Senior Marine Specialist

The primary role of this specialist will be to support the evidence needs of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) in the development and implementation of its functions, particularly in the preparation of marine plans for England. S/he will provide the MMO with the ability to procure relevant services and to make impartial, independent decisions with regard to its marine licensing and enforcement functions. S/he will be the technical lead on any research and development that the MMO is engaged with to support its operational functions.

The post holder should have relevant experience in their field, enabling the MMO to commission relevant technical services, review technical submissions and to make the correct decisions based upon sound evidence that can stand up to external scrutiny.

The post holder will represent the MMO to external stakeholders on technical and evidence issues, including policy owners from sponsor departments on issues such as the Common Fisheries Policy, Marine Strategy Framework Directive, ports and shipping and renewable energy. S/he will also represent the MMO on relevant technical working groups that the MMO has an interest in, such as those set up under the UK Marine Science Co-ordination Committee.

In order to provide a sound, integrated, holistic decision support function, the post holder must be capable of working within a multi-disciplinary environment and understand how the provision of integrated sound evidence can aid policy delivery.