Role Summary
Job title: GIS and Data Officer
Location of job: Hybrid working – home based with occasional working in SRT Head Office, Martley, Worcester and travel throughout the Severn catchment area.
Post holder reports to: Ecosystem Services Lead
Salary: £24,000 – £31,000 pro rata (9% employer pension contribution)
Position type: Permanent
Working arrangements: Part-time role (22.5 hours per week) with a flexible working approach.
28 days Annual Leave plus bank holidays. This will increase to 30 days, plus bank holidays, after successful completion of two years’ service.
A generous home working allowance will be provided.
Purpose of the job
Severn Rivers Trust are recruiting for a GIS and Data Officer, whose role it will be to underpin the evidence-based approach taken by the Trust, by managing, analysing and communicating spatial data to inform effective river catchment management.
Working within our recently established Development Team, this position will provide cross-cutting technical support to team members throughout our organisation, meaning you will have the opportunity to input into a broad portfolio of ambitious and exciting environmental programmes. The work will be diverse and fast evolving, including activities such as data collation and analysis to identify opportunities for on-the-ground interventions, working with our operations team to map and monitor delivery, and the production of high quality graphics and digital outputs to support reporting and communications.
The successful candidate will need to be self-motivated and passionate about securing the ecological resilience of our rivers and wider environment. The role will require skills in problem-solving and innovation, providing technical support and knowledge-sharing solutions to facilitate the use of data and evidence for integrated catchment management across the River Severn catchment.
About Severn Rivers Trust
The River Severn is longest river in the United Kingdom, stretching 220 miles from its source in the Cambrian Mountains in Powys Wales, through the counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and into Gloucestershire to the iconic estuary. The culture and economies of the historic settlements across the catchment have been intertwined with the river through commercial navigation, fishing, water supply and trade. Today, the Severn’s rivers continue to play an essential role in supporting wildlife, wellbeing and economies of the region.
We are living through a time of great change. We are in the middle of a biodiversity crisis, and a climate emergency. We are witnessing disastrous loss of habitat, collapse of ecosystems, erosion of precious soils, increased flooding and devastating drought. At Severn Rivers Trust we are fighting for a future where our children and grandchildren can enjoy healthy vibrant rivers teeming with diverse and wonderful life – from Atlantic salmon to white clawed crayfish, and from freshwater pearl mussels to European eel. The Severn Rivers Trust’s vision for the Severn is: A healthy, resilient river Severn for everyone.
The Severn Rivers Trust is the only organisation that works across the entire River Severn Basin area in both England and Wales, some 11,500 square miles! We are a proactive and adaptable team of dedicated staff. Our motto is “We get our feet wet” – meaning we make things happen on the ground and constantly strive to make a real and positive difference for the river and its communities.
Our work and how we organise ourselves
Our team comprises around 25 dedicated staff, organised across the following four teams;
- Operations Team
- Development Team
- Community Engagement Team
- Finance & Administration Team
Collectively, we are now delivering in excess of 60 conservation and engagement-based projects throughout our operational area. Our most notable projects cover the following work areas: river restoration, regenerative agriculture and outreach educational & engagement programmes. Inevitably, we do not work alone. Our work requires close collaboration with a host of statutory agencies, NGO’s and private sector companies to maximise our impact. To learn more about our work, please visit our website: www.severnriverstrust.com
Role Purpose
Spatial analysis and data presentation to support environmental decision making
- Support staff in spatial data analysis and presentation, in particular the production of materials for farm and land management plans, as well as project output reporting.
- Work closely with colleagues to identify opportunities for spatial data analyses bringing innovative approaches which will enhance the understanding of environmental issues and their solutions.
- Process and analyse data from a variety of sources (e.g. open source, government, citizen science) to support evidence-based decision making and inform catchment management priorities, e.g. targeting measures to improve water quality, water resources, habitat restoration and natural flood management.
- Support the Trust to take a Natural Capital approach, supporting the creation of decision-making tools and evidence, such as risk and opportunity maps for water resources, biodiversity and other ecosystem functions.
