Earth Observation Specialist

Team: Ecosystems Analysis
Ref No: 2026063
Grade: H (HEO)

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

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

The Ecosystems Analysis Team helps JNCC’s stakeholders meet the challenges of managing our environment and the benefits it provides.

This dynamic, multi-disciplinary team brings together three elements:

• A set of long-term partnerships with organisations undertaking species surveys in terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems using networks of volunteers
• An analysis and modelling capability producing rapidly deployable models. These include a range of models focussed on predicting outcomes from changing land uses and environmental pressures
• An Earth observation (EO) data processing and analytical capability with expertise in using EO to provide high-quality evidence on biodiversity and ecosystems to inform environmental decision making

As an EO Specialist, you will help JNCC deploy habitat and feature mapping methods, develop products to detect change in habitat condition or management, and provide biophysical parameters for environmental modelling. The post would contribute to projects across the work of the team, and to projects led by other teams in JNCC, bringing technical evidence skills and insight into integrating evidence on habitat extent and condition.

The post will focus on EO data analyses but will also work collaboratively with other analytical, data science and data infrastructure skills across the Ecosystems Analysis and Digital and Data Solutions Teams. Recent examples of EO applications developed by the team and our partners include national-scale habitat extent and change mapping, coastal habitat monitoring in a changing climate, developing indicators of urban blue and green space extent and type, and developing national indicators of woodland condition and young tree health. Whilst much of the work of the team is terrestrial, some work on marine environments is possible.

Post duties

The post will be managed by a Senior Earth Observation Specialist, and you will work with other EO specialists, as well as modellers, analysts, and surveillance experts. The main duties of the post are to:

• Carry out a variety of analyses where EO is needed as a significant input, working with JNCC colleagues with other technical or stakeholder-facing skills where appropriate
  • Analysis will include developing new methods and adapting existing ones to analyse EO and other geospatial data.
  • Extracting methods from EO research that can be deployed practically to help ensure EO data from a range of sensors can make a greater contribution to environmental applications
• Provide expert advice on suitability of analytical methods and appropriate use of EO data to aid delivery of programmes led by key stakeholders and other teams within JNCC, notably International, Marine and Digital and Data Solutions
• Contribute to the development and running of data management systems that will enable JNCC to provide EO based outputs over large geographic scales within the UK and elsewhere
• Collate and assess information from stakeholders to help identify their evidence needs and where EO approaches can provide effective solutions
• Manage work packages for the team or other teams in JNCC, focusing on projects that will require some EO analytical components, ensuring that staff resources are used effectively and that we work efficiently alongside external contractors
• Manage data effectively to JNCC standards and ensure effective quality control and quality assurance is carried out for analytical methods and products

The post-holder may be required to attend meetings and other fora at various localities in the UK and potentially internationally, involving overnight stays away from home.

Post responsibilities

Technical:

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• A strong understanding of Earth Observation data and underlying principles, including familiarity with data from a range of sensors and platforms, alongside experience in applying recognised EO modelling and classification approaches
• Experience of applying EO techniques in the context of environmental applications, ideally related to land cover and habitat assessment (desirable)

Experience (Responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will:

• Be confident in manipulating and analysing EO and geospatial data, including experience of using GIS, as well as scripting/programming (preferably Python or R), particularly for automating processes
• Be confident in communicating complex concepts to non-technical audiences

Behaviours:

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

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

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on the Lead Technical criteria:

A strong understanding of Earth Observation data and underlying principles, including familiarity with data from a range of sensors and platforms, alongside experience in applying recognised EO modelling and classification approaches.

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, 22 November 2026

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 07 December 2026