Water Ecology, Data Specialist

Closing Date: 5 February 2023 | Salary: £37,308 - £40,806 (Grade 6) | Location: Flexible

Contract Type: Permanent

Work Pattern: 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Post Number: 203415

As an organisation we support flexible working. This role allows hybrid working (a mix of home and office working) and a working pattern suitable for you can be discussed on appointment if you are successful.

You will be contracted to the nearest NRW office to your home, of which you will be required to attend for regular meetings, training and for one-to-one meetings with your manager. These will be planned in advance.

Job Description

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is the principal adviser to Welsh Government on issues relating to the environment and its natural resources. We aim to underpin our advice and actions with robust evidence. In addition to making use of evidence generated by others, NRW itself gathers evidence, notably through the environmental monitoring we carry out.

NRW’s Monitoring Analysis Team was formed to look after and make more use of the data we collect through our monitoring programmes. You will work as part of an enthusiastic team that includes environmental data analysts, data managers and remote sensing specialists.

We are looking for someone to manage and further develop our KiEco database, which holds much of the ecological monitoring data we collect from freshwater and marine environments. You will need to have a good understanding of data management principles and of best practice in this field (including data exchange standards). Working with others is a key part of the role, and you will need to work closely not only with colleagues in your immediate team but also with those working elsewhere on the management of ecological data, on data management policies and procedures, on ICT systems and with Kisters, the manufacturers of KiEco.

This is a great opportunity to help NRW continue to move forward in how it manages and assures the quality of its ecological monitoring data and makes it available for onward use in finding solutions to the challenges of managing the water environment.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities will include to:

Manage, develop and provide technical input to the water ecology data archive (WISKI KiEco) as lead system administrator responsible for ensuring compliance with data and IT standards, and responsible for business ownership of the water ecology data assets.
Working with the relevant subject matter experts, lead on the development, implementation and maintenance of associated tools and processes for the input to and output of data into the WISKI water ecology archive, and for the quality of data within the archive.
Provide specialist expertise and knowledge for the development and assessment of appropriate Data Quality standards and metrics for water ecology data.
Support NRW in realising the benefits of the use of WISKI for the archiving of additional environmental data.
Lead development of the water ecology archive to meet the current and future requirements of NRW, taking advantage of changes in technology and developing innovative approaches to improve services, so that benefits are realised, and better ways of working delivered which support user, customer and environmental needs.
Ensure that system development doesn’t compromise functionality and integrity of the water ecology archive.
Support system users by delivering solutions to complex problems and large-scale issues.
Act as technical expert for WISKI KiEco for the business, IT service delivery and between NRW and the vendor.
Engage with internal and external partners, in particular the relevant subject matter experts to ensure their needs are understood, our needs and capacity for delivery are communicated, and that arrangements for exchange of WISKI water ecology data and collaborative working are appropriately implemented and managed to ensure they are fit for purpose.
Provide technical advice, support and guidance as lead expert in the organisation for WISKI KiEco and be the principal provider of advanced specialist training to senior users of WISKI7 KiEco
Establish, manage and maintain data governance processes for water ecology data.

Qualifications, Experience & Knowledge

You will be able to demonstrate knowledge and experience of the following:

Relevant degree or equivalent experience. Membership of a relevant professional body is desirable.
Significant experience of using the WISKI KiEco system and of management of water ecology data.
Exemplar IT skills and experience of the use and management of water ecology data, meta-data and reference data in related IT systems.
Awareness and ability to evaluate IT and data requirements of business processes that produce and use data.
Ability to build strong internal and external relationships with a range of partners/stakeholders to influence and gain co-operation of others.
Be resilient and able to cope with high pressure situations.
Able to work independently, demonstrating innovation, initiative and an ability to develop, or be receptive to, new ideas and creative solutions

Welsh language requirements

Essential Level 1 – Able to pronounce Welsh and use basic phrases

Please note if you do not meet the level 1 requirement i.e., ability to understand basic phrases and ability to pronounce Welsh names correctly, then NRW offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these minimal requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Competencies

Applications to this role will be assessed based on the following competencies, both at shortlisting and interview. Please give examples of how you demonstrate these competencies when completing your application form.

Essential Knowledge and Skills	Able to undertake practical or technical tasks or work, requiring specialist knowledge/ expertise. Expert in a range of subjects relating to their specialism and able to act as the local expert or specialist lead for a small area, in an advisory capacity. Demonstrates substantial experience and specialist knowledge in their field, with the ability to manage projects, including the project budget and team. Possess analytical, influencing, persuading, supervisory and mentoring skills, together with project management skills.
Evaluation of Information	Able to interpret the function’s operational delivery plans and understand their context in the wider NRW strategy. Able to interpret developments in their area of expertise, contributing to business planning and the design and delivery of team-work programmes. Demonstrates the ability to analyse and interpret a wide range of complex information, extracting key points and able to communicate them to individuals at all levels and contribute to the development of policy.
Decision Making and Autonomy Requirements	Ability to lead and project manage specific areas of work, taking responsibility for managing project budgets and teams, and for the success and delivery of the project. Able to decide how best to achieve results, with guidance from peers, requiring the need for some degree of judgment and creativity which may lead to changes in established procedures/ practice in the work area. Post holders will be delivering often significant programmes of work, which may require the need to alter priorities due to conflicting demands. Responsible for making independent decisions at an operational level, with input from line management and peers, together with an understanding of NRW policy and the range of options available and their potential implications for the business. Understands the consequences of taking wrong decisions, which would have an adverse effect in relation to external stakeholders, such as partner organisations, lenders, service users etc. Decisions taken may concern a broad range of matters, the outcome of which may not always be immediately clear or apparent; and are likely to be wider than the immediate function or department. Problems encountered may also relate to the work of other parts of the organisation and could be variable and diverse.
Impact	Working as a local expert / sector lead, the post holder’s input and influence will be at an operational level and have an impact both internally and externally.
Communication and Relationships with Others	Ability to interact and link with other roles across the business, fostering and maintaining good relationships and networks, engaging the organisation in delivering polices and work plans in the most efficient way. Communication with others will be at an operational level both internally and externally and will typically be specialist in nature. Able to act as an advisory or functional specialist, providing advice, which may be technical, specialist or detailed; tailoring the method, style and level of communication appropriately for the audience. Demonstrates effective communication and persuasive skills with the ability to lead projects, which may include facilitating and presenting at internal or external meetings, giving advice and input as required. Able to produce documents, reports, programs, contracts, with some complexity; containing advice, guidance or opinion; which would have detrimental consequences if incorrect or poorly drafted. Ability to research and gather information and data from multiple locations or sources and apply professional judgment in how the information should be interpreted.

Benefits of Working for Us

This role will offer a range of benefits, including:

Agile and Flexible Working (role dependent)
Civil Service Pension Scheme offering employer contributions of 26.6% to 30.3%
28 Days Annual Leave, Rising to 33 days
Generous Leave Entitlements for all your life needs
Health and Wellbeing Benefits and Support
Weekly Well-being Hour to use at your choice

See full details for all the employee benefits you will receive.

How to Apply

Please send a completed Application form to Applications@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk

Before completing your application, please read our Guidance on completing a job application form

Application closing date 05 February 2023

Interviews will take place through Microsoft Teams.

If you have any queries about the role, please contact David Allen at david.allen@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk or 07880867875

Natural Resources Wales embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunity. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

We welcome and encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented, including women, black and ethnic minority groups and people with a disability. We have a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

We put the principles of human rights, equality, fairness, dignity and respect at the heart of our values.

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