You will be part of National Biodiversity Evidence and Analysis Team within the Biodiversity, Land Use and Investment Directorate. This is a multidisciplinary team of natural scientists, economists and social scientists. We support several policy teams responsible for delivery of national biodiversity policy for nature recovery which includes delivery of Environmental Improvement Plan Commitments and the governments legally binding targets under the Environment Act. Delivering and monitoring biodiversity outcomes cuts across multiple areas of Defra including species recovery, water policy, protected sites, Environmental Land Management Schemes and land use. 

We are seeking 3 Senior Scientific Officers to join the team who have experience in biodiversity science, ecology or closely related relevant disciplines.  

In this role, you will work closely with policy teams and other evidence and analysis colleagues to deliver Governments statutory biodiversity targets. Your role will require you understand evidence needs and will use technical knowledge and expertise to develop, manage and deliver a range of scientific evidence and research activities that support policy. 

Your role will involve significant coordination and collaboration across organisational boundaries to ensure team outputs are aligned with the evidence standards and policy objectives, while meeting statutory requirements. Scientists in the team work alongside policy and evidence teams across Defra, it’s arms length bodies as well as the research community. Your role working at the science/policy interface will be crucial in helping to translate rich environmental data and evidence into accessible insights that support policy decisions across Defra. 

We are looking for people who will bring a strong scientific background to provide advice on complex environmental problems. It is essential that the post holder is able to maintain good networks, critically assess the evidence available as well as effectively communicate the evidence to expert and non-expert audiences. 

The main focus of the roles will be to develop the evidence base to support delivery of Environment Improvement Plan commitments for nature recovery, as well as legally binding targets under the Environment Act. The successful candidates will help to better understand and communicate how we continue to best deliver for the targets, the potential impact of future policies on biodiversity in England and how to monitor progress towards commitments and targets. Successful delivery of the biodiversity targets is critical to Defra’s commitment to restoring and enhancing the UK’s natural environment within a generation.

You will also have the opportunity to play a leading role in organising and delivering R&D projects as part of our wider programme of evidence.

Candidates will join the Directorates’ Science Professional Community that provides a peer group for professional learning, development, and support. 

These science posts are eligible for a Specialist Skills Supplement. Please see below under the heading ‘Salary’ for further information. 

There are three roles available, these will cover a breadth of areas, including but not limited to biodiversity modelling, monitoring and spatial analysis.

We are looking for candidates who are engaged and enthusiastic and can work within a complex policy area in a collaborative and supportive manner.

The below sets out general responsibilities and essential criteria, however given the different requirements across the three roles there is also a section that includes essential criteria but where only one criteria is required.

Responsibilities of the role will be to:

• Develop relationships with policy colleagues in order to understand their evidence needs and how these can be met using appropriate scientific approaches 
• Develop a strong network of contacts to inform approach and identify opportunities for collaboration. 
• Scope, develop, procure and manage research projects and contracts to address specific evidence gaps and inform policy development. 
• Work in often challenging timeframes to deliver robust and clear evidence and analysis ensuring policy are well equipped to make recommendations and decisions.
• Work with natural scientists, social scientists and analysts, to communicate advice that supports biodiversity policy development by drawing on the best available evidence from a range of sources and clearly communicating assumptions and areas of uncertainty. 
• Support, guide and critique policy to ensure it is evidence based.
• Provide expert input into official correspondence, briefings and ministerial submissions. 

Essential Criteria 

• Knowledge of & experience working on terrestrial or freshwater biodiversity science or related discipline.  
• Experience of applying scientific knowledge, experience and skills to the development of research projects. Good project management skills including the ability to manage multiple pieces of work at the same time.  
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate to scientists and non-scientists and distil complex information into clear, succinct advice.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team and maintain strong relationships with expert stakeholders within and outside government.   
• Ability to make scientific decisions and recommendations based on limited data or evidence and providing necessary caveats to analysis.
• Ability to contribute to a positive, supportive team culture. 

Essential Criteria – only one of the below is required, please set out clearly in your personal statement which of these you are addressing

• Familiarity with methods for modelling relationships between species and environmental variables and use of R or Python in research. Understanding of spatial datasets and GIS. Ability to assess risk, uncertainties and confounding factors. 
• Familiarity and experience with biodiversity and environmental monitoring approaches, data and limitations and associated indicators and their development.

You will need a postgraduate degree in a relevant science area.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical experience/understanding related to Biodiversity