Evidence Engagement Coordinator - Data Engagement

This role will focus on Natural England’s contribution to the Defra funded Data Mobilisation and integration project theme.

You will work proactively with the Data Mobilisation team and with internal and some external stakeholders to understand their data needs and data holdings. The aim is to overcome barriers to data sharing to improve access to and effective use of evidence and assist NCEA projects to produce outputs under the Open Government Licence (OGL).

The role involves engaging with teams across Natural England, Defra Group, and biological recording infrastructure partners and data providers.

Key tasks and principal accountabilities:

• Seek to understand the short and long-term priorities for Natural England’s work and associated data mobilisation issues, to enable effective planning and problem-solving, working with NCEA leads across all projects and wider Defra
• Engage and work closely with our Natural England data services staff to ensure consistent practice and continuous improvement organization wide
• Contribute to elements of our NCEA programme of work for improving data quality and access to evidence with development of guidance, tools and training materials for effective data planning and management, data procurement, licensing
• Seek ways to improve effectiveness and drive efficiencies, collaborating with others across Natural England to put these in place
• Support delivery and planning of meetings and workshops to develop effective collaborative partnerships, working across the biological recording landscape in England e.g. National Biodiversity Network Trust, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Association of Local Environmental Records Centres along with national recording schemes and societies

The team 

The Evidence Services Team provides scientific and evidence leadership, services and support to help Natural England operate as an evidence-led organisation. The Team is responsible for delivering Natural England’s part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA). The NCEA is a transformative programme to understand the extent, condition and change over time of environmental assets across England's land and water environments, supporting the government’s ambition to improve the environment within a generation. Data will come from Earth Observation, professional field data collection, citizen science and partner data sets.

Natural England’s NCEA programme is organised into projects:

1. Mapping and Earth Observation – Spatial data and maps on natural capital to inform national and local decision making and delivery. 
2. England Peat Map – Mapping the extent and condition of England’s peatlands. 
3. Field Data Collection – Data on habitats, soils, landscapes and species to understand the condition of natural capital assets. Delivery of the England Ecosystem Survey.
4. Citizen Science – Working with citizens and community science to fill gaps, provide local and landscape scale information and engaging the public. 
5. Data Mobilisation and Integration - Making NCEA, partner and volunteer data available for analysis, integration, and use. Producing high quality evidence products by analysing and integrating NCEA data. 
6. Programme Management – Managing Natural England’s NCEA programme. 

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. 

This vacancy uses competency-based assessment. We'll assess you against the competencies below during the selection process: 

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

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 doing so. 

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.

Contact and additional information (Recruiters Name, Email and Phone Number): Lydia Brunt, lydia.brunt@naturalengland.org.uk

Closing Date: 25/03/2024, 23:55 hours

Interview dates - To be confirmed

Level of security checks required - Basic Check (BPSS)

Please note the successful applicant will need to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Security Check for this post.