Marine Monitoring Manager

Post Title: Marine Monitoring Manager
Team: Marine Monitoring
Ref No: 202537
Grade: S (SEO)
Type of appointment: Fixed-term 14 Months
Location: Peterborough or Aberdeen
Salary: £40,140

This post will have a base in either Peterborough or Aberdeen.

JNCC has adopted a hybrid working approach, allowing colleagues to benefit from time in the office, with the flexibility also to work from home. Employees are expected to work from one of our office bases for a few days a month as a minimum with attendance expected at regular face to face team meetings. Arrangements will vary by team and the exact balance will depend on the nature of your role. We can provide more details at the interview and offer stages.

Who are JNCC?

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 organisations 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 organisations. Staff are based in two main offices in Peterborough and Aberdeen.

Why JNCC?

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 organisational 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.

Hours of work: Full-time

Normal minimum hours of attendance for the post are 36 hours per week over a 5-day period, Monday to Friday.

Flexi time is available. This post may also be suitable for job share.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years’ service. There are also 12 days public and privilege leave. Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.

Post background

JNCC are looking for a Marine Monitoring Manager to join the Marine Monitoring Team. You will work under the guidance of JNCC’s Marine Monitoring Team Leaders, with a range of other specialists, both within JNCC and in other organisations. Using your knowledge of marine biodiversity and monitoring, you will help lead marine monitoring strategy and research and development for all UK marine biodiversity but particularly related to the offshore benthic environment and Marine Protected Areas. You will work with colleagues in the country nature conservation bodies (NatureScot, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, CEFAS, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland) and other public bodies (e.g. MMO, Environment Agency).

Post Duties

• Lead the Marine Monitoring Programme Strategy Project, setting targets with the Programme Leaders, and managing and reporting on delivery.
• Lead on Highly Protected Marine Area and wider UK offshore monitoring research and development work to inform and steer the programme of monitoring for all biodiversity;
• Lead on the coordination of the UK Marine Biomolecular Group, supporting the group to develop and deliver the UK marine DNA Action Plan, involving the development and maintenance of networks, meeting and workshop organisation and facilitation and communication of group activity to stakeholders and funders.
• Work with partners to improve the functioning of marine biodiversity monitoring programmes across the UK and ensure a robust and accessible evidence base for developing policy advice;
• Work with other teams within JNCC to ensure our monitoring programmes now and in the future support their work areas and evidence requirements, both within Marine Protected Areas but also the wider seas.
• Lead on the writing of funding bids for future project opportunities related to marine monitoring.
• Commission R&D work from external organisations and manage contracts in alignment with our tendering and procurement processes.
• Work with others at JNCC and with partners to support the delivery of operational monitoring for HPMAs and MPAs in UK offshore waters and liaise with, plankton, seabird and marine mammal specialists regarding monitoring activities.
• Support JNCC’s national and international monitoring work, for example under the UK Marine Strategy, Environment Bill and the International Oslo Paris (OSPAR) Convention.
• Manage other projects and contracts necessary to support JNCC and its marine monitoring and evidence work.
• Line-managing and supervising a small team to deliver the work described above;

Most of the work will be office based, but there may be opportunities to participate in field surveys at sea (for up to several weeks at a time). The post-holder will be required to work with colleagues in JNCC’s Peterborough and Aberdeen offices, and will be required to attend meetings in UK and overseas, involving overnight stays away from home.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will be/have:

• 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
• Experience of marine environmental monitoring using a variety of sampling and data interpretation techniques, including knowledge and experience of assessing how marine activities may affect marine biodiversity. Essential
• Detailed knowledge of the main provisions of UK and European policy or legislation concerning nature conservation. Essential
• A comprehensive understanding of the UK’s work and progress on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). Essential
• A good understanding of the principles and techniques for assessing the status/condition of marine ecosystems. Essential
• Verifiable experience in the use of 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

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and/or relevant recent practical work experience that provides the following knowledge, experience and behaviours

Behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on the Lead Behaviour of Communicating and Influencing.

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.

Nationality requirements 

This job is broadly open to the following groups: 

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

JNCC do not provide sponsorship.

Closing date and interview date

The closing date for this post is 23:55 on Sunday, 28 September 2025.

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 13 October 2025.