Under current circumstances we can be flexible around remote working options until such time that we are able to return to office locations.

The successful candidate would then be expected to be able to work from one of these locations for the first six months of their employment. Flexible and remote working options can then be considered after this period.

Hours of work:  Full-time

Normal minimum hours of attendance for the post are 36 hours per week over a 5-day period, Monday to Friday.

Flexi time is available. This post may also be suitable for job share. 

Annual Leave:

The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years service.  There are also 12 days public and privilege leave.  Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.The annual leave allowance is 25 days per year, rising to 30 days per year after 5 years’ service. There are also 12 days public and privilege leave. Part-time staff will receive this on a pro rata basis.                 

Post Background

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation. One of JNCC’s key roles is the provision of biodiversity related evidence.

Access to good evidence to underpin biodiversity and nature conservation advice has become increasingly important as the demands and pressures on the environment rise. Evidence activities relating to biodiversity and nature conservation, such as data collection, dissemination, analysis, and reporting, are all critical elements of JNCC’s core functions.

The Environmental Data Specialist will work in the Digital and Data Solutions team. This technical team provides support and creates innovative solutions to all digital, data and IT related work as well as providing information management advice and guidance to teams across JNCC. The Digital and Data Solutions team leads both internal and external projects across the full range of JNCC’s work.  The post holder will join the data engineering section of the team working across an interesting range of projects and will lead on the management of the UK Protected Areas database, collating the latest version of site boundaries and protected features; coordinating with other UK Nature Conservation Bodies, publishing data externally and reporting to international protected sites hubs.

Post Duties

The main duties of the Environmental Data Specialist post are to:

• Lead on the management of the UK Protected Areas database including data ingestion, manipulation, reporting and publishing tasks as required.
• Lead on the uptake and use of qGIS
• Contribute to the design and development of JNCC’s new central spatial data store.
• Perform a variety of analyses, working with JNCC colleagues with specialist skills as appropriate eg to support delivery of UK Biodiversity Indicators
• Work with other teams requiring technical solutions across JNCC, to define requirements and plan and deliver innovative solutions eg analytical work with the Ecosystems Analysis Team
• Provide advice or practical design or production assistance in technical implementation, scripting, data management or processing and automation to support programmes across JNCC
• As appropriate, line manage other staff within the team.

• Project management within the team, focussing on projects that will require some analytical input.

Post Responsibilities:

Line Manager:                         Yes

Project Manager:                    Yes

Information Management:      General User

Technical

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• Ability to use R, Python, or a similar scripting language to manipulate and analyse data and automate processes, including robust testing of outputs and quality control checks on code produced in the team and elsewhere in JNCC.
• Ability to design and use relational databases, especially to write SQL queries to manipulate and extract data from large and complex datasets (preferably with experience using PostgreSQL).
• Ability to manipulate and analyse spatial data using GIS packages, including automation of functions and establishing links to databases and webservices. 

Experience

To be a successful candidate you will have:

• A relevant degree or equivalent qualification
• Relevant experience in management, manipulation and analysis of large or complex data for environmental applications including the creation of metadata, audit trails, version control and establish processes/rules for changing and archiving them (note that ecological experience would be helpful)
• Experience of communicating technical detail through a variety of media
• Experience of writing and testing a range of scripts
•   Communicating and Influencing
•   Changing and Improving
•   Working Together
•   Making Effective Decisions
•   Managing a Quality Service

·       Experience or aptitude to manage small projects

·       Experience of, or aptitude to, use source-control, package management and multiple computer operating systems

·       Experience or knowledge of working on remote cloud computing platforms

·       Knowledge of applying analytical techniques to spatial problems, modelling or machine learning methods would be helpful

Behaviours

In the event that we receive a large volume of applications we reserve the right to conduct the sift based on the Lead Behaviour of Communicating and Influencing

Please see the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf