About the job

Job summary

Why JNCC?

We’re small enough (c.300 staff) that your voice is heard by everyone including the CEO, but big enough that we have all the skills, resources and people you’ll need to get the job done. All our staff are passionate about conservation and making a difference to the world we live in. We have a very flexible, inclusive and welcoming organisational culture. Our Executive Management provides employees with the freedom and tools you will need, and our friendly team will assist you in your role.  
 
JNCC is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities as well as an exciting job in a unique environment.  

Post background

Are you an experienced data practitioner who is passionate about the management, design and transformation of data? Are you looking for a role that will allow you to have a positive impact on biodiversity and nature at a UK level?

This exciting post will lead the data engineering function within JNCC’s Digital and Data Solutions Team (DDS). You will explore and lead data innovation opportunities with a focus on process automating data transformation across a range of delivery areas including generation of national reports, UK indicator production, data support on JNCC digital projects, and processing satellite imagery data to inform policy and operations. There will also be opportunities to enhance our scientific and corporate data processes and products. To deliver this work, applicants should be confident in establishing best practice for new tools and techniques, generating data pipelines, conducting robust quality assurance, and utilising simple and advanced analytical techniques.

You will manage the data engineering teamlet (five people) within DDS, including line management of three of these staff. This will include overseeing the team’s programme of work and identifying opportunities for the teamlet to add value across the organisation. You will champion good data practices and suitable solutions for JNCC and be comfortable coaching and mentoring others, with a keen eye for areas where the organisation could benefit from building additional skills. 

Ultimately, we are looking for the post holder to be proactive and influential in establishing a lasting data culture. JNCC has a diverse delivery portfolio and the DDS team work across the organisation, so this post would be well suited to someone with a passion for digging into complex challenges and identifying innovative and tailored solutions.

Does this sound like you but you may need to develop in some areas? Don’t tune out now! Your application and interview (if selected) will be assessed on evidence you provide from your previous experiences. We understand that it can be tough to meet all the job specification criteria, so please don't be discouraged from applying if there are some knowledge gaps - JNCC is committed to being a learning organisation that supports staff development. We value diversity at JNCC and want to hear about the unique thing(s) you can bring to the role.  

Job description

Post Duties 

Your main responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: 

• Technical leadership – Initiate, plan and lead DDS’ data activities. You will work with data specialists across the organisation to deliver on our reporting responsibilities, build lasting solutions for data processing, and identify and champion data services, technologies, and standards with internal and external stakeholders.

• Innovation - Support the organisation in identifying area for improvement and advising on appropriate solutions, including automation and productionising.

• Problem solving - This post will support in investigating data issues, developing improvement plans and ensuring our data is fit for purpose and delivered effectively;

• Programme oversight – oversee and manage delivery plans for the data engineering teamlet, who contribute to a range of programmes of work across the organisation. This role will focus on scheduling existing programmes of work, scoping new work areas, and identifying opportunities for the data engineering function to add value to JNCC’s portfolio;

• Team leadership – the lead data engineer will lead a teamlet of five data engineers, with direct line management of three staff. You should be comfortable coaching and developing staff and identifying opportunities to build skills and knowledge in themselves and others. 

Person specification

Please demonstrate in your statement, the Behaviours and experience sections of the Job description to show how you’re suitable for the role.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,320, Joint Nature Conservation Committee contributes £10,346 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a statement of suitability. In your statement, refer to the Behaviours and experience section of this advert to show how you’re suitable for the role.

Please use the STARR technique

• Situation: Set the stage. 
• Task: Explain where you fit in. 
• Action: Describe each step. 
• Results: Impress with your achievements.
• Reflection: what have you learned 

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.