[ref. g44398804] Higher Scientific Officer
Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.
The terrestrial Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme (tNCEA) 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, The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Natural England, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
The SDA team is one of four G6-led teams in the core of the NCEA programme. The team is responsible for ensuring the science undertaken by the programme follows best practice and is aligned to realising the Programme’s benefits in a timely and cost-effective manner.The team leads on: (i) Science Assurance, working with delivery partners to ensure that projects are established with the best science to meet policy and legislative goals; (ii) Acting as tNCEA’s intelligent customer for environmental monitoring, ensuring that plans are workable and contribute to programme outcomes; (iii) Promoting a science culture within the workings of the programme, adhering to the principles of a good science, with the aim of delivering the best possible science outcomes; (iv) Science design, ensuring that there is a sound monitoring survey design which will endure, building a strong evidence base for environmental assessment.
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 1 energetic, resilient and detail focused natural scientist who can develop and deliver a broad range of portfolios of natural capital and ecosystem monitoring. You will work with a team of natural scientists to provide the scientific direction and support to ensure that the programme has the right expertise at the right time to drive effective and transformational delivery at all stages of the value chain.Domain knowledge of either soils, woodland and water ecosystems would be an advantage.
The post holder will work within a diverse team of natural scientists and our delivery partners; Natural England, The Environment Agency, Forest Research, The Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. You will be reporting to a SSO and G7 lead in order to:
- Support the management and assurance of the design, specification and delivery of England-wide long-term environmental monitoring portfolios covering Environmental Land Management, Trees & Woodlands, Water, Soils and vegetation.
- Support a cross-cutting project working to support this, including field sample, data and earth observation, integrated design, and citizen science.
To do this you will:
- Support the development, assurance and delivery of robust and defendable science to provide evidence to enable programme outcomes and solve policy issues.
- Monitor, challenge and guide the use of evidence and knowledge, from a wide range of sources, to come to logical conclusions. Challenge assumptions and current approaches, and frame problems in a way that allows others to solve them.
- Encourage and support innovation to solve policy issues; positively challenging how things are done.
- Develop, nurture, and manage stakeholder relationships to create and maintain a cohesive and collaborative environment for delivery.
- Develop and apply expertise for a key portfolio area such as Trees and Woodland, Water, Soils and Vegetation and contribute guidance and direction to the team.