Senior Biodiversity Economist 2026031

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

To address the twin climate and biodiversity crises we need innovative inter-disciplinary thinking to integrate the value of nature into policymaking. Economists work with experts across JNCC on a variety of cross-cutting, high-profile projects to support our mission of turning science into action for nature.
A formal degree in economics is not essential and we encourage applications from candidates with diverse academic backgrounds. However, you will need a firm grounding the principles of economics a willingness to engage with economic ideas, and experience of applying economics. You should also be familiar with related concepts such as natural capital.

You will need to:

• Build good working relationships with teams across JNCC and with external stakeholders.

• Be enthusiastic about taking on new learning opportunities and experiences. While you don’t need a PhD in economics or the natural sciences you will work with experts across a range of fields related to biodiversity.

• Be proactive in spotting opportunities to use economics to solve problems.

• Synthesise and communicate evidence clearly and effectively to a non-technical audience.

• Be able to manage projects and deliver projects, ensuring effective planning management, monitoring and evaluation.

• Potentially line manage other economists, providing leadership, guidance and support.

Person specification

Post Duties

This role sits within a small, flexible team with a defined core remit, where responsibilities may adjust in line with organisational priorities. The post holder will be expected to apply their expertise across a varied range of work and respond effectively to changing demands. Economists work across the organisation and must adapt quickly to new challenges and priorities. The successful candidate may have the opportunity to evolve the role to their own interests and abilities.

Key areas where you may be working include:

• Blue and Green Finance. We need innovative thinking to explore how existing markets can be adapted to better promote nature-based solutions, support the development of new markets, and develop idea new ideas for financing nature recovery in the UK and overseas.

• Advising UK Overseas Territories and developing nations on how to transition to sustainable blue and green economies that balance poverty reduction with preserving natural capital.

• Natural capital assessment. Economists work with terrestrial and marine scientists to help develop better measures the economic value of natural assets, and contributing to ecological models which better understand how human activities impact the delivery of ecosystem services.

• Helping to measure the benefits of biodiverse and resilient ecosystems. Including supporting our work on global sustainable consumption.

• Supporting the UK in international negotiations such as IPBES

• Working closely with policymakers in all four UK nations to incorporate the value of nature into decision-making.

• Working with terrestrial and international pollution teams to develop a better understanding of the impact of pollution on nature and ecosystem service delivery.

As part of your role you may occasionally be required to travel including internationally

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Delivering high quality economic analysis
• Effective people and project management in economics, social science, or the natural sciences.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £41,525, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £12,029 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

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.

To apply for this role, we will require you to provide a “Statement of suitability against the technical skills” required to do the job (no more than 750 words) and a 2-page CV. Ensure you address the technical skills in your statement of suitability. Evidence your work experience via your CV. Your technical skills, and work experience will be assessed at interview.

If you are lucky enough to he offered an interview there will be a test/presentation, details will be provided at the time

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

2026031 - Sen Economist JD Opens in new window (pdf, 196kB)