IMPORTANT:  This Advertiser has requested that applicants MUST be National Residents / Valid Work Permit-holders.  Other applicants need not apply.

 

Marine Assessment & Reporting Manager

The Marine Ecosystem Assessment and Advice Team is one of six marine teams at JNCC (the others being Marine Protected Areas, Marine Evidence, Marine Monitoring, Offshore Industries Advice and Fisheries & Species).  The Team undertakes assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem state for reporting to EU Directives, Conventions and national policies, and provides advice on marine policy implementation, including European and global policy mechanisms. This advice is provided to the UK Government, the Devolved Administrations, the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, international organisations and others. 

This post will be central to the successful delivery of marine biodiversity assessments, both at the European/UK scale and in offshore marine waters.  JNCC and the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies are responsible for monitoring and assessing the status of habitats and species under the EC Habitats Directive, both within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and across the wider marine environment.  In addition, there are requirements to undertake biodiversity assessments under the new Marine Acts, the OSPAR Convention and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

Experience of producing Charting Progress 2, the OSPAR Quality Status Report 2010 and Habitats Directive reports has highlighted where there are opportunities to: a) streamline assessment and reporting and move towards a more continual process, b) harmonise across obligations so that numerous assessments can be made using the same data as much as possible, and c) develop a more flexible and responsive process so that future obligations can be met and emerging pressures on the environment can be assessed quickly and managed accordingly.

The post will be responsible for identifying and implementing research projects that seek to harmonise, streamline and improve the robustness of marine biodiversity assessments, especially for benthic habitats. Over the last three years several key areas of work have been progressed that recognise that evidence underpinning biodiversity assessments is highly variable.  As such, the current approach is highly dependent on the use of a mixture of expert judgement and data, with an ambition to make assessments more data driven in the future.  Work areas have included:  an analysis of our marine biodiversity assessment and reporting obligations, developing methods to undertake vulnerability, or risk-based, assessments for habitats, reviewing approaches to the aggregation of information at various spatial scales and across biodiversity components.  More recently, we have started discussions within the UK on building a marine biodiversity data management strategy suitable for meeting the UK’s assessment and reporting requirements.  In 2014/15 we will also be establishing an offshore Marine Protected Area assessment pilot which will look to agree, among other things, internal governance arrangements, test and develop assessment methods and progress the data strategy within JNCC.

To deliver their work the post-holder will need to have a good understanding of how and why marine biodiversity assessments are undertaken, including the:

• obligations that drive assessments,
• processes and systems that assessments operate within,
• methods that can be used in assessments,
• availability and limitations of information (i.e. environmental, social and economic), and
• options for disseminating assessment results (including the risks).

In addition, the post-holder will require strong organisational and communication skills to maximise coordination both within JNCC and with external data holders and partners

Post Duties

The post holder will work under the guidance of JNCC’s Marine Ecosystem Assessment & Advice Programme Leader, and work with a range of other specialists, both within the Programme and Team, JNCC and in other organisations. In undertaking the Marine Assessment and Reporting Manager role, the post-holder will lead and coordinate a small team to develop and deliver the assessment work.  In doing so they will:

• report to, and work with, the Programme Leader to deliver the assessment and reporting requirements of the MEAA Programme; 
• manage the Marine Status Assessment and Marine Assessment R&D projects, including the setting of targets, and the managing and reporting on their delivery;
• develop, secure and manage effective relationships and partnerships to deliver the marine biodiversity assessments using the most up-to-date data, methods and supporting information;
• commission and manage appropriate research, including contracts, to further our knowledge of how to undertake marine biodiversity assessments;
• work with relevant staff across JNCC to ensure effective links are made between the work of this post and other projects and programmes, ensuring mutual benefit;
• prepare and edit reports in plain English, including leading the preparation and delivery of key scientific products suitable for a wide range of stakeholder audiences;
• communicate and disseminate information on JNCC’s marine assessment work via the internet, through presentations and via other appropriate media.

Additionally, the post-holder will contribute, as necessary, to other aspects of the Marine Assessment Team, which may include offshore survey work. The post-holder will be required to attend meetings and other fora at various localities in the UK and in Europe, involving overnight stays away from home.

Competencies

Applicants will be required to demonstrate the specialist, technical and core competencies (skills, knowledge and behaviours) set out below. The post-holder will be expected to have those marked Essential at the outset, whilst those marked Desirable can be developed whilst in post.

Specialist and Technical

Relevant recent practical work experience that provides:

• Very good knowledge and understanding of the main marine biodiversity assessment obligations (Essential).
• 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. (Essential)
• A good understanding of the principles and techniques for assessing the status/condition of, and ecosystem services provided by, marine ecosystems and experience synthesizing and evaluating scientific information leading to an assessment of the state of marine habitats and/or species. (Essential)
• Sound understanding of relevant quality assurance and quality control procedures. (Essential)
• Verifiable experience in using 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 sources (Essential).

Core

Changing and Improving

• Actively encourage ideas from a wide range of sources and stakeholders and use these to inform own thinking (Essential)
• Be willing to meet the challenges of difficult or complex changes, encouraging and supporting others to do the same (Desirable)

Making Effective Decisions

• Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations (Essential);
• Explore different options outlining costs, benefits, risks and potential responses to each. (Essential);

Leading and Communicating

• Communicate in a succinct, engaging manner and stand ground when needed (Essential)

Collaborating and Partnering

• Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes (Essential).

Managing a Quality Service

• Make effective use of project management skills and techniques to deliver outcomes, including identifying risks and mitigating actions (Essential)

Delivering at Pace

• Regularly monitor own and team’s work against milestones or targets and act promptly to keep work on track and maintain performance. (Essential).

Full details of the framework can be found on the vacancies page of our website in the job section under No. 3 ‘Guidance’. This includes a link to the complete civil service competency framework.

Salary

Annual Leave Entitlement