Environmental Records Centre Data Officer

Overview

If you have a keen interest in wildlife and ecology and an analytical mind, the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Environmental Records Centre (BMERC) has an opportunity for you as the new Environmental Data Officer.  Your technical skills and experience together with your knowledge of biodiversity and geodiversity will enable you to coordinate and lead on the capture, management and provision of environmental data across Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes on behalf of the team.

About us

BMERC is a busy, professional, and friendly team of 5 environmental specialists. Between us we flexibly cover the broad range of roles such as project working, data management and dissemination, site surveys, volunteer and landowner liaison and training, national and local partnership working and promotion. Together we share a passion to protect, promote and manage the unique natural environment of Buckinghamshire. 

We sit closely alongside the Ecology and work with other teams of specialists including Arboriculture, Urban Design & Landscape, and Heritage teams. Buckinghamshire is currently experiencing a huge amount of growth so we are busier than ever. 

Working with us will give you the chance to make a significant and lasting positive impact for the wildlife and people of Buckinghamshire, helping us to deliver our conservation objectives across the county.  Come and join our fantastic team while developing your professional career at the same time.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally. 

About the role

As Data Officer within BMERC, your knowledge of UK species taxonomy and habitat classifications will enable you to manage and maintain our datasets to high standard of accuracy, using industry standard and bespoke environmental data management software.

You will lead the team on the provision of that data to our customers, ensuring that decision making is carried out with the best possible environmental information.

The successful applicant will be self-motivated and analytical, with excellent attention to detail.  You will be an effective communicator, able to resolve complex customer queries, and provide technical support and advise to colleagues, partners and volunteers in respect to the recording and management of environmental data.

Please see the attached job summary for further details about our role.

Key Accountabilities

• Maintain existing biodiversity and geodiversity datasets to high standards of accuracy;
• Maintain consistent and accountable data management and analysis procedures and systems throughout BMERC and provide advice to colleagues, data suppliers and users to enable this;
• Maintain and update robust systems for capturing and maintaining habitat, designated sites and species data by BMERC, using industry standard environmental data management software including MapMate, Excel, Access, ArcGIS and other software; 
• Coordinate and lead the response of the BMERC team to requests for data, including the management of contracts with partner organisations, responding to requests for data searches, provision of Digital Data Licences; and
• Work as part of the wider BMERC and Environment Teams to support overarching projects and initiatives.

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.

About you

• Demonstrable experience of environmental records management;
• Knowledge of UK species taxonomy and habitat classifications;
• Awareness of and ability to interact with other local and national recording groups;
• Understanding of national species recording schemes and national recording platforms such as iRecord and the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas;
• Significant experience with Microsoft Office (particularly Excel), MapMate and ArcGIS products; and
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with colleagues, external partners and customers, with good customer service skills, and ability to resolving complex customer queries.

Other information

The post is based at Buckinghamshire Council’s Walton Street Offices in Aylesbury, however Buckinghamshire Council has flexible working arrangements, and some working from home will be part of the role.

Salary

£36,002 – 37,732 per annum

Contract Type

Permanent

Working Hours

Full-time

Application Deadline

Midnight Wednesday 8th May

Interview Dates

TBC

Interview Type

In-person or on Teams, with a technical exercise

Contact email

[email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Our Planning, Growth and Sustainability directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire.  We deliver services on planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.

 Our key priorities include developing the economic narrative for Bucks, creating more jobs and delivering the right infrastructure to help businesses and residents thrive. We also aim to provide a proactive planning service that is responsive, whilst making the best use of the Council’s land and property portfolio. This will in turn support community services and create housing, jobs, regeneration and income to support public services.

 It’s a great time to join one of our teams. As part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability function you will not only get to help shape the economic future of Buckinghamshire; you’ll also be involved in delivering high-profile development projects and work on some of the biggest infrastructure projects in the UK. You will support us to deliver the results that our local residents and businesses deserve.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme to those who are eligible and have passed their probation period. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/