Overview

JNCC are looking for a scientist to join our Marine Evidence Team, to work on the Pressures and Impacts Project. The main functions of the Project are to obtain and archive human activities data, produce pressure geo-data layers from human activities, assess the sensitivity of marine habitats to pressures exerted by human activities, estimate the vulnerability of habitats and species based on their sensitivity and exposure to pressures, and work to ensure that there is a common approach to marine pressures across the UK. The pressures work supports conservation advice for all types of UK MPA, facilitates monitoring and assessment surveys of MPAs, contributes to the JNCC Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Strategy by allowing prioritisation of monitoring resources based on risk, and forms the foundation for development of a number of Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) biodiversity indicators.

The Impacts Mapping Scientist will predominately be responsible for: acquiring human activities data from various sources; creating geo-data pressure layers from activities data; and creating maps of vulnerability to identify which areas of UK waters are most at risk. Risk in this context being defined by the UK Marine Biodiversity Monitoring R&D Programme as the “risk to habitats and species of being adversely affected by pressures caused by human activities”. The Impacts Mapping Scientist will lead on the technical development of methods to map pressures in UK waters and will help to disseminate these methods, promoting their use in providing conservation advice. They will work in close collaboration with scientists from the country nature conservation bodies and counterparts in other EU member states to ensure that approaches to pressures are universal and compatible.

Post Duties

The Marine Impacts Mapping Scientist will undertake a range of duties such as (but not limited to):

• Take a lead role in developing repeatable GIS methods for producing pressures data layers and habitat vulnerability map layers;
• Acquire and/or prepare spatial data layers for human activities and their pressures;
• Develop new approaches to mapping human activities and their pressures on the marine environment both within the team and through contracts. Maintain an overview of all other work in this field;
• Contribute the results of pressures mapping to work on the Habitats Directive, OSPAR, Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Water Framework Directive;
• Provide advice on creation, use and limitations of marine pressures mapping layers to support the conservation of marine habitats and species;
• Contribute to the effective dissemination of marine pressures information to the UK Government, the Devolved Administrations, the country nature conservation agencies and industry stakeholders;
• Participate in and/or manage contracts.

Competencies

Applicants will be required to demonstrate the specialist and core competencies  set out below.  The post-holder will be expected to have those marked ‘Essential’ at the outset, whereas those marked ‘Desirable’ can be developed whilst in post.

Specialist/professional knowledge and skills

Degree or equivalent qualification and relevant recent practical work experience that provides the following essential knowledge and experience.

• Extensive knowledge of marine industries, their regulation, types of data, and their effects upon UK benthic habitats and species.
• Extensive experience in the use of standard office software, databases, and GIS packages (preferably ESRI™ ArcGIS) to manipulate, interrogate and interpret spatial datasets, including experience of integrating and analysing different types of marine data from multiple sources.
• Ability to manage datasets, create audit trails, version control, establish processes/rules for changing or archiving them, and understand the principles of licensing.

Additional skills and experience that would be desirable to the posts are:

• Knowledge and understanding of the UK’s marine biodiversity, including a working knowledge of the national and/or EUNIS marine habitat classification system and the spatial and temporal variation in habitat character.
• Knowledge of the types of data available from marine biological surveys of the seabed in inshore or offshore environments, including remote-sensing, sampling and in-situ marine survey techniques, and the limitations associated with these data

Core Competencies

Making Effective Decisions –

• Identify a range of relevant and credible information sources and recognise the need to collect new data when necessary from internal and external sources (Essential);
• Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations (Essential); and
• Recognise patterns and trends in a wide range of evidence/data and draw key conclusions (Desirable).

Leading and Communicating –

• Communicate using appropriate styles, methods and timing, including digital channels, to maximise understanding and impact (Essential)

Collaborating and Partnering –

• Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes (Essential); and
• Encourage collaborative team working within own team and across the Department (Essential).

Building Capability for All –

• Proactively manage own career and identify own learning needs with line manager, plan and carry out work-place learning opportunities (Essential).

Delivering Value for Money –

• Follow appropriate financial procedures to monitor contracts to ensure deliverables are achieved (Desirable); and
• Recommend actions to achieve value for money and efficiency (Desirable).

Delivering at Pace –

• Successfully manage, support and stretch self and those you manage to deliver agreed goals and objectives (Essential).

Salary

£26,533 per annum

Please note that this post may be suitable for ‘job-share’

Hours of work

Normal hours of work for the post are 36 hours per week over a 5-day period, Monday to Friday.  Flexi time is available

Annual Leave Entitlement

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.  Staff appointed on a part time basis will receive this pro rata.

The closing date for this post is 09:00 Monday 21st July 2014

The anticipated interview date will be during the week commencing 4th August 2014 in our Peterborough office.

Post Details

Download job particulars (PDF115 kb)

Download the application form

 

Post title:
Marine Impacts Mapping Scientist

Ref No:
2014/23

Grade:
H

Type of appointment:
Four year Fixed Term Appointment

Location:
Peterborough

Team:
Marine Evidence

Closing date:
09:00 21 July 2014 (The anticipated interview date will be during the week commencing 4th August 2014)