Job Title: GIS & Data Officer
Location of the role: Hybrid, agile working. Could work from a mix of home WWT offices and Warwickshire County Council offices
Vacancy closing date: 04/06/2023.
Interview date: Thursday 22nd June, At Brandon Marsh Nature reserve, Coventry, CV3 3GW.
Accountable to:
Natural Capital Assessment Manager
Location:
Hybrid, agile working. The post can work from Trust offices, Warwickshire County Council offices or from home.
Benefits:
Employers’ pension contribution up to 6% (with 4.5% from employee)
25 days holiday plus bank holidays
Access to Electric Vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
Employee Assistance Programme.
Death in service benefit equivalent to 3x salary
Liaison with:
WWT staff, Warwickshire County Council Ecology Unit, Local Authority partners, and landowners
Full Time, 35 hours per week
Job Purpose:
The GIS & Data Officer is responsible for gathering and analyzing data, which is then used to inform UKHab classification, Local Wildlife Site surveying and other project work such as Local Nature Recovery Strategies, ancient woodland inventory, biodiversity net gain, carbon sequestration and green infrastructure mapping.
Natural Capital Assessment Partnership (NCAP)
The Natural Capital Assessment Partnership (NCAP) is a partnership project that has been running for over 20 years. Formally called the Habitat Biodiversity Audit, the project has recently broadened out its remit and the name has evolved to become more representative of the future work. It involves detailed data gathering of natural capital data from across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. It combines in field ecological survey with pioneering satellite imagery and remote sensing data analysis. This data then underpins Local Wildlife Site surveying and other work such as Local Nature Recovery Strategies, ancient woodland inventory, biodiversity net gain, carbon sequestration and green infrastructure mapping.
This, UK leading dataset, provides both up-to-date data to underpin decision making, and a historic dataset of land use change over the last two decades. When combined with local species data from the Biological Records centre it provides an unrivalled picture of the state of nature at a local level.
The NCAP is funded mainly by Local Authorities across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and supported by Natural England and Environment Agency. Additional, necessary funding is secured via tendering or grant funded project work.
Key responsibilities of the role:
GIS & data-
Rationalise, refine and convert satellite imagery data into UKHab GIS mapping data that can then be used by the NCAP and its partners.
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Liaise with Local Authority Partners to ensure that the NCAP data meets their needs, adapting information or providing training where appropriate.
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Provide a reactive service to colleagues within the NCAP team, providing maps and data that support their work.
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Work with colleagues to provide data and mapping in support of external projects such as woodland opportunity mapping, Local Plan reports or biodiversity net gain calculations.
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Help to develop a data layer for Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull’s component of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
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Identify ways in which technological advancements can add value and improve the efficiency of the NCAP’s work.
Surveying and monitoring-
Undertake UKHab Classification monitoring and surveying to ‘ground truth’ and validate data when required.
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Use UK Habitat Classification survey data to calculate biodiversity net gain or other related calculations linked to habitat type.
Administration-
Identify potential sites for surveying or resurveying in agreement with Local Authority partners.
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Ensure that GIS and document storage is maintained in accordance with nationally agreed standards.
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Ensure data exchange agreements are in place and meet the needs required.
Landowner and stakeholder engagement-
Identify and contact landowners and/or their agents to obtain permission to visit and survey sites.
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Liaise with Local Authority partners to identify priorities for survey within each partner area.
General Responsibilities:-
Promote the work, mission and vision of the Trust at all times.
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Use every opportunity commensurate with other duties to contribute to the Trust’s membership recruitment, fundraising and engagement of people.
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Ensure a high level of customer service in all dealings with the public.
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Ensure continuous development of skills and knowledge required for the post, undergoing training and performance review as required by the Trust.
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Work within all the policies and procedures of the Trust, ensuring own compliance with the Trust’s health and safety policies and procedures and that of any resources for whom you are responsible.
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Work at all times within the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and to promote equal opportunities.
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Comply with all legal and contractual obligations concerning the post.
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Assist in the preparation of annual budgets, work programmes and reporting requirements for your area of work.
