Recruiting for a Data Officer

NatureSpace are recruiting for a Data Officer – to find out more please read below:

NatureSpace Data Officer

£26,000 pa

Full time, fixed term contract (initially for 1 year but with the expectation of renewal)

The role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join a ground-breaking project that is delivering a step-change in the conservation of great crested newts. The role would suit an early-career graduate looking to join a small, friendly but rapidly growing company that is working with planning authorities and NGOs to deliver better conservation outcomes. As the company grows in scale and complexity, working within a complex regulatory environment, we are moving away from spreadsheet-based systems to database-driven platforms to manage large amounts of data. The postholder will assume management of our data and liaise with a variety of partners and organisations to ensure agreements and licences are updated and renewed as necessary. Understanding of data management with an attention to detail and a meticulous approach are paramount for this post. Management of the company website to provide a clear communication portal for all our stakeholders is a separate but related task. 

Background 

Natural England have granted ‘District Licences’ for great crested newts to planning authorities across England. The scheme allows planning authorities to authorise (under strictly defined terms) activities which affect newts at the same time as they grant planning permission. The District Licensing scheme has significant advantages for newt conservation (and wider biodiversity benefits) through a fully funded region-wide conservation strategy that creates high quality habitat at a landscape scale and delivers long-term management and monitoring for newts. The scheme benefits developers because the licensing process for great crested newts is simplified and streamlined. 

The District Licensing scheme is administered by NatureSpace, is adopted by the Local Planning Authorities, is regulated and approved by Natural England and is supported by the country’s leading amphibian and freshwater NGOs – Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust and the Freshwater Habitats Trust. The habitat creation, management and monitoring are delivered by a not-for-profit Community Benefit Society – the Newt Conservation Partnership, which works with landowners and managers to create and manage ponds and other habitats across the region. 

Main duties of the role:

  • The Data Officer will be responsible for managing, analysing and reporting various important data streams held by NatureSpace (a list of examples is included below). Efficient data management and analysis helps identify areas for improvement as a company. The outputs required include (but are not limited to) quarterly reports to regulators, real-time reporting to partners and monthly delivery reports to Local Planning Authorities and the board.
  • The Data Officer will need to liaise in a professional, confident and knowledgeable manner with various stakeholders including data providers, Local Record Centres, Local Planning Authority representatives, The Newt Conservation Partnership and NatureSpace colleagues. The ability to nurture relationships with colleagues and external parties is key.
  • The Data Officer will be required to undertake or assist with the management and administration of the website including content updates, liaison with delivery partners and colleagues and Google Analytics assessment and improvement.
  • The Data Officer will need a close working relationship with Core Staff, the Technical Lead and other Technical Officers, the Conservation Director and Newt Officers to ensure that all data management requirements are met within the planning and licensing framework.
  • The Technical Officer will be responsible for managing their own workload and working independently, as part of a national team. We are a friendly, close-working team of home-workers. There will be high levels of personal flexibility and responsibility given, but equally high standards of self-management will be required. The Data Officer will need to be an organised, motivated and mature ‘self-starter’, able to manage multiple ongoing tasks. Full training and guidance will be provided for all functions, and day-to-day support will be available for all aspects of the work.

Data stored by the company includes: 

  1. Licences issued by Natural England to our partners: we take responsibility for managing these Licences, including version control, renewals, authorisations and reporting on outcomes etc
  2. Operational casework provides the service to our clients and our main income stream: data management includes client and development information, and associated reporting and compliance (GDPR etc).
  3. Delivering habitat compensation for newts is our main outcome: delivered through the funding of our close partners – data is collected and collated on delivery, management, monitoring, and reporting of all outcomes
  4. Our schemes involve significant intellectual property: including spatial maps and databases on modelled Impact Risk Zones and Strategic Opportunity Areas
  5. We have many data agreements: with LPAs, clients, LERCs, GIS data providers; all require active management for renewals, payments, with many opportunities for development and improvement
  6. There is significant data exchange with partners: data provision to LPAs, LERCS and partners
  7. We deliver extensive reviews and reports which require large data collation and analyses: most importantly annual and quarterly reports to our Regulator (Natural England)
  8. General data management – we are completely renewing our database system and its subsequent management, using a third-party contractor to move to MS Business Central.

The successful candidates will have:

  1. A relevant degree (e.g. in data or systems management, mathematics, statistics etc or a highly numerate ecology graduate)
  2. Alignment with the company mission – an enthusiasm for nature conservation

Essential key skills:

  1. An excellent communicator with good inter-personal skills – able to liaise proactively and confidently with all stakeholders
  2. A detail-focused analyst, able to deliver critical analyses using a variety of data streams
  3. Experience delivering data-led projects
  4. Experience managing website administration and creating up-to-date content
  5. Highly numerate with proven ability in SQL, data visualisation, MS Excel, Google Analytics etc
  6. An understanding of the legalities of how data can be used, stored and distributed
  7. Highly literate, able to prepare documents quickly and diligently to a high standard, following defined processes, protocols and guidance.
  8. Organised, self-motivated and conscientious – able to juggle and prioritise multiple projects and work efficiently to meet tight deadlines both in a team and without supervision

Desirable key skills:

  1. Competence using MS Dynamics Business Central
  2. Competence using GIS software
  3. Coding / programming experience (including R)
  4. Understanding of Protected Species legislation and licensing in England
  5. Knowledge and experience of the planning system

Employment and location:

NatureSpace Partnership is a small, growing company. The successful candidates will be joining a friendly, close-working team of home-workers. The post holder will have responsibility for managing workload and working independently, as part of a dispersed national team. The post requires high levels of motivation and high standards of self-management. Location is flexible – this post will be mainly desk based though some site visits and travel to meetings may be required. 

How to apply: 

Send your CV and a covering letter to jobs@naturespaceuk.com before 5pm on Friday 3rd September 2021.

You will be notified by 10th September if you have been selected for interview. 

Interviews will be held (probably virtually) on 20th September.