Job at a glance
The role This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing team, helping to manage and maintain key biological and environmental geospatial data that underpins the science of what we do. The ideal candidate will be highly numeric with excellent attention to detail and a passion for using spatial analysis to help create positive conservation gains. The GIS Officer will be supporting with the management of the company’s operational geospatial data.
You will be involved in all aspects of the data lifecycle, from sourcing, processing, quality assurance and maintenance, archiving and deletion as appropriate. A large part of the role will be maintaining key operational data, which is regularly updated and expanded through our work. This will involve strong communication skills and maintaining excellent relationships both internally, with our other teams, and externally, with our partners and stakeholders.
The successful candidate will sit within our Data Team, reporting to the Senior GIS Specialist. You will also be working with our statistical modelling specialists, ensuring accurate filing and dissemination of data. Outside of your key responsibilities there will be scope to broaden your experience in your areas of personal interest. Key responsibilities Supporting the Senior GIS Specialist with operational GIS needs across the company.
Maintain accurate, up-to-date datasets in both tabular and spatial formats and documentation. Liaise with internal teams to ensure understanding and adherence to data procedures and processes. Enable the timely and accurate exchange of data with our partners and local record centres. Provide first line GIS support to colleagues. Assisting with streamlining and automation of GIS workflows Support the organisations use of spatial data to improve performance internally.
Collate, process and present data in an appropriate format for different audiences (e.g. map outputs). Respond efficiently to requests from other teams and external stakeholders. Assisting in GIS file management. Any other duties and functions as are deemed necessary. Company background Great crested newts have declined dramatically in the UK over the last 50 years, and although still widespread across lowland England they are no longer common.
Despite protection under UK and European wildlife law, numbers are still declining, and habitat loss is their biggest threat. In 2018, the NatureSpace District Licensing Scheme was launched – set up in partnership with the UK’s leading freshwater and amphibian non-governmental organisations as well as seven local planning authorities across the South Midlands. Since then, the scheme has expanded nationally and now covers 70 local planning authorities across Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Staffordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.
The scheme allows planning authorities to authorise (under strictly defined terms) activities which affect great crested 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, which is carried out via our partners at the Newt Conservation Partnership (a community benefit society formed of experts from Freshwater Habitats Trust and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust).
The scheme benefits developers because the licensing process for great crested newts is simplified and streamlined. We also work with national infrastructure providers, such as Network Rail and National Highways, to help them secure and deliver ‘Organisational Licences’ for protected species with the same conservation deliverables. The schemes are administered by NatureSpace, are regulated, and approved by Natural England and a