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Carry out any other reasonable duties commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post, as requested by the Chief Executive.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
Desirable
GIS software, in particular ESRI products and QGIS
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Working with spatial databases
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Data analysis techniques
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Providing GIS user support and training
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Developing GIS storyboards
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Wildlife habitat surveying using UKHab methodology
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Knowledge
Essential
Desirable
Very strong ICT knowledge, especially of MS Office suite and GIS
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Comfortable with using Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems
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Understanding of wildlife and environmental issues in the UK
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Understanding of relevant regulations, e.g., licensing and Data Protection and Privacy Legislation
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Plant identification skills
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Skills
Essential
Desirable
Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time
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Personal qualities
Essential
Desirable
Ability to work efficiently
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Ability to maintain high levels of enthusiasm and self-motivation
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Ability to be proactive and organize own workload but also likes to work as part of a small team
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Adaptable and able to respond quickly to technological change
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Determination to succeed
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Good listener and patient
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Commitment to diversity
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More about us…
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust (WWT) is one of the 46 UK Wildlife Trusts. Established in 1970 we are a grass roots organisation governed by 14 trustees elected from a membership of 27,000 people, 99% of whom live in the county, and supported by 700 active volunteers. We manage an estate covering 1,000 hectares in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull and no one living or working in that area is more than 6 miles from one of our 67 nature reserves.
As members of the influential network of Wildlife Trusts, we are part of a collective covering the whole of the UK with 870,000 members, 32,500 volunteers, 2,500 staff and 600 trustees, all working together through a central unit, the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (TWT). Together we are on a mission to restore a third of the UK’s land and seas for nature by 2030. We believe everyone, everywhere, should have access to nature and the joy and health benefits it brings. Each Wildlife Trust is an independent charity formed by people getting together to make a positive difference for wildlife, climate and future generations. Together we care for 2,300 diverse and beautiful nature reserves and work with others to manage their land for nature, too.
WWT is embarking on a new ten-year strategy setting out the impact we want to have as an organisation. We have a bold goal that, by 2030, nature will be in recovery with abundant and diverse wildlife everywhere, and that natural processes will be creating wilder landscapes where people and nature thrive.
Fundamental to that approach is our ambition to make more space for nature. In order to achieve that we must influence policy, work in partnership with other people and continue to deliver a range of impactful projects through collaboration that help bring our wildlife back and enable others to take action for nature on their land.
Moving forward the NCAP will be critical to the success of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) across Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull. It will also play a crucial role in supporting Local Authorities to deliver their statutory responsibilities for biodiversity net gain (BNG) and support them to make informed decisions on nature-based solutions to climate change.
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR THE POST
Selection and Assessment
The candidates who appear to best meet the person specification will be invited to attend for interview. We recommend that applicants pay particular attention to demonstrating how they meet the person specification on the application form.
The assessment will consist of an interview designed to give candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their skills and suitability for the post. Details will be sent to short-listed candidates.
Appointment
All our offers of employment are made, subject to some pre-employment checks including: satisfactory references, checks on eligibility to work in the UK and checks on relevant certificates.
Salary
Your salary will be based on your skills, knowledge and experience. You will be paid monthly in arrears by credit transfer to a bank or building society account.
Location
The role is employed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust but hosted by Warwickshire County Council. It therefore benefits from being able to work from within Warwickshire County Council offices in Warwick, the Trust’s offices near Coventry, Coleshill or Solihull and from home. Employees may be required to work at other Trust or non-Trust sites from time to time. The successful candidate will be expected to travel to visit sites within the area, some of which are in remote locations and many include rough terrain as an integral part of their character. The role will also involve some lone working.
Hours of Work
Our employees work a 35-hour week (full time). In view of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s work, employees can be called upon from time to time to work a reasonable period outside of the set hours. No overtime will be payable but a flexi time policy and TOIL is in place.
Holiday Entitlement
Our holiday year runs from January to December. Full time employees get 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays. This increases to 27 days after 2 years and 28 days after 5 years.
Pension
You will be automatically enrolled in the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust Stakeholder Pension Scheme if you meet the eligibility criteria, though you may opt out. The employee contributes 4.5% of salary and the Trust as the employer contributes a further 6% to the scheme.
Notice
If you choose to leave the Trust you will be required to give one months’ notice.
Equal Opportunities
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is committed to equal opportunities and appoints on merit. We welcome applicants from all sections of society regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, marital status, age and religion, perceived community background or political beliefs.
Responding to Applications
Thank you for showing an interest in this job and for taking the time to apply. Unfortunately, due to administration costs, we regret that only short-listed candidates will be contacted. The purpose of this information is solely to provide prospective candidates with details relating to the post. It may not be construed as an offer of employment, nor does it form part of the contract of employment or the role profile.