Environmental Pollution Co-Team Leader

Post Title: Environmental Pollution Co-Team Leader
Team: Environmental Pollution
Ref No: 2026027
Grade: G7
Type of appointment: Permanent
Location: Peterborough, Aberdeen, or Cardiff

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:

Pollution is one of the five leading drivers of global biodiversity loss, fundamentally reshaping ecosystems, species communities and the services nature provides to people. At the same time, pollution interacts with climate change and land use to form part of the “triple planetary crisis” demanding integrated, system-level solutions that cut across sectors, borders and policy areas.

JNCC sits at the interface of science and policy, providing trusted UK and international advice to governments on how to tackle these complex challenges. Working in partnership with the country nature conservation bodies, regulators and research organisations, our Environmental Pollution Team delivers evidence, tools and strategic advice to support cleaner air, reduced chemical exposure, and resilient ecosystems.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role co-shaping the UK’s approach to environmental pollution by providing strategic direction and thought leadership. The post holder will co-lead JNCC’s pollution advisory function, helping to translate cutting-edge science into policy impact across air, chemicals and other emerging pollution pressures (e.g. noise, light and plastics), while also contributing to international programmes where UK expertise can drive global change.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be an experienced scientist having worked in the field of environmental pollution and bring significant experience operating at the science–policy interface, translating complex evidence into advice for decision makers. They will also have a track record of technical leadership or thought leadership, demonstrated through authorship or oversight of guidance, strategies, or major assessments, or participation in expert groups, working groups, or cross agency forums, or horizon scanning and framing emerging pollution issues for policy relevance.

Post Duties:

The post holder will work closely with the other Environmental Pollution Co-team leads to assist staff to deliver pollution advice, evidence and tools across UK Programme Board and also contribute to other cross-organisation functions such as Management Board and Business Planning. They will also provide leadership for the suite of pollution projects being undertaken within the team. These typically cover air and/or chemical pollution but can also extend to other pollution pressures like noise, light and plastics.

General duties as Co-Team Leader

• Contribute to wider Environmental Pollution team through strategic direction, thought leadership, quality assurance, technical advice and networking to maximise impact of delivery.
• Horizon scan and monitor wider developments in pollution related policy, regulation and industrial activity to inform the Environmental Pollution strategy, workplan and development needs.
• Assist Co-team leads with day to day administration, holiday cover and corporate tasks (planning, reporting, resourcing)
• Facilitate cross-team working to maximise value from pollution team effort.
• Provide line management for select staff (likely S-grade and possibly H-grades across the Environmental Pollution Team)
• Offer training, mentoring and coaching opportunities to the Pollution teamlet within relevant expertise (e.g. pollution technical skills, Project Management, critical analysis) and assist the team to develop their skills to meet changing needs of the pollution work area.

Technical:

To be a successful candidate you will be/have:

• Advanced degree (MSc/PhD) in ecotoxicology, environmental chemistry, atmospheric science, environmental science, ecology, or a closely related discipline
  or equivalent depth of applied professional experience in pollution advice.
• Strong technical understanding of pollution pressures on ecosystems, including at least one of ecotoxicology, air quality, contaminant fate and transport or cumulative and interacting pressures on nature
• Demonstrable experience of quality assurance and dealing with uncertainty of environmental evidence or setting and applying evidence standards in policy.
• Working knowledge of UK and/or international policy and regulatory frameworks relevant to pollution and biodiversity (e.g. air quality, chemicals, pressures on ecosystems).

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• Experience of leading or overseeing projects or programmes, including shaping scope and approach, managing technical specialists or advisers, or balancing scientific robustness with delivery constraints
• Experience of collaborative working across organisations, ideally with UK country nature conservation bodies, government departments, research institutions or international networks
• Experience of people leadership, mentoring or capability building in technical teams (formal line management desirable but not essential).

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Seeing the Big Picture

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 Making Effective Decisions

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

Artificial Intelligence Guidance

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism is identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own), applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Artificial intelligence and Recruitment /Civil Service Careers

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, 26 July 2026

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 24 August 2026