Marine Monitoring Manager 2023100

Post background

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.  

Short Summary: 

JNCC are looking for a Marine Monitoring Manager to join the Marine Monitoring Team. You will work under the guidance of JNCC’s Marine Monitoring Team Leaders, with a range of other specialists, both within JNCC and in other organisations. Using your knowledge of marine biodiversity and monitoring, you will help lead marine monitoring strategy and research and development for all UK marine biodiversity but particularly related to the offshore benthic environment and Marine Protected Areas. You will work with colleagues in the country nature conservation bodies (NatureScot, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, CEFAS, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland) and other public bodies (e.g. MMO, Environment Agency).       

Post background:

JNCC is the statutory adviser to UK Government on UK and international nature conservation. ln using our advisory responsibilities, JNCC supports governments in achieving their vision of clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas through piloting and demonstrating improved use of evidence and analysis in decision making. 

The Marine Monitoring Manager post will work within JNCC’s well-established Marine Monitoring team, which has a hugely diverse and exciting work portfolio centred around providing evidence to support tackling biodiversity loss and climate change across our seas.

Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) are areas of the sea that allow the protection and full recovery of marine ecosystems.  By setting aside some areas of sea with high levels of protection, HPMAs will allow nature to recover to a more natural state, allowing the ecosystem to thrive.  HPMAs present a unique opportunity to monitor ecosystems in areas where damaging activities will be prohibited.  To date, monitoring of offshore MPAs has focussed on the seabed habitats. All marine biodiversity components will be considered for monitoring in the HPMAs (cetaceans, seabirds, seals, pelagic, benthic, fish and cephalopods and food webs).  
The Marine Monitoring manager post will provide a key leadership function for the management of programmes of work relating to strategic monitoring plans for HPMA marine ecosystems and the future of evidence collection from UK offshore waters.

Post Duties 

• Lead the Marine Monitoring Programme Strategy Project, setting targets with the Programme Leaders, and managing and reporting on delivery. 

• Lead on Highly Protected Marine Area and wider UK offshore monitoring research and development work to inform and steer the programme of monitoring for all biodiversity;

• Work with partners to improve the functioning of marine biodiversity monitoring programmes across the UK and ensure a robust and accessible evidence base for developing policy advice;

• Work with others at JNCC and with partners to support the delivery of operational monitoring for HPMAs and MPAs in UK offshore waters and liaise with, plankton, seabird and marine mammal specialists regarding monitoring activities. 

• Support JNCC’s national and international monitoring work, for example under the UK Marine Strategy, Environment Bill and the International Oslo Paris (OSPAR) Convention.

• Contribute to the writing of proposals for future project opportunities related to marine biodiversity monitoring.

• Manage other projects and contracts necessary to support JNCC and its marine monitoring and evidence work.

• Line-managing and supervising a small team to deliver the work described above;

Most of the work will be office based, but there may be opportunities to participate in field surveys at sea (for up to several weeks at a time). The post-holder will be required to work with colleagues in JNCC’s Peterborough and Aberdeen offices, and will be required to attend meetings in UK and overseas, involving overnight stays away from home.

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

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

• Advanced knowledge and understanding of the marine biodiversity in UK waters, including knowledge of relevant scientific and survey techniques for benthic habitats and knowledge of the UK and European marine habitat classifications.
• Experience of marine environmental monitoring using a variety of sampling and data interpretation techniques, including knowledge and experience of assessing how marine activities may affect marine biodiversity.
• A comprehensive understanding of the UK’s work and progress on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).
• A good understanding of the principles and techniques for assessing the status/condition of marine ecosystems.
• Verifiable experience in the use of standard office software, databases, GIS and statistical packages, to manipulate, interrogate and interpret spatial datasets, including experience of integrating and analysing different types of data from multiple sourc
• Additional skills and experience that would be valuable to the post are:
  • Detailed knowledge of the main provisions of UK and European policy or legislation concerning nature conservation.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and/or relevant recent practical work experience that provides the following knowledge, experience and behaviours

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

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitment@jncc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@jncc.gov.uk