Senior Marine Mammal Specialist
| Posting date: | 09 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 22 March 2026 |
| Location: | Peterborough, Eastern England |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | JNCC Support Co |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 2026001 |
Summary
Post background:
The Marine Species Team provides expert advice on conservation of marine species in UK, European and international waters, with a focus on marine mammals, turtles, birds, fish and elasmobranchs(?). Our marine mammal work is highly varied and involves the delivery of species monitoring initiatives; conservation status assessment and reporting; interpretation of evidence to provide advice on protected areas management and marine mammal conservation more widely. This involves active engagement/collaboration with a variety of stakeholder groups including government(s), NGOs and academia nationally and internationally. The team plays a significant role in identifying and reducing evidence gaps, as well as in helping to shape marine mammal conservation policy.
For the role of Senior Marine Mammal Specialist, we are looking for individuals with a skillset complimentary to our primary work areas. As a small team, the post-holder will be expected to work closely with colleagues to ensure delivery of routine work but also to help identify opportunities for new areas of work in line with JNCC’s corporate strategy and identified priorities.
The post will sit in JNCC’s Marine Species Team but the postholder will work closely with colleagues across the organisation. They will also routinely work with partners in the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, regulatory agencies, Defra and the Devolved Administrations. There is an expectation that the postholder will work with national and international marine species experts as well as relevant research and policy groups to develop scientific advice to inform policy.
Post Duties:
The postholder will carry out a range of functions such as:
1. Delivering technical advice to policy colleagues on pressures and impacts on marine mammals in UK waters.
2. Undertaking marine mammal conservation status assessments e.g. UK Marine Strategy and OSPAR.
3. Contributing JNCC technical marine mammal expertise and represent UK interests in national and international forums such as OSPAR, ICES and ASCOBANS.
4. Providing advice to regulators on the management of marine mammals in UK Marine Protected Areas and the wider seas.
5. Strengthening JNCC’s strategic role in evidence gathering and co-ordination of evidence programmes e.g. multinational SCANS survey programme.
6. Providing support and secretariat function to UK strandings and bycatch initiatives e.g. SMASS, CSIP, BMP.
7. Contributing to setting the strategic direction of the team and in the identification of opportunities and development of bids for funded income.
8. Effectively representing JNCC with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.
9. Working with specialists from other teams within JNCC to support project planning and delivery.
The post-holder may be required to carry out other work to support JNCC’s marine programmes as necessary.
Technical:
To be a successful candidate you will be/have:
• Minimum of four years evidenced relevant academic or practical marine mammal work experience relevant to the job description.
• Proven understanding of the relevant legal frameworks for conservation of marine mammals in the UK and abroad.
• Experience drafting technical documentation for non-technical audiences.
Experience (Responsibilities)
To be a successful candidate you will have:
• Experience of strategic and innovative thinking and work/resource planning
• Experience in project development, design and management
• Experience of data analysis, interpretation and communication
• Experience in producing peer reviewed material (publications/reports etc)
• Proven track record of effective engagement with partners and/or stakeholders
Behaviours:
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• 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 Seeing the Big Picture
Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours
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 March 2026
The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 13 April 2026
How to apply: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi
The Marine Species Team provides expert advice on conservation of marine species in UK, European and international waters, with a focus on marine mammals, turtles, birds, fish and elasmobranchs(?). Our marine mammal work is highly varied and involves the delivery of species monitoring initiatives; conservation status assessment and reporting; interpretation of evidence to provide advice on protected areas management and marine mammal conservation more widely. This involves active engagement/collaboration with a variety of stakeholder groups including government(s), NGOs and academia nationally and internationally. The team plays a significant role in identifying and reducing evidence gaps, as well as in helping to shape marine mammal conservation policy.
For the role of Senior Marine Mammal Specialist, we are looking for individuals with a skillset complimentary to our primary work areas. As a small team, the post-holder will be expected to work closely with colleagues to ensure delivery of routine work but also to help identify opportunities for new areas of work in line with JNCC’s corporate strategy and identified priorities.
The post will sit in JNCC’s Marine Species Team but the postholder will work closely with colleagues across the organisation. They will also routinely work with partners in the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, regulatory agencies, Defra and the Devolved Administrations. There is an expectation that the postholder will work with national and international marine species experts as well as relevant research and policy groups to develop scientific advice to inform policy.
Post Duties:
The postholder will carry out a range of functions such as:
1. Delivering technical advice to policy colleagues on pressures and impacts on marine mammals in UK waters.
2. Undertaking marine mammal conservation status assessments e.g. UK Marine Strategy and OSPAR.
3. Contributing JNCC technical marine mammal expertise and represent UK interests in national and international forums such as OSPAR, ICES and ASCOBANS.
4. Providing advice to regulators on the management of marine mammals in UK Marine Protected Areas and the wider seas.
5. Strengthening JNCC’s strategic role in evidence gathering and co-ordination of evidence programmes e.g. multinational SCANS survey programme.
6. Providing support and secretariat function to UK strandings and bycatch initiatives e.g. SMASS, CSIP, BMP.
7. Contributing to setting the strategic direction of the team and in the identification of opportunities and development of bids for funded income.
8. Effectively representing JNCC with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.
9. Working with specialists from other teams within JNCC to support project planning and delivery.
The post-holder may be required to carry out other work to support JNCC’s marine programmes as necessary.
Technical:
To be a successful candidate you will be/have:
• Minimum of four years evidenced relevant academic or practical marine mammal work experience relevant to the job description.
• Proven understanding of the relevant legal frameworks for conservation of marine mammals in the UK and abroad.
• Experience drafting technical documentation for non-technical audiences.
Experience (Responsibilities)
To be a successful candidate you will have:
• Experience of strategic and innovative thinking and work/resource planning
• Experience in project development, design and management
• Experience of data analysis, interpretation and communication
• Experience in producing peer reviewed material (publications/reports etc)
• Proven track record of effective engagement with partners and/or stakeholders
Behaviours:
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• 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 Seeing the Big Picture
Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours
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 March 2026
The anticipated interview date is week commencing Monday, 13 April 2026
How to apply: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi
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