Senior Marine Mammal Specialist - 2026001

Job summary

Who are JNCC?

Since 1991, JNCC has been the UK’s statutory, independent advisor on the natural environment—supporting environmental ambitions across all four UK Governments and internationally. We sit uniquely at the intersection of science, policy, and practical delivery, enabling better decisions for nature, people, and the economy.

What We Do

We provide robust, impartial, and actionable advice on issues affecting the UK’s terrestrial and marine environment. Our work helps governments and industry manage natural resources sustainably, reduce risk, and meet environmental obligations at national, European, and global scales.

Why We’re Trusted

JNCC is led by the Joint Committee, bringing together expertise from:
Nature conservation bodies in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and
Independent experts appointed by the Secretary of State for Defra under an independent Chair. This governance model ensures our advice is evidence driven, authoritative, and aligned across the UK.

Our People

With around 300 specialists based in Peterborough and Aberdeen, we provide:
• Cutting edge scientific and technical expertise
• Deep understanding of environmental policy and regulation
• Extensive experience working with governments, regulators, and the private sector

Our teams support sectors including offshore energy, marine planning, biodiversity conservation, nature recovery, climate resilience, and more.

Why JNCC?

We’re small enough (c.300 staff) that your voice is heard by everyone in the organisation, 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 Marine Species Team provides expert advice on conservation of marine species in UK, European and international waters, with a focus on marine mammals, turtles, birds, fish and elasmobranchs(?). Our marine mammal work is highly varied and involves the delivery of species monitoring initiatives; conservation status assessment and reporting; interpretation of evidence to provide advice on protected areas management and marine mammal conservation more widely. This involves active engagement/collaboration with a variety of stakeholder groups including government(s), NGOs and academia nationally and internationally. The team plays a significant role in identifying and reducing evidence gaps, as well as in helping to shape marine mammal conservation policy.

For the role of Senior Marine Mammal Specialist, we are looking for individuals with a skillset complimentary to our primary work areas. As a small team, the post-holder will be expected to work closely with colleagues to ensure delivery of routine work but also to help identify opportunities for new areas of work in line with JNCC’s corporate strategy and identified priorities.

The post will sit in JNCC’s Marine Species Team but the postholder will work closely with colleagues across the organisation. They will also routinely work with partners in the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, regulatory agencies, Defra and the Devolved Administrations. There is an expectation that the postholder will work with national and international marine species experts as well as relevant research and policy groups to develop scientific advice to inform policy.

Post Duties:

The postholder will carry out a range of functions such as:

1. Delivering technical advice to policy colleagues on pressures and impacts on marine mammals in UK waters.
2. Undertaking marine mammal conservation status assessments e.g. UK Marine Strategy and OSPAR.
3. Contributing JNCC technical marine mammal expertise and represent UK interests in national and international forums such as OSPAR, ICES and ASCOBANS.
4. Providing advice to regulators on the management of marine mammals in UK Marine Protected Areas and the wider seas.
5. Strengthening JNCC’s strategic role in evidence gathering and co-ordination of evidence programmes e.g. multinational SCANS survey programme.
6. Providing support and secretariat function to UK strandings and bycatch initiatives e.g. SMASS, CSIP, BMP.
7. Contributing to setting the strategic direction of the team and in the identification of opportunities and development of bids for funded income.
8. Effectively representing JNCC with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.
9. Working with specialists from other teams within JNCC to support project planning and delivery.

The post-holder may be required to carry out other work to support JNCC’s marine programmes as necessary.

Person specification

Please demonstrate in your statement of suitability your reasons for applying.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Minimum of four years evidenced relevant academic or practical marine mammal work experience relevant to the job description
• Proven understanding of the relevant legal frameworks for conservation of marine mammals in the UK and abroad.
• Experience drafting technical documentation for non-technical audiences.
• Experience of strategic and innovative thinking and work/resource planning
• Experience in project development, design and management.
• Experience of data analysis, interpretation and communication.
• Experience in producing peer reviewed material (publications/reports etc).
• Proven track record of effective engagement with partners and/or stakeholders.

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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a statement of suitability. In your statement, refer to the responsibilities and experience section of this advert to show how you’re suitable for the role.

Please use the STARR technique

• Situation: Set the stage.
• Task: Explain where you fit in.
• Action: Describe each step.
• Results: Impress with your achievements.
• Reflection: what have you learned

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.

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
• Telephone : 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

Senior Marine Mammal Specialist_Jan 2026 final Opens in new window (pdf, 201kB)