<< Back

This job listing is no longer active.
Please use our Environment Jobs Search to find current vacancies.

Title

Data Support Officer

Posted
Reference   (Please mention Stopdodo/Environment Jobs in your application)
Sectors Business, Support & Other
Location Scotland (East) - UK
Town/City Aberdeen
Salary Additional Information £22,586
Salary (Minimum)
22586
Salary (Maximum)
22586
Type Fixed Term and Permanent Roles
Status Full Time
Level First Level
Deadline 13/07/2021
Company Name Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Contact Name
Telephone 01733 562626
Joint Nature Conservation Committee logo
Directory Entry : The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the public body that advises the UK Government and devolved administrations on UK-wide and international nature conservation. Originally established under the Environmental Protection Act 1990. For Careers with the JNCC visit the Civil Service Career Portal.
Also Listing:
Description

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 Data Support Officer 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 developing routines and solutions. Projects include processing of Sentinel 1 and Sentinel 2 (Earth Observation) data the Simple Analysis Ready Data (ARD) Service, data analysis to support Biodiversity Indicators work and collaborating to create repeatable data collation and validation routines to supply key datasets for an integrated air pollution decision tool.

Job description

Post Duties

The main duties of the Data Support Officer post are to:

• Spatial data support; Manipulation of spatial data (earth observation, species samples, habitat maps, physical and human activities) using QGIS (or ArcGIS), earth observation data processing tools, and scripting tools to produce high quality and consistent inputs to analyses, or to prepare outputs for use by stakeholders.

• Technical support and automation; Support JNCC’s teams through the management of data and databases. Provide innovative technical mechanisms and processes to support internal and external dataflows and reporting. Assist in quality assuring and management of ‘production’ level analytical scripts and promoting good practice in ‘source coding’ scripts.

• Data Management; Ensure that the evidence base of the team is well managed, with appropriate version control and archiving, properly described, and that priority elements are published externally in line with JNCC’s Information Management policies.

• Investigations: Undertake short investigations to aid team analysis work from literature, stakeholders, active projects and other sources. To summarise and communicate the results for either internal or external audiences.

• Meeting & Workshop support: Support preparation, delivery and reporting from workshops and meetings. Includes the development of meeting and workshop materials (eg: briefs, agendas, speaker briefs, exercises) through drafting, collation and editing, note taking, and preparation of post meeting/workshop outputs.

• Communications; To contribute to the production (drafting, editing, assembly) and dissemination of appropriate material through a range of on-line and paper media, which communicates project objectives, outputs or practical tools to stakeholders, practitioners more generally, and which raises the profile of the work nationally and internationally.

Responsibilities

Please demonstrate in your statement of suitability your reasons for applying and any other information you feel may be relevant to your application

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Changing and Improving
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

  • 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 manipulate and analyse spatial data using GIS packages, including automation of functions and establishing links to databases and webservices.
  • A relevant degree or equivalent qualification
  • Relevant experience in data management, manipulation and analysis for environmental applications including the creation of metadata, audit trails, version control and establish processes/rules for changing and archiving them (note that ecological exp
  • Experience of communicating technical detail through a variety of media
  • Experience of using spreadsheets to map, manipulate and interpret data sets
  • Knowledge of simple relational databases or other tools such as FME or the aptitude to learn

Benefits

Equality and diversity

JNCC is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected and see this as a good place to work. JNCC has a responsibility to ensure that we have an inclusive culture where discrimination, harassment, bullying and prejudice will not be tolerated. Our selection process is determined on fair and open competition and regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership.

Continuous professional development (CPD)

Employees are encouraged to keep developing skills and professional knowledge.
JNCC has made available, and encourages employees to use, on average, five working days per annum for CPD activities with access to related funding

Leave entitlement

JNCC annual leave allowance is 25 days per annum. After five years’ service, leave entitlement increases to 30 days per annum.
In addition to annual leave, JNCC offers 12 public and privilege days per annum, three of which are explicitly reserved for office closure between Christmas and New Year.

Work/life balance

JNCC supports flexible working hours and practices to help employees strike a good balance between work life and personal life.

Our policies are family-friendly and include flexi-time, flexible working patterns, compressed hours and dispersed working. JNCC also offers paid maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave, over and above the minimum statutory entitlements. Some work/life balance benefits are available following a minimum length of service.

Any move from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Civil Service Pension

Employees will have the opportunity to join Civil Service pension arrangements, which include a valuable range of benefits. JNCC makes a significant contribution to the cost of employee pensions.

Employee Assistance Programme

JNCC provides employees with a free and confidential support service which gives unlimited access to information, advice and emotional support to help employees prepare for and manage all of life's ups and downs, events and challenges.

Trade Union

JNCC has entered into a partnership agreement with its recognised Trade Unions: Prospect and PCS, which employees are able to join and be involved with.

Salary sacrifice schemes

Employee Discount Scheme

Civil Service Sports Club
Add to My Account
<< Back