Chief Officer Strategy and Impact

Job summary

A very warm welcome to you and thank you for considering applying for the role of Chief Officer Strategy & Impact at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

We are only at the beginning of the most profound change to nature seen in our lifetimes. Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth, including diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. It is essential to humanity. And it is in crisis around the world. Caused by changes in land and sea use, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive species, species and habitats are declining rapidly leading to damaged and dysfunctional ecosystem processes. In turn, ecological collapse is having significant and inequitable impacts on people’s security, prosperity and wellbeing. There is an urgent need to understand the changes we are seeing and to use this knowledge to conserve and recover nature. JNCC played a key scientific advisory role at the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties 15 (CBD COP15). The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is the ‘Paris moment for nature’, guiding our work not only to 2030 but for generations to come. This gives us cause for hope about the future. JNCC knows nature and we are committed to using that knowledge to decolonise the future and become a good ancestor. 

Together for Nature builds on our strong heritage of expertise, knowledge and networks with a new vision: Thriving nature for a sustainable future. Our ambition to bend the curve on biodiversity loss is high. Our integrated approach to nature conservation and recovery is through investing in our people and our partnerships. Our intent is to maximise the impact of our evidence and advice on complex ecological, social and economic systems to conserve and recover nature. The post holder will be critical to the inclusive, collaborative and innovative delivery of our mission: turning science into action for nature, people and the planet. This is a new role designed to develop our culture, deliver our strategic priorities and drive progress towards our vision. If nature inspires you, this may be the leadership role for you. I would love to hear about the values, experience, skills and qualities you can bring to our mission and vision for nature. 

We have a strong heritage and ambitious future

Our story began over three decades ago and our scientific and technical endeavour has produced some of the most important evidence and advice on the state and change of nature, both domestically and internationally. JNCC is a Non-Departmental Public Body. Originally established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to handle science-based GB and UK international issues, JNCC was later reconstituted by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006, as the forum through which the country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs) in England (Natural England), Northern Ireland (Council for Nature Conservation and 

the Countryside), Scotland (NatureScot) and Wales (Natural Resources Wales), discharge their statutory responsibilities across the UK and internationally. Uniquely amongst the environmental public sector, and given the devolved status of environmental policy, our statutory duties are at multiple scales of the four countries of the UK, the UK, our Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and internationally. We provide impartial, interdisciplinary scientific evidence and advice, fostering collaboration and building connected communities for nature conservation and recovery. 

JNCC’s statutory duties and functions are to:

• Advise on the development and implementation of policies on nature conservation matters which arise a) throughout the UK, b) in one or more of the four countries and affect the UK as a whole, or c) outside the UK.


• Establish common standards throughout the UK for monitoring, research and information analysis relating to nature conservation


• Commission or support research relating to the above JNCC also has responsibilities and duties under the following legislation:


• The Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007 (as amended)


• The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009


• The Planning Act 2008


• The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009; the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2017.


• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, JNCC is required to seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity in the exercise of functions in relation to Wales and, in so doing, promote the resilience of ecosystems, so far as consistent with the proper exercise of those functions.

The Chief Officer Strategy & Impact post is critical to lead the organisation, collectively and efficiently, through the implementation needed to deliver JNCC’s vision.

The Chief Officer Strategy & Impact will be an authentic, visible and inclusive leader, able to articulate clearly JNCC’s vision – our mission, strategic priorities and values – to ensure the delivery of our outcomes and impact on nature recovery. 

If nature inspires you, this may be the leadership role for you. We would love to hear about the values, experience, skills and qualities you can bring to our mission and vision for nature.

Post description

Organisational leadership

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team and working with our Joint Committee, you will help ensure the effective, efficient, resilient and sustainable running of the organisation in line with the NERC Act 2006 and other relevant legislation, Nolan Principles, our Framework Document, Together for Nature, and our core values of inclusion, collaboration and innovation. You will help us develop our culture to ensure effective delivery of our strategic priorities. You will deputise for the Chief Executive as required.

People leadership

You will build supportive and trusting relationships with the UK, Marine and International Programme Directors and their teams, ensuring visible, inclusive leadership, prioritised learning and development, effective performance management and career development. You will be a role model for our values and our bold commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) through sponsoring delivery of our EDI Action Plan.

Partnership and delivery leadership

Leading the UK Coordination, Marine and International science programmes, and our Digital and Data Solutions team, you will be accountable for c.200 FTE strong team, a budget of c. £22m and delivery of our annual business plan targets and strategic priorities. You will establish a new Portfolio Management Office to drive business delivery across JNCC, rationalise processes, consolidate internal and external reporting, enhance stakeholder engagement, create strategic thinking and development time for Programme Directors and Team Leaders, and optimise our impact. You will enhance and create relationships with senior officials, ministers and stakeholders across the four countries of the UK, the UK Government, the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

Personal development

You will actively seek personal growth and development through the role and will instil a culture of continuing professional development to support us becoming a learning organisation.

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria listed.

Essential Criteria

• An excellent track record of senior leadership of people in fast-paced, changing and uncertain circumstances, through developing a high performing culture whilst maintaining good work-life balance for teams and supporting wellbeing, delivering through others and role-modelling collaboration, innovation and inclusion, including a demonstrable impact on diversity and equity.


• An excellent track record in using and communicating interdisciplinary scientific evidence to improve decision-making at different geographical and political scales – domestically and internationally – and a strong understanding of the priorities of the four countries of the UK, the UK Government, the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, as they affect nature conservation and recovery.


• A confident, politically astute, and credible relationship builder, with highly developed interpersonal and influencing skills, able to influence decision-making at all levels, and across functional and organisational boundaries, with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders. 


• A creative and strategic thinker, able to translate multiple competing objectives and programmes of work into a coherent, prioritised portfolio of measurable deliverables, including securing and managing annual budgets, managing significant risks, developing efficient reporting and creating key performance indicators, to drive delivery and impact.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership


• Seeing the Big Picture


• Communicating and Influencing


• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £20,250 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• You will automatically be enrolled into the Civil Service Alpha pension scheme from the start of your employment with an average employer contribution of 27%.

However we can offer you a choice of two types of pension scheme: 

•     Alpha - This is an occupational pension scheme based on your career average earnings. 


•     Partnership - This is a stakeholder pension with a contribution from us, how much we pay is based on your age and the amount you chose to contribute.

 For more information visit: www.civilservice.gov.uk/pensions

Annual leave

The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after five years’ service. There are also 12 days public and privilege leave. 

Flexible working 

• We offer a working environment that aims to give people greater flexibility to work in a way that suits them (with an appropriate blend of office and home-based working) while also meeting JNCC’s business needs. 


• Our policies are family-friendly and include flexi-time, flexible working patterns, compressed hours and hybrid working.

Employee benefits and discounts

• Childcare vouchers – we support the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme to help parents paying for registered childcare.


• Employee Discount Scheme - our Staff Benefits provider offers a wide range of employee retail discounts.

Learning and development

JNCC is committed to becoming a learning organisation and investing in our staff. We offers a range of work-based training and continuous professional development opportunities with a guaranteed five days of specified learning a year. 

Staff wellbeing

• JNCC offers paid maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, over and above the minimum statutory entitlements.


• Employee Assistance Programme - a free and confidential 24/7 telephone advice service.


• Healthcare – we provide access to online advice to support physical, mental and emotional wellbeing along with the opportunity to contribute to a healthcare plan to make savings on everyday healthcare costs