Marine Mammal Adviser 2026055

Job summary

Post Background

JNCC’s Marine Management Team provides evidence-based advice on the environmental impacts of activities taking place in the offshore marine environment to appropriate authorities responsible for their regulation. The advisory functions of the team are centred on helping government(s), regulators and developers meet the requirements of relevant legislation. Our teams core role focuses on advising on impacts of industry activity for example: offshore oil and gas, aggregate extraction and renewable energy, as well as other industry sectors. We also advise on the development of marine plans and policy surrounding marine industries.

We are seeking a Marine Mammal Adviser to support high profile ongoing protected species and offshore industries work within JNCC. The post-holder will be expected to take the lead on tasks and to work closely with others to seek their input where needed. They will routinely work with colleagues in the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, regulatory agencies, Defra and the Devolved Administrations.

Why JNCC?

We’re small enough (c.290 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 Duties

The post holder will join a team of experienced marine mammal advisers and contribute towards the team’s advisory role for nature conservation issues. Duties include:

• Delivery of fast paced, marine mammal conservation advice on impacts from offshore industries, in particular on underwater noise and management for all relevant sectors. This will involve working in collaboration with colleagues in the country conservation agencies, regulators, industry and NGOs.

• Within agreed deadlines, assess offshore industries consent applications and provide high quality, evidence-based advice to regulators on the effects of those proposals on marine mammals in light of relevant legislation on protected species and their habitats.

• Provide marine mammal advice in the event of offshore pollution events and participate on the roster for duty officer, providing a 24/7 response service for environmental information and advice in the event of an offshore pollution incident (this includes on-call allowance uplift payments).

• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders (e.g. developers, regulators and other nature conservation bodies across the UK)

• Organise project and/or partnership meetings and events, providing secretariat functions where necessary.

• As required, manage research project contracts to address key conservation issues associated with offshore industries and contribute to ongoing projects including marine mammal mitigation and noise management in MPAs.

• Support wider Marine Management work as required

Person specification

Please use the S.T.A.R Technique when applicable:

• Situation: Set the scene and explain the context.
• Task: State your goal or what you needed to do.
• Action: Describe the exact steps you took.
• Result: Share the outcome and what you achieved.

Behaviours

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

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

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• A relevant qualification (or equivalent experience) in marine biology, biological sciences, environmental sciences, or other relevant discipline.
• Strong background in the science of marine mammals
• Detailed knowledge of the main provisions of UK and European/ International policy and legislation on the protection of marine mammal species and their habitats.
• Experience in reviewing and interpreting the effects of offshore industries on marine mammal species and their habitats, particularly in relation to underwater noise, within UK consenting processes.
• The ability to critically review scientific information, appraise and effectively communicate uncertainty and provide high quality, risk- based, impartial advice.

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

• A relevant qualification (or equivalent experience) in marine biology, biological sciences, environmental sciences, or other relevant discipline.
• Strong background in the science of marine mammals
• Experience in reviewing and interpreting the effects of offshore industries on marine mammal species and their habitats, particularly in relation to underwater noise, within UK consenting processes.

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.

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.

If you are offered an interview you will be sent a scenario to consider and discuss at interview.

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

2026055-Marine Mammal Adviser Opens in new window (pdf, 198kB)