International Biodiversity Adviser

Team: International Advice
Ref No: 2026067
Grade: H (HEO)

This post will have a base in either Peterborough, Cardiff, 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

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the statutory adviser to the UK Government on nature conservation in the UK and internationally, working at the science-policy interface.

The International Advice Team leads on providing advice to governments across the UK on a range of Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) to which the UK is Party. These include the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention) and the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), as well as to the subsidiary bodies of the MEAs and other affiliated science-policy platforms, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (IPBES). Our experts regularly form part of UK delegations at international meetings and engage with other associated international-level fora. Our work at an international scale is constantly changing as international and domestic priorities develop and as reflected in the JNCC Strategy.

The post holder will have the opportunity to work across a number of MEAs and assist in delivering JNCC’s duties to enable the UK to meet its international obligations. The position will be supporting policy development and increased UK ambition in the area of international nature conservation.

The post holder needs to have a good understanding of the importance of the relationship between scientific research, evidence and policy development. You will be reporting to a Senior International Biodiversity Adviser, and working closely with officials in Defra, other UK government departments and the devolved governments, and with specialists from across JNCC and the Country Nature Conservation Bodies. This will support the development of advice and guidance on a variety of international issues and their implementation throughout the UK.

Discussion with and input from other stakeholders will be required for this role. You will need to work with a wide range of specialists and stakeholders to undertake policy-relevant analysis and to contribute to developing practical advice in a fast-moving science-policy environment. There may be opportunity for international travel associated with this post.

Post duties

While staff often work across multiple MEAs to support team resilience and create learning and development opportunities, past experience, skills, and interests of the incumbent are taken into consideration. Tasks may include:

• Providing scientific and technical advice to Defra, the Devolved Administrations, and the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies on issues relating to international biodiversity.
• Preparing for international meetings including drafting documents, gathering and analysing relevant evidence, and preparing briefings for UK delegations.
• Compiling and drafting international reports (e.g. the recently released 7th National Report)
• Representing JNCC at relevant meetings in the UK and potential participation in UK Government delegations at international meetings, including Conferences of the Parties and other related intersessional meetings.
• Contributing to the development of new projects.
• Building relationships with key stakeholders to enable/facilitate delivery against UK objectives and meet wider UK policy commitments.
• Supporting the development and use of biodiversity indicators
• Contributing generally to the work of the International Advice Team as required.

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• Good understanding of the benefits biodiversity provides to people and sustainable development, demonstrated through practical application.
• Good understanding of the objectives and role of Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

Experience (responsibilities)

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• Experience synthesising complex information and communicating this to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience diplomatically engaging with stakeholders and partners, identifying their priorities and working collaboratively with them to achieve common goals.
• Experience translating commitments made under multilateral environmental agreements or other high-level commitments into practical policy, regulatory, scientific or operational action.

Behaviours

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

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 Working Together

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 Tuesday, 17 November 2026

The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 30 November 2026