Senior International Biodiversity Advisers (2 posts) – JNCC

26th July 2021

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Details

The Advisers will lead on providing advice to UK governments on a range of biodiversity-related Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to which the UK is Party.

Role title: Senior International Biodiversity Advisers: Migratory birds and Convention on Biological Diversity

Organisation: JNCC

Closing Date: 15/08/2021

Role Location: Peterborough or Aberdeen

Role Description

About 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 almost 200 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.

 

The International Advice Team (IAT) leads on providing advice to governments across the UK on a range of biodiversity-related Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to which the UK is Party and meeting reporting obligations under these. These include the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), African Eurasian Migratory Birds Agreement (AEWA) and Ramsar Convention on wetlands of international importance, amongst others.

A major focus at present is supporting government on the negotiation of a new post-2020 Global Biodiversity framework to replace the, now expired, Aichi targets.

 

Post 1 Migratory birds’ advice – Job Description:

This post will focus on advising policy on the conservation of migratory birds which face a variety of threats during their annual movements between breeding and wintering areas. You will work alongside colleagues in International Advice Team (IAT) and from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), to develop and deliver the UKs contribution to international efforts to protect and manage migratory bird populations and the habitats throughout their flyways. The post will advise on implementation of various international agreements under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), including the African-Eurasian Waterbirds Agreement (AEWA), the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) and the CMS Raptors Memorandum of Understanding. You will also work with colleagues across JNCC to develop and potentially implement proposals for a programme of work to help conserve UK breeding bird populations when they spend the winter in Africa.

 

This post will require you to be aware of the bigger picture to ensure that the UK’s work on migratory birds under CMS is aligned with other UK processes, including the outputs and activities under other relevant international agreements and mechanisms, such as the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI), under Conservation of Arctic Flora & Fauna (CAFF), and the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Northeast Atlantic.

 

Post 1 Duties

  • Lead (in close collaboration with Defra) the UK work programme under AEWA;
  • Participate in UK delegations to the AEWA Standing Committee and Technical Committee, and in other groups as required (e.g. Action Plan Working Groups)
  • Input to other work on migratory birds under the Convention on Migratory Species, including CMS-AEMLAP and CMS-Raptors MoU and lead on the collation and drafting of UK national reports to AEWA and other relevant MEAs;
  • Participate in other relevant international fora to ensure UK CMS activities on migratory birds are adding value to the work under other MEAs including CAFF-AMBI, OSPAR and CBD;
  • Contribute to the development of proposals for conserving UK migratory birds overseas
  • Maintain and develop relationships with relevant policy leads in Defra and in the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland;
  • Work with colleagues across JNCC to ensure that UK monitoring and information flows sufficiently reflect the requirements and activities of MEAs, with respect to migratory birds;
  • Maintain and develop links with colleagues in other JNCC teams and with technical specialists from the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies (SNCBs) involved in the collection and dissemination information on migratory bird populations in the UK;
  • Undertake the effective management and leadership of relevant staff, projects and budgets as required;
  • Contribute to other duties of the international advice team as required.

 

Post 2 Convention on Biological Diversity advice – Job Description:

The post holder needs to have a good understanding of the importance of the relationship between scientific research, evidence and policy development. You will be working closely with officials in the Department for Environment & Rural Affairs (Defra), other UK government departments and the devolved governments and with specialists from across JNCC and the Country Nature Conservation Agencies to develop advice and guidance on a variety of international issues, focused on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Discussion and input from other agencies and stakeholders will also be required. You will need to work with a wide range of specialists and stakeholders to undertake policy analysis and to develop practical advice in a fast-moving policy environment.

 

Post 2 Duties

The post-holder will:

  • Support UK governments in development of positions on biodiversity with respect to the UK’s international obligations;
  • Contribute to the development of the UK’s approach to the development of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, including the development and review of related indicators at global and UK scale;
  • Participate in UK delegations to relevant international meetings, including meetings of the CBD’s Conferences of the Parties and of SBSTTA (its scientific subsidiary body) lead on the production of JNCC advice to government for such meetings and be responsible for undertaking relevant actions arising from such meetings;
  • Lead on the collation and drafting of the UK’s national report to the CBD and other relevant agreements;
  • Contribute to the development and implementation of a revised UK Biodiversity Framework and to the work of the Four Countries Biodiversity Group;
  • Contribute to, or lead on, the development of JNCC bids and partnerships to increase our access to external funding;
  • Be responsible for effective management and leadership of relevant staff, projects and budgets as required;
  • Contribute to other duties of the international advice team as required including, where necessary, overseeing the production of relevant web content.

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

Application Download: Download application form