Non Executive Directorships

Chair of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)

Location: East of England

Date Posted: 09/01/2025

Closing Date: 18/01/2025

£40059 per annum/2 days a week

About the appointment

Introduction

JNCC is a Non-Departmental Public Body. Originally established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to handle science-based GB and UK international issues. They were later reconstituted by the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (NERC) 2006, as the forum through which the country nature conservation bodies (CNCBs) in England (Natural England), Northern Ireland (Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside), Scotland (NatureScot) and Wales (Natural Resources Wales), discharge their statutory responsibilities across the UK and internationally.

The new Chair of JNCC will play a pivotal role in promoting our statutory mandate and public duty, driving organisational culture change to deliver our strategic priorities, and escalating our impact to mainstream nature throughout economic, social and foreign policies. You will be a force for nature, turbo-charging JNCC to deliver its full potential to play our full part in bending the curve of biodiversity loss to ensure thriving nature for a sustainable future.

Introduction from the Minister

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for applying to chair the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), which has a key role in helping the Government’s aim to end poverty on a liveable planet.

JNCC has been a vital and trusted statutory advisor on nature conservation and recovery for over thirty years, helping to deliver our collective efforts for nature. The Committee provides robust scientific evidence and advice to the UK Government and the devolved governments on UK-wide and international nature conservation.

JNCC’s strategy Together for Nature: Our Strategy to 2030 builds on their strong heritage of expertise, knowledge and networks with a new vision: Thriving nature for a sustainable future. JNCC’s high ambition to halt and reverse biodiversity loss aligns with their mission: Turning science into action for nature, people and the planet. Their integrated approach to nature conservation and recovery is through investing in people and partnerships. JNCC intends to maximise the impact and profile of their evidence and advice on complex ecological, social and economic systems to conserve and recover the natural systems we all depend on.

JNCC played a key scientific advisory role at the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties 15 (CBD COP15), where agreement was secured for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This agreement, described as the ‘Paris moment for nature,’ guides JNCC’s work, not only to 2030 but for generations to come. It gives hope for the future.

I am looking for a Chair with strong knowledge and experience in UK and international nature conservation and recovery; someone with proven leadership in making a difference to the natural environment. You must be ready to lead and inspire JNCC in support of the UK Government’s commitment to protecting and restoring natural systems, domestically and internationally. The UK Government has committed to deliver all of the Global Biodiversity Framework targets and JNCC’s evidence and advice is essential to this.

The Chair of JNCC is critical to the inclusive, collaborative and innovative delivery of JNCC’s mission: turning science into action for nature, people and the planet. I am looking for a high-profile ambassador to accelerate delivery of JNCC’s vision.

If nature inspires you, this may be the leadership role for you. I would love to hear about the values, experience, skills and qualities you can bring to JNCC’s vision and mission for nature. I particularly encourage applications from talented people from all backgrounds to ensure membership of the Committee reflects our diverse society and takes an inclusive and equitable approach to nature recovery. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of the society they serve, and this is part of the Government’s agenda.

MARY CREAGH CBE MP

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

(Minister for Environment)

Appointment description

JNCC’s Framework Document provides the legal, administrative and financial framework within which the Joint Committee operates and the specific functions of the Committee and the Chair.

The Committee, under the leadership of the new Chair, will be responsible to the Defra Secretary of State for the leadership, direction and effectiveness of JNCC in line with Together for Nature: Our Strategy to 2030 You will be the primary contact with Ministers across the UK for the Committee.

You will provide visible leadership, setting strategic and operational direction, ensuring excellent governance and, together with the Joint Committee, hold the executive to account through support, challenge and coaching.

Strong leadership in the context of cultural change and transformation will be essential in maintaining a clear focus to deliver the JNCC’s seven strategic priorities, alongside raising the organisation’s profile to a wider audience of influential decision-makers.

In addition, you will have the following responsibilities:

Committee

ensuring that the Committee has the right balance of skills to deliver its functions and JNCC’s business.

reviewing the work of the Committee and its members’ performance annually and driving forward any necessary change.

ensuring that the Committee, in reaching decisions, takes account of guidance provided by Ministers, Defra or Devolved Governments.

ensuring collaborative working amongst JNCC, the country nature conservation bodies, Defra, Devolved Governments, and other government departments, to make the best use of resources and optimise impact.

ensuring that each person in the organisation and on the Committee feels valued and respected, and that the diversity of the organisation represents the communities it works with.

ensuring the Committee has a strong and confident voice for nature.

Governance and Performance

Ensuring that governance, internal control and risk management systems are effective and capable of delivering relevant, accurate and timely management and financial information to the Committee.

Scrutinising the performance of the organisation in meeting agreed goals and objectives, and monitor the reporting of performance, including financial targets.

Developing and encouraging appropriate behaviours, in line with JNCC’s core values of inclusion, collaboration and innovation, to maintain or improve the organisational culture

Communication and Engagement

Confident in advising Ministers and government departments and framing external communications, including with the media.

Championing strong stakeholder engagement, with the ability to engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders to raise awareness of JNCC’s work and strengthen impact of evidence and advice on decision-making.

Connecting the Committee and Executive to people and organisations who can provide different perspectives, opinions and expertise which will assist in furthering delivering of Together for Nature.

Executive

appointing a Chief Executive should the post become vacant.

setting the Chief Executive’s performance objectives.

setting the direction for the executive team and the tone and pace needed to deliver agreed strategies and plans, and responding to changes in the science and policy landscape; and

promoting the efficient and effective deployment of staff and other assets to deliver priorities.

The successful candidate must abide by the Nolan principles of public service and the 12 Principles of Governance for all Public Body NEDs (attached at Annex A and Annex B) and the Code of Conduct for Board members.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website

Person specification

Essential criteria

Candidates must be able to demonstrate all the following essential criteria:

1) Strong knowledge and experience in UK and international nature conservation and recovery, with proven leadership in making a difference to the natural environment.

2) Strong leadership capabilities, with the ability to support diverse teams through organisational change to deliver strategic objectives. Ability to guide and challenge the Committee, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s vision and mission.

3) Proven ability to ensure effective governance and risk management frameworks are in place. Experience of scrutinising organisational performance, including financial and operational outcomes to meet targets and drive continuous improvement.

4) Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage constructively with diverse stakeholders, including government departments, external partners and the media.

5) Capability to analyse, interpret and communicate a wide range of complex scientific evidence and data (particularly related to nature conservation and recovery) with the ability to draw and present independent conclusions.

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