Senior Earth Observation Specialist 2026012

Job summary

Post background:

The Ecosystems Analysis Team helps JNCC’s stakeholders meet the challenges of managing our environment and the benefits it provides.
This dynamic, multi-disciplinary team brings together three elements:

• A set of long-term partnerships with organisations undertaking species surveys in terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems using networks of volunteers.
• An analysis and modelling capability producing rapidly deployable models. These include a range of models focussed on predicting outcomes from changing land uses and environmental pressures.
• An Earth observation (EO) data processing and analytical capability with expertise in using EO to provide high-quality evidence on biodiversity and ecosystems to inform environmental decision making.

As a member of an interdisciplinary team, you will have the opportunity to work across all three areas, advising on how EO can be used to provide insights into complex environmental issues. You will play a part in facilitating alignment and knowledge-sharing across the devolved governments of the UK, building an understanding of their needs and challenges, and working alongside them to develop evidence products that help inform decisions across a range of environmental outcomes.

We are looking for an experienced Earth Observation Specialist who shows aptitude and creativity in combining multiple information sources to support evidence-based conservation. You will be confident in leading the technical direction of EO projects, ideally drawing on existing applied experience in the ecological domain, although applicants from other backgrounds are also encouraged.

You will be a key member of a small team that has developed methods for habitat and feature mapping, established standardised processing of optical and radar satellite data for the UK, and combined spatial data from multiple sources to model environmental pressures, assess natural capital and identify change in habitat condition.

You will provide technical leadership in EO analysis, including machine learning/AI approaches, supported by strong geospatial and data science skills. You will be encouraged to undertake horizon scanning and strategic thinking to assess how new sensors, technologies and analytical techniques can transform our approaches to delivering impactful evidence.

Job description

Post Duties:

The post will lead JNCC’s development of analytical methods for the application of Earth observation (EO) data to meet our stakeholders’ evidence needs. This will include working closely with partners in Defra, the country nature conservation bodies, and the devolved governments of the UK. This includes harnessing EO-derived information for cost-effective mapping of habitats; using EO to assess habitat change and condition; and exploring how EO-derived variables can help us understand or predict the effect that changes in land use or pressures have on biodiversity.

The main duties of the post are:

• Provide technical input, advice and strategic steer to projects involving Earth observation, working alongside colleagues to ensure we use our resources effectively and situate EO data and methods appropriately alongside other approaches to developing ecological evidence bases.
• To lead the development of novel, cost-effective Earth observation-based outputs that meet stakeholder or customer priorities for evidence on habitat and ecosystem services.
• To develop and maintain an overview of the Earth observation sensors (including satellite, airborne and drone-based), technologies and techniques that are (or may become) cost-effective to deploy in meeting the evidence needs of our stakeholders and customers.
• To develop and maintain working relationships with stakeholders and partners, including Defra’s Earth Observation Centre of Excellence, Scottish Remote Sensing Group and Wales EO group, and strengthen collaboration via the JNCC coordinated public sector EO Implementation Group. Build relationships with academic or other partners that can aid our delivery.
• Provide line management, guidance and staff development for a small number of team members.
• Manage projects to ensure delivery to time, cost and quality elements, including liaison with contractors and other agencies. Provide quality control and assurance for analytical projects in line with JNCC evidence quality assurance policy.

Person specification

Please demonstrate in your Behaviours the STARR technique 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

If successful in reaching the interview stage, you will be required to sit a test. Details will be given at the time.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Degree/equivalent experience in an appropriate subject & relevant post-graduate experience demonstrating understanding of underlying fundamental principles specific to EO data, & analysing EO & other remotely sensed data (e.g. optical, radar, LiDAR)
• Experience in applying recognised EO modelling and classification approaches to meet environmentally related evidence requirements.
• Experience of efficiently manipulating and analysing large EO and geospatial datasets and integrating these with models
• Proficient in code development (ideally R or Python) within EO and GIS analytical workflows, including statistical analysis
• Confident communication skills, ability to build successful stakeholder partnerships and work collaboratively to share knowledge and insights
• Ability to synthesise complex information and to communicate complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences across multiple modes of communication and presentation
• Experience of project management
• Good understanding of the relationship between biodiversity, ecosystems, services, sustainable development and benefits to society.

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.If successful in reaching the interview stage, a test/presentation will be required. Details will be given 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

2026012 - Senior Earth Observation Specialist - S Opens in new window (pdf, 217kB)