2017/18 RCUK Policy Internships Scheme
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
APPROX. NUMBER OF INTERNSHIP PLACES: 1 (possibly consider a paired internship)
About JNCC
JNCC is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and
international nature conservation. The JNCC brings together members from the nature conservation
bodies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as independent members appointed by
the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under an independent Chair. The
company employs around 160 people that bring together scientific and technical expertise, extensive
knowledge of policy at global, European and national levels. We have offices in Peterborough
and Aberdeen.
JNCC delivers the UK and international responsibilities to advise Governments on the development and
implementation of policies for, or affecting, nature conservation in the UK and internationally; we:
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Provide advice and disseminate knowledge on nature conservation issues affecting the UK and
globally
Create common standards throughout the UK for nature conservation, including monitoring,
research, and the analysis of results
Commission or support research that is deemed relevant to these functions.
We have statutory responsibilities under several pieces of legislation and European regulations.
Policy Internship Opportunities at JNCC
An internship is an excellent opportunity to gain understanding of working in a science based evidence
policy organisation serving the needs of the UK Governments. JNCC is a large conservation based
organisation that provides essential information on biodiversity status and offer opportunities to
students from across the Research Councils, especially those supported by NERC, BBSRC, and ESRC to use
our data to join up policy at different geographical scales and across sectors. For example, we provide
advice on policies that affect nature conservation like the Common Fisheries Policy and on the impacts of
UK trade on global biodiversity e.g. applications to trade in endangered species and use our data for
developing collaborative research and evidence based policy.
Interns can work across many of our activities for example, we work with others to get the most from
investments in research. That includes enabling data held by a range of organisations to be available to
all and developing strategies for collaborative research. JNCC partners with equivalent organisations in
Europe and around the world to enable UK conservation information to be shared and placed in context.
The role of the interns will be to develop applications for the use of such data in a policy context.
Alongside learning the utility of data to facilitate and advise regulators on how specific activities in for
example, the offshore marine environment and internationally affect nature conservation issues.
2017/18 RCUK Policy Internships Scheme
Testimonials from Past Interns
This is the first opportunity for an intern to be placed within JNCC; we do, however, have a strong track
record in delivering evidence and policy advice to Governments.
How will we be Recruiting?
Security Restrictions
All applicants considering undertaking an
internship at JNCC are encouraged in the first
instance to contact Professor Jason Weeks by
email [email protected] at the
soonest opportunity.
It is likely that the intern will encounter
confidential information. Training will be
required to ensure that such sensitive documents
and information remain secure. The intern will
need to undertake a short online course for
managing sensitive data. They will also be
required to undertake an identity check usually
comprising their passport or birth certificate for
authentication. The successful candidate may
also be required to complete some basic security
checks before starting and may be required to
obtain a Basic Disclosure via Disclosure Scotland.
Working Arrangements and Location
Interns can expect to operate at either of our offices in
Peterborough or Aberdeen or between the two.
Contact
Professor Jason Weeks
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01733 866802
2017/18 RCUK Policy Internships Scheme