Job Description
To address the twin climate and biodiversity crises we need innovative inter-disciplinary thinking to integrate the value of nature into policymaking. Economists work with experts across JNCC on a variety of cross-cutting, high-profile projects to support our mission of turning science into action for nature.
A formal degree in economics is not essential and we encourage applications from candidates with diverse academic backgrounds. However, you will need a firm grounding the principles of economics a willingness to engage with economic ideas, and experience of applying economics. You should also be familiar with related concepts such as natural capital.
You will need to:
- Build good working relationships with teams across JNCC and with external stakeholders.
- Be enthusiastic about taking on new learning opportunities and experiences. While you don’t need a PhD in economics or the natural sciences you will work with experts across a range of fields related to biodiversity.
- Be proactive in spotting opportunities to use economics to solve problems.
- Synthesise and communicate evidence clearly and effectively to a non-technical audience.
- Be able to manage projects and deliver projects, ensuring effective planning management, monitoring and evaluation.
- Potentially line manage other economists, providing leadership, guidance and support.
Person Specification
This role sits within a small, flexible team with a defined core remit, where responsibilities may adjust in line with organisational priorities. The post holder will be expected to apply their expertise across a varied range of work and respond effectively to changing demands. Economists work across the organisation and must adapt quickly to new challenges and priorities. The successful candidate may have the opportunity to evolve the role to their own interests and abilities.
Key areas where you may be working include:
- Blue and Green Finance. We need innovative thinking to explore how existing markets can be adapted to better promote nature-based solutions, support the development of new markets, and develop idea new ideas for financing nature recovery in the UK and overseas.
- Advising UK Overseas Territories and developing nations on how to transition to sustainable blue and green economies that balance poverty reduction with preserving natural capital.
- Natural capital assessment. Economists work with terrestrial and marine scientists to help develop better measures the economic value of natural assets, and contributing to ecological models which better understand how human activities impact the delivery of ecosystem services.
- Helping to measure the benefits of biodiverse and resilient ecosystems. Including supporting our work on global sustainable consumption.
- Supporting the UK in international negotiations such as IPBES
- Working closely with policymakers in all four UK nations to incorporate the value of nature into decision-making.
- Working with terrestrial and international pollution teams to develop a better understanding of the impact of pollution on nature and ecosystem service delivery.
Salary: £41,525
Application deadline: June 29, 2026
