (e.g. the recently released 7th National Report)

• Representing JNCC at relevant meetings in the UK and potential participation in UK Government delegations at international meetings, including Conferences of the Parties and other related intersessional meetings.

• Contributing to the development of new projects.

• Building relationships with key stakeholders to enable/facilitate delivery against UK objectives and meet wider UK policy commitments.

• Supporting the development and use of biodiversity indicators

• Contributing generally to the work of the International Advice Team as required.

Person specification

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 Working Together.

Behaviours

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

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

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Good understanding of the benefits biodiversity provides to people and sustainable development, demonstrated through practical application
• Good understanding of the objectives and role of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
• Experience synthesising complex information and communicating this to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience diplomatically engaging with stakeholders and partners, identifying their priorities and working collaboratively with them to achieve common goals.
• Experience translating commitments made under multilateral environmental agreements or other high-level commitments into practical policy, regulatory, scientific or operational action.

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Good understanding of the benefits biodiversity provides to people and sustainable development, demonstrated through practical application
• Experience synthesising complex information and communicating this to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience diplomatically engaging with stakeholders and partners, identifying their priorities and working collaboratively with them to achieve common goals.
• Experience translating commitments made under multilateral environmental agreements or other high-level commitments into practical policy, regulatory, scientific or operational action.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,130, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £9,597 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.

Please use the STARR method when appropriate:

• — Situation: Set the scene and provide necessary background context
• T — Task: Explain your specific role, responsibility, or goal in that situation
• A — Action: Describe the exact, practical steps you took to solve the problem or handle the challenge
• R — Result: Share the outcome of your actions, using quantifiable metrics or data whenever possible.
• R / T — Reflection or Takeaway : Add what you learned, how it applies to your future work, or what you would do differently next time.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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

2026067-International biodiversity adviser Opens in new window (pdf, 205kB)