Job description
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.
Salary:
Grade 2b £27,272
Benefits:
Employers’ pension contribution up to 6% (with 4.5% from employee)
Liaison with:
WWT staff, Warwickshire County Council Ecology Unit, Local Authority partners, and landowners
Hours:
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.
- Liaise with Local Authority Partners to ensure that the NCAP data meets their needs, adapting information or providing training where appropriate.
- Provide a reactive service to colleagues within the NCAP team, providing maps and data that support their work.
- 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.
- Help to develop a data layer for Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull’s component of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ensure that GIS and document storage is maintained in accordance with nationally agreed standards.
- 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.
- 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.
- Use every opportunity commensurate with other duties to contribute to the Trust’s membership recruitment, fundraising and engagement of people.
- Ensure a high level of customer service in all dealings with the public.
- Ensure continuous development of skills and knowledge required for the post, undergoing training and performance review as required by the Trust.
- 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.
- Work at all times within the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and to promote equal opportunities.
- Comply with all legal and contractual obligations concerning the post.
- Assist in the preparation of annual budgets, work programmes and reporting requirements for your area of work.
- 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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Project management
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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
Organization
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Analytical thinking
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Ability to manage multiple projects at the same time
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Attention to detail
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Communication
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Teamwork
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Decision making
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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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Eager to learn
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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 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
Salary
Location
Hours of Work
Holiday Entitlement
Pension
Notice
Equal Opportunities
Responding to Applications