Job Description

Post Title: Senior Land Use Project Manager

Team: Nature Conservation and Policy Advice

Ref No: 202339

Grade: S (SEO)

Type of appointment: Permanent

Location: Peterborough or Aberdeen

Salary: £36,669                                      

This post will have a base in either Peterborough or Aberdeen or other JNCC primary locations.

JNCC has adopted a hybrid working approach, allowing colleagues to benefit from time in the office, with the flexibility also to work from home. Employees are expected to work from our office base for 1 – 2 days a month as a minimum, this will vary by team and the exact balance will depend on the nature of your role. We can provide more details at the interview and offer stages.

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. 270 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.270 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. 

Hours of work:                     Full-time

Normal minimum hours of attendance for the post are 36 hours per week over a 5-day period, Monday to Friday.

Flexi time is available. This post may also be suitable for job share.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years service.  There are also 12 days public and privilege leave.  Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years’ service. There are also 12 days public and privilege leave. Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.                  

Short Summary: Post background

The Nature Conservation Policy and Advice (NCPA) Team in JNCC plays a key role in nature conservation in the UK, working with partners in the country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs), the UK and devolved governments and the wider nature conservation community.  We maintain an overview of UK nature conservation policy and legislation; facilitate, convene and, where required, co-ordinate joint UK working on key topics; and work with UK countries on areas of priority where JNCC contributes complementary capabilities of evidence and advice.  Within JNCC, the NCPA Team works collaboratively across the organisation delivering shared solutions, and in developing evidence-based approaches to addressing environmental threats and opportunities. 

The focus of the post will be to project manage JNCC’s engagement in England’s Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELM). As these schemes are critical for nature recovery in England, JNCC is helping to provide spatial data to ensure good value for money for these schemes. Therefore, this role will manage the delivery of this spatial data, to ensure deadlines and evidence quality assurance criteria are met. To achieve this, the post holder will become an integral part of our delivery team, working closely to support the specialist analysts and policy colleagues. This is likely to involve the tracking of project deliverables, updating as necessary and tracking risks to delivery, helping where needed with the mitigation of these risks. They will also work closely with our Finance Team and be responsible for ensuring appropriate completion of JNCC’s financial processes. We are looking for someone with strong project management skills, good relationship development and excellent communications skills, and ideally a passion for ecology and nature are desirable.

Job Description: Post Duties

·       Project manage JNCC’s delivery of JNCC’s engagement in ELM schemes. The post holder will be the key financial and risk manager and have significant influence over the design and direction of the project.

·       Work with policy colleagues, to maintain effective liaison with Defra and the other technical delivery partners to ensure co-ordinated and complimentary delivery in key work areas. 

·       Co-ordinate JNCC resources that input into the project work, including working closely with Senior Land Management Advisor, and JNCC’s Ecosystems Analysis Team to deploy specialist and technical input as required within the project.

·       Procure and manage partners and contractors to ensure that contract work delivers robust scientific information and tools to meet current policy and operational needs.

·       Support JNCC’s engagement more broadly within the ELM schemes. e.g. business case writing, stakeholder engagement and communication, identifying and managing dependencies.

·       Help deliver a communication plan to promote evidence-based solutions for nature in relation to project outputs.

·       As a member of the Nature Conservation Policy and Advice team, support colleagues with emerging projects to share project management good practice.

·       Develop and maintain an understanding of relevant policy and legislation which impacts on land management (e.g. agriculture, forestry, nature recovery), the drivers for change, and their post-CAP development in the UK.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will have:

·       Accredited qualifications or equivalent training and experience in project management.

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

·       Led or played a responsible role in to managing and completing multi-partner projects or contracts within a challenging timeframe. This should include research design, specification and evidence quality assurance.

·       An ability to work with a range of stakeholders, determine their priorities and adapt delivery plans as necessary.

·       Understanding of UK and international environmental legislation and policies related to land management, including a broad understanding of the roles and functions of UK Government, the devolved administrations, and regulatory bodies.

Behaviours

•  Making Effective Decisions
•   Managing a Quality Service
•   Seeing the Big Picture
•  Communicating and Influencing

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

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

Nationality requirements 

This job is broadly open to the following groups: 

• UK nationals 
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK 
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland 
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the?European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) 
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service 
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service 
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals 

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Tuesday, 30 May 2023

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 12 June 2023

How to apply: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi