This role requires employment experience in a related role and unfortunately is not suitable for new graduates who have not yet gained this.
To apply please complete an application form and upload your CV at https://ptes.org/apply-for-a-job/
About People’s Trust for Endangered Species
Whether bats or beetles, hedgehogs or hyenas, we stand up for animals and their habitats. The delicately balanced ecosystem that we all depend on is under threat. Alarmingly, in the UK almost two-thirds of species have declined in the last 50 years. Globally, around a quarter of mammals face extinction in the next three decades. This rate of loss can be stopped and that’s why People’s Trust for Endangered Species exists. For over 40 years we’ve improved the outlook of endangered species in Britain and throughout the world.
Passion drives our work but it’s grounded in science. Our approach is to invest in research and test the best ways to protect endangered species in their natural habitats. Then we put what works into action, creating vibrant wildlife havens.
Our work is varied and extensive, ranging from direct support for conservation professionals to involving the public and volunteers in practical action to help specific species and their habitats. Current priority species are hedgehogs, dormice, water voles and invertebrates and our priority habitats are orchards, woodlands, hedgerows, wood pasture and parkland. As well as carrying out our own work, which focuses particularly on British mammals, we support conservation work throughout the world. Recent projects funded range from protecting areas for snow leopards in Mongolia to protecting slow loris habitat in Indonesia.
We have 19 staff, five trustees and thousands of volunteers helping us.
Job purpose
The role of Key Species Monitoring and Data Officer is to coordinate our water vole work as well as maintain, disseminate and map all PTES biological data. The current holder of this post expects to take maternity leave by mid-end September 2020 and we are seeking an experienced person to cover her maternity absence from early September.
Job description
General data and mapping work
- Maintaining an overview of PTES data, assessing its quality and completeness. PTES data includes the datasets referred to below, as well as data from surveys Living with Mammals, Big Hedgehog Map, Mammals on Roads and invertebrate data
- Entering data received from internal and external sources, liaising with other staff entering data and ensuring that all data is entered accurately and in a timely manner
- Ensuring that relevant data is submitted regularly to the NBN Atlas including liaising with other staff collecting or holding data where necessary to assist in making sure this is done
- Producing maps from datasets on key species and habitats in liaison with lead staff to support conservation work
- Developing and maintaining data share agreements where appropriate with Local Record Centres and submitting data to them regularly
- Advising on the data capture and management implications of any new surveys developed and on volunteer management
- Producing data and mapping for third parties in response to ad hoc requests or contracts
Water voles
- Liaising with our PR consultant and social media team to promote the National Water Vole Monitoring Programme annually (press release, media interviews, social media campaign)
- Recruiting and liaising with volunteers, providing the relevant support materials
- Managing and updating the NWVMP Access database, exporting data for analysis and ad hoc requests and producing an annual digital map
- Regularly reviewing and refining the online NWVMP system to identify any areas that require attention and improvement with regard to data or volunteer usage
- Promoting our Helping water voles on your land guide to relevant audiences
- Managing the relationship with the Westminster Species Champion for water voles The Rt Honourable Hilary Benn MP
- Responding to all water vole enquiries via email or phone and from media
Dormice
- Gathering data on dormice together for regular analysis including that from the National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP), the National Dormouse Database (NDD), Local Record Centres and other appropriate sources
- Ensuring that data submitted through Natural England dormouse licence holder returns is collected and stored on the NDD
- Managing and updating the NDMP and NDD Access databases and submitting the National Dormouse Database and Other Mammal Data from the NDMP datasets annually to the NBN and Local Record Centres as well as dealing with ad hoc data requests (from local groups, researchers and students)
- Producing an annual digital map of all known dormouse populations in England and Wales, liaising with our statistician and coordinating trend analyses when appropriate
- Regularly reviewing and refining the online NDMP system to identify any areas that require attention and improvement with regard to the data or volunteer usage
Traditional Orchards
- Recruiting and liaising with volunteers to survey orchards in areas of England and Wales where ground truthing is incomplete, providing them with appropriate support materials (survey packs), ensuring they have maps of orchards to survey, receiving their completed surveys and chasing as appropriate
- Inputting data received from volunteer surveyors and orchard owners and ensuring that all relevant information available for the database is entered into it as soon as possible after receipt
Other general tasks
- Occasionally attending external events to promote PTES monitoring work
- Helping on occasion to draft articles or provide information for articles for the Trust’s various publications and appeals
- Liaising with our PR consultant alerting them to significant results or news emanating from water voles, data and mapping work
- Dealing with general enquiries about the Trust from the general public and directing them to appropriate colleagues or sources of information
- Helping with other tasks as advised by the Chief Executive
Relationships
Internal
- Reporting to the Chief Executive
- Working with all staff running wildlife surveys, as well as the fundraising team on appeals on water voles
- PTES IT consultant
External
- Volunteers involved in water vole, dormice and orchard surveys
- PR consultant
- External statistician
- Website developer
- Various organisations PTES shares biological data with e.g. NBN Atlas, Local Record Centres, Universities, local groups
Person specification
Essential knowledge and experience
- University degree or equivalent in conservation-related field
- Experience of using GIS (MapInfo and QGIS).
- Experience of using and managing online and Access databases.
- Interest in and passion for ecology and the conservation of British wildlife
Essential skills
- Excellent organisational skills with ability to work on own initiative and without close supervision, and to manage several projects at the same time, often with conflicting priorities
- Ability to work with consistent accuracy and attention to detail.
- Excellent numeracy and analysis skills.
- Self-motivation, a general ‘can do’ cooperative manner, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a close-knit team with a passion for conservation.
- Strong face-to-face interpersonal skills and ability to communicate confidently.
- Strong computer literacy, a thorough understanding of the use of databases, and an aptitude for quickly acquiring new IT skills.
- Ability to write clearly and appropriately for internal and external audiences
Desirable selection criteria
- Good knowledge and understanding of water vole ecology and conservation issues
- Experience of productive interaction with the media
- Experience of working with website designers on structuring websites for specific audiences.
Other requirements
- Commitment to the goals and values of PTES and an interest in British species, their conservation and recording
- Full UK driving licence would be useful
- Some out of hours working, travel and attendance at appropriate events
