SSO Science Policy
| Dyddiad hysbysebu: | 04 Gorffennaf 2025 |
|---|---|
| Cyflog: | £41,220 i £49,020 bob blwyddyn |
| Gwybodaeth ychwanegol am y cyflog: | National - £41,220 - £45,400 London - £44,500 - £49,020 For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’. |
| Oriau: | Llawn Amser |
| Dyddiad cau: | 21 Gorffennaf 2025 |
| Lleoliad: | Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| Cwmni: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Math o swydd: | Parhaol |
| Cyfeirnod swydd: | 414711/3 |
Crynodeb
The Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme (NCEA) is Defra’s largest R&D programme, delivering evidence for Defra’s nature recovery policies including the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
NCEA sits in the Central Analysis and Insights Directorate, overseen by Defra’s Chief Scientific Advisor. The programme aims to deliver a world-class knowledge capability for our natural environment which enables us to enhance our landscapes, improve biodiversity and encourage innovation. It will; develop integrated, adaptive and collaborative methods to measure our land and freshwater environments; transform physical and digital infrastructure to underpin, facilitate and present our understanding to aid decision-making; and deliver data, evidence-based insight and understanding to inform ambitious, proactive and sustainable policy decisions. The operating value of the Programme is c.£55m a year with completion due in 2028. Key partners include; the Environment Agency, Forest Research, JNCC, Natural England, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
About the NCEA Policy & Outcomes team
The Policy & Outcomes team is one of four G6 led teams in the core of the NCEA programme. The team is responsible for ensuring the key benefits and outcomes of the programme are delivered, helping to leave the environment in a better state for the next generation. The team leads on:
(i) engaging customers within Defra group, across government and NGOs, academia and the private sector so that can help shape delivery, and are ready and able to exploit the programme outputs to their full value;
(ii) strategically placing the programme and its service in the heart of government, making it a national asset for all;
(iii) developing a sustainable model for environmental monitoring that endures beyond the programme;
and (iv) helping users make sense of the huge breadth of evidence available by putting it into context with system maps, exemplars and assessments.
Encouraging diverse applicants
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.
The programme is looking for an exceptional candidate capable of operating in a fast-paced team at the science-policy interface. We need either an experienced policy professional with experience working in environmental, natural science or natural capital evidence; or an experienced science professional with substantive experience working with or for policy areas and workstreams.
This role is critical to delivery of the benefits and outcomes of the programme. The SSO NCEA Science Policy will work within a diverse, dispersed team of natural scientists and policy colleagues, contributing to the Science Policy & Outcomes team’s overarching activities, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between NCEA and policy teams. The post holder will support the join-up of the programme with policy teams and other stakeholders, working collaboratively with them to develop a strong understanding of their evidence and data requirements and how the outputs of the NCEA can inform and influence decision making.
Key Responsibilities
As a Science Policy Lead within the NCEA programme, you will play a pivotal role in connecting cutting-edge environmental evidence with real-world policy impact. Your responsibilities will include:
- Lead Your Own Portfolio: Take ownership of a portfolio of policy ‘accounts’ aligned with Defra’s priority areas—such as biodiversity, climate, Environmental Land Management Schemes, water, trees and woodlands, soils, peat, and land use. Rapidly build close working relationships with these policy and evidence teams to champion the programme’s priorities and secure buy-in.
- Drive Data Adoption: Ensure mutual understanding of how NCEA datasets will be used. Prepare policy teams to receive and apply data effectively, and proactively identify new opportunities for its use. Deliver engaging demonstrations, teach-ins, and mapping exercises to build capability and confidence.
- Horizon Scanning: Horizon scan for emerging policy developments and position NCEA products to influence and support them. Identify and act on opportunities to embed NCEA outputs into policy thinking.
- Align Projects with Policy Needs: Collaborate with Science Design & Assurance and Programme & Project Management teams to ensure commissioned work aligns with policy priorities. Manage the impact of change requests on policy.
- Engage Across Levels: Build strong relationships with policy and evidence teams at all levels—from working-level staff to senior civil servants (SCS). Facilitate regular, productive meetings, provide clear written briefings, and ensure actions and opportunities are followed through.
- Coordinate Across Accounts: Work across different policy areas to identify synergies, manage dependencies, and ensure a joined-up approach that enhances the programme’s impact and reputation.
- Build External Relationships: Engage with external stakeholders—including other government departments, NGOs, Arms-Length Bodies, and academia—to understand their evidence needs and support them in using NCEA outputs to deliver their goals.
- Be a Programme Connector: Act as a vital link across the NCEA programme, ensuring timely information sharing and alignment with Defra’s wider policy objectives. Collaborate closely with Science Design & Assurance, Delivery Partners, and the Data & Digital team.
- Support Strategic Communications: Lead or contribute to briefings, ministerial submissions, reports, and parliamentary business related to your portfolio. Work with the SSO Analysis Lead and Comms team to develop and maintain engaging content that showcases the programme’s progress and impact.
Aelod balch o'r cynllun cyflogwyr Hyderus o ran Anabledd