Ocean Career: Joint Nature Conservation Committee Marine Ornithologist

ECO Posted On March 12, 2024

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 organizations 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. 300 people who bring together scientific and technical expertise, extensive knowledge of policy at global, European and national levels, and skills in working with other organizations. Staff are based in two main offices in Peterborough and Aberdeen.

We’re 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 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 organizational 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.

JNCC’s marine ornithologists provide advice to statutory bodies, regulators and industry on the potential impacts of marine industries on seabird populations, as well as working jointly with government, industry, NGOs and academia to obtain evidence on impacts. The evidence required to make informed decisions that ensure sustainable use of the marine environment is a focus for JNCC’s work. We synthesize existing evidence, broker engagement between different sectors and, typically through collaboration, identify the most relevant new evidence that is required to fulfil conservation ambitions whilst reducing uncertainty in the decision-making process. The marine ornithology group is part of the Marine Species Team, which covers various aspects of conservation of mobile marine megafauna (birds, mammals and fish), such as protected area design, management and monitoring, conservation strategies, research and evidence needs. This post will be involved in the provision of statutory advice on nature conservation of birds in the marine environment, in particular relating to impacts of industry on these species in UK offshore waters. The post-holder will also contribute to various industry-funded projects relating to improving the strategic evidence base for assessing industry impacts on marine birds.

The post holder will carry out a range of projects and functions with the overall objective of contributing to provision of advice regarding conservation of marine birds in waters around the UK. Examples are provided below but this is not prescriptive nor exhaustive.

• Contribute to the provision of advice to government and offshore industry efficiently. This will involve working in close collaboration with other JNCC staff in the Marine Species Team and the Marine Management Team in particular. In some cases, this will also require co-ordination with colleagues in the country conservation bodies.
• Work with partner organizations to improve the evidence base for quantifying impacts of industry on marine birds, particularly offshore wind, and assessing potential measures to mitigate and compensate for negative impacts.
• Improve understanding of wider drivers of change for threatened marine bird populations, and management interventions that can improve overall status and resilience.
• Contribute to work providing outputs such as evidence collation and synthesis, the identification of key knowledge gaps on the potential impacts of offshore industry activities on marine birds, and the development of research ideas and proposals to close gaps.
• Provide support across several evidence projects, both government and industry funded, as required, such as the Offshore Wind Strategic Monitoring and Research Forum, the Offshore Wind Environmental Evidence Register and the OWEC project ProcBe on Manx Shearwater and storm-petrel behavior at sea.
• Provide advice on licenses for certain offshore activities, particularly offshore wind (training will be provided).

Please demonstrate in your statement of suitability your reasons for applying.

We'll assess you against these behaviors during the selection process:

• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and/or relevant recent practical work experience.
• A good understanding of marine conservation issues, in particular anthropogenic influences on marine birds and ecosystems.
• The ability to critically review scientific information, appraise and effectively communicate uncertainty, and provide high quality, risk-based, impartial advice.
• The ability to work collaboratively with others to develop common understanding and joint approaches to assessment/use of evidence.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex information, both verbally and written, to non-technical audiences.
• Experience of handling quantitative ecological information, including data management, analysis, interpreting information and presenting findings.

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

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 recognized Trade Unions: Prospect and PCS, which employees are able to join and be involved with.

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