Why JNCC?
We’re small enough (c.300 staff) that your voice is heard by everyone including the CEO, but big enough that we have all the skills, resources and people you’ll need to get the job done. All our staff are passionate about conservation and making a difference to the world we live in. We have a very flexible, inclusive and welcoming organizational culture. Our Executive Management provides employees with the freedom and tools you will need, and our friendly team will assist you in your role.
JNCC is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities as well as an exciting job in a unique environment.
Summary
As part of the Marine Management Team within JNCC, we provide expert advice on the impacts of fishing on marine biodiversity in UK waters and beyond. The team works closely with other teams responsible for advice on conservation of marine ecosystems and mobile species.
Managing fisheries to minimize impacts on the wider marine environment presents a complex set of challenges. JNCC is responsible for the provision of clear, evidence-based advice to fisheries managers in the UK and Devolved Administrations on the environmental impacts of fishing in the offshore, particularly in development and implementation of new Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs).
We are therefore seeking a Fisheries Advisor to work closely with colleagues in the Marine Management Team to carry out a range of functions in relation to the development and implementation of FMP, including the assessment of the effectiveness of new fisheries plans to achieve wider policy ambition to deliver a more sustainable approach to fisheries management. The post-holder will be expected to work very closely with partners in its sister statutory nature conservation bodies, with other scientists, with regulators and with the Governments within the UK. It is also expected that the post-holder will routinely engage with industry representatives.
Post Duties
The postholder will carry out a range of functions with the overall objective of contributing to the provision of advice on the impacts of fishing in UK offshore waters, such as:
- Reviewing FMP Strategic Environmental Assessments for Defra and the Devolved Administrations.
- Provision of advice to regulators regarding the impact of survey activities in MPAs
- Support the development of a process to review the effectiveness of Fisheries Management Plans to deliver on key objectives laid out in the Fisheries Act 2020.
- Support the Marine Management Team in the identification of opportunities and development of bids for funded income (e.g. fisheries impacts’ projects)
Qualifications
- Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject and/or relevant recent practical work experience
Experience
To be a successful candidate you will have:
- Knowledge of the main provisions of UK fisheries legislation and management
- Knowledge of the main provisions of UK and Devolved Administration marine conservation policy
- The ability to critically review scientific information, appraise and effectively communicate uncertainty and provide high quality, risk- based, impartial advice.
- Knowledge of the types of commercial fishing occurring in UK waters.
- General knowledge of UK marine biodiversity
Salary: £32,025
Application deadline: July 9, 2025