- Be responsible for effective presentation and communication of spatial data and facilitate its interpretation, including high quality visual outputs to support stakeholder engagement, reports and decision making.
Data and Development
- Work closely with the Ecosystem Services Lead and wider Development Team to develop and build upon systems for monitoring and reporting on data relating to the organisation’s strategic goals.
- Be responsible for holding and maintaining datasets for the Trust, its partnerships and trading arm, including data assurance and quality control.
- Attend relevant training, workshops, meetings and conferences on behalf of the Trust to share knowledge and best practice in GIS and data management.
Support and Training
- Support staff to collect, collate, present, analyse and refine environmental information to facilitate decision making.
- Support colleagues in the development of their own GIS and data management capabilities.
- Contribute knowledge and expertise to aid in the delivery of specific project outputs.
Other duties:
- In addition to the above you will play a key role in the Severn Rivers Trust’s Development Team helping to deliver our 3-year strategy.
- You shall lead by example in prioritising health and safety and wellbeing by taking responsibility for yourself participants volunteers and colleagues.
- You shall comply with Severn Rivers Trust’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and defined standards of behaviour at all times.
- You may be required to carry out other duties and tasks as required from time to time for the efficient operation of the Trust.
Person Specification
| Skills and Experience | Essential | Desirable |
| Minimum of a relevant degree level qualification e.g. GIS, Geography, Environmental Science or equivalent professional Experience | ü | |
| Higher degree involving GIS or at least two years’ work experience in GIS | ü | |
| Competent in processing remotely sensed datasets for GIS analysis | ü | |
| Advanced desktop and online GIS skills (preferably ESRI & QGIS) | ü | |
| Ability to overcome technical GIS problems using own initiative and online resources | ü | |
| Experience running spatial models in GIS, e.g. SCIMAP, flood modelling | ü | |
| Strong analytic skills in reviewing and synthesising data and evidence | ü | |
| Experience of using computer programming languages e.g. Python, R, including data processing or visualisation | ü | |
| Skilled in clearly presenting spatial data to a variety of audiences | ü | |
| Excellent organisational skills and able to work to tight deadlines, in particular working remotely | ü | |
| A good level of knowledge and understanding of environmental datasets relevant to catchment management | ü | |
| A good understanding of catchment management, hydrology or environmental management | ü | |
| A good understanding of natural capital and ecosystem services | ü | |
| Proven ability to work in a team with a range of partners | ü | |
| Experience of working in partnership with a range of organisations and sectors to achieve common goals | ü | |
| A keen interest in the environment | ü | |
| Ability to conduct oneself professionally, with integrity, tact and diplomacy | ü | |
| Able to manage and prioritise a demanding workload independently with high levels of self-motivation and enthusiasm | ü | |
| Experience using IT software including email, MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel and videoconference apps. | ü | |
| A full UK driving license, with access to a personal vehicle insured for business purposes, and ability to drive SRT work vehicles. | ü |
General Notes
This post will be based from the home address of the appointed employee with occasional use of the Trust’s head office in Martley, Worcestershire until further notice.
The post holder will be expected to spend time on site as well as undertaking further travel around the Severn Catchment. Therefore, a full, current UK driving license and daily access to a vehicle covered by business insurance is essential for this role. To reduce travel time and carbon footprint we prefer candidates to live within the catchment. Mileage costs will be reimbursed.
This position may occasionally be required to work during evenings, weekends and public holidays to meet the requirements of the project. The Trust operates a time-off in lieu system.
Application Process
For further information or to discuss this post please contact Lloyd Cockram our Ecosystem Services Lead on 07923 220391.
Interviews for this post will take place the week commencing 29/05/23
To apply for this role please forward a CV and Cover Letter to recruitment@severnriverstrust.com
Deadline for applications: Midnight, Monday 15th May
Due to the high levels of applications usually received by the Trust for job vacancies we will only contact candidates who are invited to interview for the position.
Thank you for your interest in applying for a role with the Severn Rivers Trust.
