Post background: The Ecosystems Analysis Team helps JNCC’s stakeholders meet the challenges of managing our environment and the benefits it provides. This dynamic, multi-disciplinary team brings together three elements: • A set of long-term partnerships with organisations undertaking species surveys in terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems using networks of volunteers. • An analysis and modelling capability producing rapidly deployable models. These include a range of models focussed on predicting outcomes from changing land uses and environmental pressures. • An Earth observation (EO) data processing and analytical capability with expertise in using EO to provide high-quality evidence on biodiversity and ecosystems to inform environmental decision making. As a member of an interdisciplinary team, you will have the opportunity to work across all three areas, advising on how EO can be used to provide insights into complex environmental issues. You will play a part in facilitating alignment and knowledge-sharing across the devolved governments of the UK, building an understanding of their needs and challenges, and working alongside them to develop evidence products that help inform decisions across a range of environmental outcomes. We are looking for an experienced Earth Observation Specialist who shows aptitude and creativity in combining multiple information sources to support evidence-based conservation. You will be confident in leading the technical direction of EO projects, ideally drawing on existing applied experience in the ecological domain, although applicants from other backgrounds are also encouraged. You will be a key member of a small team that has developed methods for habitat and feature mapping, established standardised processing of optical and radar satellite data for the UK, and combined spatial data from multiple sources to model environmental pressures, assess natural capital and identify change in habitat condition. You will provide technical leadership in EO analysis, including machine learning/AI approaches, supported by strong geospatial and data science skills. You will be encouraged to undertake horizon scanning and strategic thinking to assess how new sensors, technologies and analytical techniques can transform our approaches to delivering impactful evidence. Post Duties: The post will lead JNCC’s development of analytical methods for the application of Earth observation (EO) data to meet our stakeholders’ evidence needs. This will include working closely with partners in Defra, the country nature conservation bodies, and the devolved governments of the UK. This includes harnessing EO-derived information for cost-effective mapping of habitats; using EO to assess habitat change and condition; and exploring how EO-derived variables can help us understand or predict the effect that changes in land use or pressures have on biodiversity. The main duties of the post are: •Provide technical input, advice and strategic steer to projects involving Earth observation, working alongside colleagues to ensure we use our resources effectively and situate EO data and methods appropriately alongside other approaches to developing ecological evidence bases. •To lead the development of novel, cost-effective Earth observation-based outputs that meet stakeholder or customer priorities for evidence on habitat and ecosystem services. •To develop and maintain an overview of the Earth observation sensors (including satellite, airborne and drone-based), technologies and techniques that are (or may become) cost-effective to deploy in meeting the evidence needs of our stakeholders and customers. •To develop and maintain working relationships with stakeholders and partners, including Defra’s Earth Observation Centre of Excellence, Scottish Remote Sensing Group and Wales EO group, and strengthen collaboration via the JNCC coordinated public sector EO Implementation Group. Build relationships with academic or other partners that can aid our delivery. •Provide line management, guidance and staff development for a small number of team members. •Manage projects to ensure delivery to time, cost and quality elements, including liaison with contractors and other agencies. Provide quality control and assurance for analytical projects in line with JNCC evidence quality assurance policy. Technical: To be a successful candidate you will be/have: •Degree or equivalent experience in an appropriate subject and relevant post-graduate experience demonstrating understanding of underlying fundamental principles specific to EO data, and analysing Earth observation and other remotely sensed data (e.g. optical, radar, LiDAR) •Experience in applying recognised EO modelling and classification approaches to meet environmentally related evidence requirements •Experience of efficiently manipulating and analysing large EO and geospatial datasets and integrating these with models •Proficient in code development (ideally R or Python) within EO and GIS analytical workflows, including statistical analysis. Experience (Responsibilities) To be a successful candidate you will have: •Confident communication skills, ability to build successful stakeholder partnerships and work collaboratively to share knowledge and insights •Ability to synthesise complex information and to communicate complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences across multiple modes of communication and presentation •Experience of project management •Good understanding of the relationship between biodiversity, ecosystems, services, sustainable development and benefits to society (desirable) Behaviours: • Seeing the Big Picture • Communicating and Influencing • Changing and Improving • Making Effective Decisions Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme Disability Confident About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .