NCEA Higher Data Scientist - ( Ref : 6763 )

Job Summary

This position is based Nationally.

Job Description

An exciting opportunity to join this ambitious and pioneering project delivering England’s biggest ever field data collection survey and releasing the resulting data into the public domain.

The England Ecosystem Survey (EES) is the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Defra’s Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (NCEA) programme – part of the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio. The project will deliver a comprehensive assessment of England’s ecosystems, bringing together data on soils, vegetation and landscape features. This role will provide project support to the wider EES project team by assisting other lead and senior advisers with GI desk studies linked to the field data collection element of EES. The role holder will lead on cleansing the EES datasets, a key task before publishing and data analysis can take place.

Key Tasks/Principal Accountabilities

• Present data in suitable form for a variety of customers and partners including ArcGIS Online and have analytical ability.
• Cleaning the Vegetation & Landscape and Soils datasets prior to data publication.
• Design and implement dashboards for data visualisation and reporting.
• Carry out terrestrial data & spatial analyses as required to support project commissions for the NCEA programme.
• Follow project data standards, processes and systems to ensure delivery of high-quality outcomes to internal and external customers.
• Carry out GI related work to support other work areas as required by the team e.g. data management and licensing.
• The successful candidate will be required to show flexibility in managing and adapting to other work should team priorities or resources change.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Proficient in using of Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS or QGIS) to perform spatial analysis of vector datasets, create and manage geospatial data, and produce high-quality, publication-ready maps.
• Experienced in transforming data, including integrating different data types (e.g. spatial and non-spatial) and from different data sources.
• Good data management skills, data validation and awareness of current data standards and legislative drivers for handling data (e.g. metadata standards, INSPIRE, UK GEMINI 2).
• Knowledge of data sharing and presentation of spatial data through ArcGIS Online.
• Proficient in at least one programming language (R or Python) and experience in using it for GIS analysis and data cleaning.
• Working knowledge of Survey123 and Survey123 Connect for data collection and integration.
• Knowledge of Web App and Experience Builder for creating interactive web applications.
• Experienced with using GitHub, including the ability to manage branching and merging, and creating concise documentation for scripts.
• Soil knowledge (desirable) to support interpretation and analysis of soil-related datasets.
• Experience with using GIS in the context of environmental surveys.
• Awareness with a range of statistical analysis techniques and applications or willingness to develop these skills. Awareness of the Statistics Code of Practice.

How To Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from all communities. Natural England is accredited to the Disability Confident Scheme, which denotes organisations which have a positive attitude towards disabled people. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements for the role at the shortlisting stage are guaranteed an invitation to interview.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview, or there is anything else you would like the panel to take into consideration, you should notify us of this at application stage where possible, or well in advance of your interview. We now provide primary interview questions in advance for all formal recruitments.

This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process. Please be aware that we reserve the right for roles that receive a high volume of applications to initially sift applications for one competence only.

• Technical Skills & Knowledge
• Personal Effectiveness
• Work Delivery
• Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

When completing the application form you should present relevant examples using the STAR format. Give us an example of how you have demonstrated the competency (which can be work related or from another area of your life) and tell us about the Situation, the specific Task you had to undertake, the specific Actions you took, and the Result (both immediate and in a wider context) of your Action.

Please note that STAR format is not required when answering the Technical Skills & Knowledge competency.

Examples should be given in no more than 250 words for each competency.

If you are successful at the shortlisting stage, you will be invited to attend an interview via MS Teams or a suitable alternative, where you will be asked to give examples for all competencies as set out in the Job Description.

As with all roles in NE, these roles require office attendance of a minimum of 20% of the working time – one day per week for those who work full time, subject to any reasonable adjustments and/or existing contractual homeworking.

Competencies

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Proficient in using of Geographic Information Systems (ArcGIS or QGIS) to perform spatial analysis of vector datasets, create and manage geospatial data, and produce high-quality, publication-ready maps. (Essential)
• Proficient in at least one programming language (R or Python) and experience in using it for GIS analysis and data cleaning. (Essential)
• Experienced with using GitHub, including the ability to manage branching and merging, and creating concise documentation for scripts). (Essential)
• Experienced in transforming data, including integrating different data types (e.g. spatial and non-spatial) and from different data sources. (Essential)

Personal Effectiveness

• Be ambitious, identify and adopt ways to make improvements in your team and the organisation you represent and inspire others to act. (Practitioner)
• Progress your personal development and take responsibility for keeping your knowledge and expertise current. (Practitioner)

Work Delivery

• Handle data responsibly, understand your role in good governance, and comply with delegations, policies and procedures. (Practitioner)
• Manage and deliver your work to meet agreed targets and deadlines. (Practitioner)

Putting People at the Heart of the Environment

• Listen to and understand our diverse partners and customers so that you achieve the best outcomes for them and the organisation you represent. (Practitioner)
• Nurture trusting partnerships and collaborate to achieve pragmatic outcomes that help deliver the organisation you represent vision, mission and aims. (Practitioner)