International Biodiversity

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 265661**Salary**:

- £49,403 - £61,392- National: £49, 403 - £55,823, London: £54,328 - £61,392**Job grade**:

- Grade 7**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- DEFRA - I&B - International Biodiversity & Climate**Type of role**:

- Analytical**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 1Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Bristol, London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, YorkAbout the job

**Job summary**:
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK Government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, sustaining a thriving rural economy, and supporting international nature, climate and biodiversity agendas.

We are facing the unprecedented and interdependent global crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. These two challenges together are among the most pressing issues of our time and an existential threat to human welfare, prosperity and life on earth. Globally, biodiversity is declining faster than at any time in human history, and the world is still heading for a temperature rise significantly beyond the Paris Agreement goal of limiting this increase to 1.5°C. Climate change is both a direct driver of biodiversity loss and is itself exacerbated by it. Urgent and concrete action is needed to mitigate further climate change, and halt and reverse biodiversity loss and environmental destruction.

The UK government is partly addressing the challenges through Official Development Assistance (ODA), including at least £3bn of international Climate Finance (ICF) being spent on nature over five years. Defra has a key role to play, including through its ODA allocation of around £500m over the current Spending Review period.

It is essential that the UK’s (and Defra’s) ODA programming is driven by evidence to achieve strong outcomes and value for money. As part of this, it also needs to leverage and unlock finance from other sources, including private capital, to deliver at the scale required.

**Description of Team/Division**

The International Biodiversity and Climate Directorate was formed in September 2020. It has four divisions and is collectively accelerating activity to protect and restore habitats and species to tackle both biodiversity loss and climate change, including oversight of ODA programming across Defra.

ODA is Government funding that supports the economic development and welfare of developing countries. The Team Leader of the ODA programme analysis team sits within the ‘Ecosystem Protection and Restoration’ (EPR) team, which leads on some of Defra’s flagship ODA biodiversity programs, including the Biodiverse Landscape Fund, 30by30, and the Biodiversity Challenge Funds.

**Job description**:
This is a critical G7 role leading a small team that supports the design, delivery and coherence of our ODA biodiversity programmes. The role will provide leadership to ensure that quality evidence is at the heart of these programmes, driving value for money, reporting, evidence generation, and lesson learning. The role will also help to demonstrate how our ODA programmes are helping to deliver the UK’s ambitious international policy commitments on biodiversity and communicating best practices across government and internationally.

We are a friendly, supportive team (and directorate) with opportunities for team members to develop professionally and build and enhance their networks. The role provides the opportunity to work closely with colleagues in the EPR team, as well as contributing to the wider ODA programming, evidence and policy communities in IBC, Defra and across government. The role requires someone who enjoys working collaboratively and who is comfortable presenting evidence, analysis, and policy recommendations in accessible ways, including to senior colleagues.

This role is open to generalists and those from evidence professions. The team leader will line manage at least one SEO scientist and one HEO assistant economist.

**Person specification**:
This G7 led ODA programme analysis team has a critical role to play in driving sound ODA programming choices and strong value for money. They will help to build the evidence base on international biodiversity and shape future programming and policy decisions. The role requires sound analytical skills as well as strength in leadership, engagement and communication.

**Responsibilities**
- Oversee the design and delivery of ambitious Monitoring Evaluation and Learning frameworks for the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund, 30by30 and other Defra ODA programmes. This includes managing and working closely with a range of external delivery partners contracted by Defra.
- Drive high-quality evidence generation across our programmes, ensuring that data and evidence are used in the most eff