Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location This post will have a base in Peterborough or Aberdeen. 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 one of our office bases for a few days a month as a minimum with attendance expected at regular face to face team meetings. Arrangements 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. About the job Job summary Why JNCC? Were 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 youll 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 Post background JNCC has a pivotal role working with the four countries of the UK to understand different approaches, share experiences across the countries and ensure best use is made of JNCCs evidence sources as we strive to meet the Nature Positive 2030 vision. A key part of our evidence provision comes from developing techniques for applying satellite Earth observations, in combination with other data sources, to quantifying habitats and detecting change in their management, condition and the pressures affecting them. We are looking for a senior Earth observation specialist to help convene approaches and innovation across the sector, and to support the development of efficient data products that will help countries achieve their environmental goals. The post will be part of the Ecosystems Analysis Team which brings together three elements: An Earth observation data processing and analytical capability which is moving from an initial focus on spatial mapping of habitats to detecting change within spatial frameworks of habitats A set of long-term partnerships with bodies undertaking species surveillance through networks of volunteers An analysis and modelling capability producing rapidly deployable models. These include a range of models focused on predicting outcomes from changing land uses and environmental pressures Your role would work alongside all three elements to devise and lead the delivery of novel evidence products that provide strategic or actionable evidence for the management of biodiversity at UK and country levels. You will have the ability to interact effectively with technical experts as well as policy customers. Job description Post Duties The post will lead JNCCs development of analytical methods for the application of Earth observation data to meet our stakeholders evidence needs. These include cost-effective ways of mapping habitats; understanding habitat condition and how this affects ecosystem services and values; Earth observation-based parameters which are influential in models of species composition or abundance to help 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 and strategic steer to projects involving Earth observation, working alongside colleagues to ensure we use our resources effectively. To lead the development of novel cost-effective Earth observation-based products that meet stakeholder or customer priorities for evidence on habitat and ecosystem services. To develop and maintain an overview of the satellite, airborne and drone-based sensors and Earth observation techniques that are or will become cost-effective to deploy in meeting the evidence needs of our stakeholders and customers. To develop and maintain working relationships with stakeholder and partner sources of Earth observation expertise, including the Earth Observation Centre of Excellence, Scottish Remote Sensing Group and Wales EO group. Build relationships with academic, SME or other partners that can aid our delivery. Provide line management and staff development for a small number of team members. Managing projects to ensure delivery to time, cost and quality elements, including liaison with contractors and other agencies. Support proposal preparation for evidence work that aligns with our strategy. Provide quality control and assurance for analytical projects in line with JNCC evidence quality assurance policy. Person specification Please use 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 Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Changing and Improving Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Experience showing aptitude and creativity in applying Earth observation and remote-sensed data to meet environmentally related evidence requirements Experience of undertaking analysis using multiple large spatial data sets and of integrating these with models Excellent analytical and writing skills, including experience of statistical analysis, synthesis of complex information and communicating complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences Experience of project management Experience working in interdisciplinary teams Benefits Alongside your salary of £40,140, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £11,628 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 Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. If selected for interview there will be a Technical test You should attach your redacted CV, this should not exceed 2 pages 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 the Civil 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 : recruitmentjncc.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : recruitmentjncc.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 Commissions 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 recruitmentjncc.gov.uk in the first instance. Attachments 202501 Senior Earth Observation Specialist Opens in new window (pdf, 113kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail