1010-313 Protected Areas Officer: Data and Systems Manager - D Grade - June 2024

Job title: 1010-313 Protected Areas Officer: Data and Systems Manager| Grade: D | Vacancy type: Permanent| Hours: 35 | Salary £38,242 | Location: Any NatureScot office, home or hybrid working | Closing date: Midday, 22 July 2024| Internal Interview date: 5 August 2024| External Interview date: 19 August 2024 (If there are no internal candidates external interview date will move to 05 August 2024)

Job Purpose Summary:

In response to the nature and climate emergencies NatureScot has set out ambitious targets to help Scotland halt the loss of biodiversity by 2030 and restore nature by 2045. Protected areas will play an increasingly important role in delivering these targets with our aim to protect 30% of our land and seas for nature by 2030 (30x30 Target).
You will play a vital role in the delivery of these targets as NatureScot’s Protected Areas Data and Systems Manager. You will have lead responsibility for our protected area database (MIDAS) and provide wider database and system support, and protected data advice, across the Protected Areas, Innovation and Data (PAID) Activity, specifically within the Protected Areas Monitoring and Surveillance (PAMS) Team. You will provide a key point of contact between PAID, other System Owners, and our IT and data security colleagues.

You will play a leading role ensuring that NatureScot maintains, and continually improves, its high standards of data on protected areas, and will ensure this information is accessible and fulfils statutory duties. As we work to deliver the 30x30 Target the types of area protected for nature and the data that underpins them will undergo significant change. As such, understanding and continually reviewing protected area data needs is an essential skill. You will use this to identify and implement ongoing system improvements.

You will report to the Protected Areas and Surveillance Manager, have line management responsibility, and will work alongside other members of the PAID Activity, wider NatureScot staff and external partners.

• The PAMS Team is responsible for co-ordinating our work on protected areas, including:
• Policy development for NatureScot interaction with protected areas.
• Policy development, reform and implementation of protected areas monitoring and wider surveillance.
• Custodianship of NatureScot’s protected areas databases/systems MIDAS/Site Condition Monitoring and the data they contain to ensure it is up-to-date, meaningful, openly accessible and promoted.
• Working with the Environmental Data and Innovative Technologies (EDIT) Team to explore and develop new approaches and technologies for environmental monitoring and surveillance and data capture and management on and beyond protected areas;
• Supporting our Operations Teams in the delivery of their protected areas monitoring programmes and natural feature condition related actions.
• Helping shape the targets set for the contribution protected areas make to the delivery of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and reporting progress.
• Working with partners to deliver better integration of environmental monitoring and surveillance and to improve the health of protected areas.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Lead or assist with the management of IT systems, data and reporting to support the work of the PAID Activity.
2. As System Owner for MIDAS ensure the integrity of the data in MIDAS and maintain system documentation.
3. Work with NatureScot’s Technology and Digital Services, and other System Owners, to ensure system interdependencies are understood and well managed. 
4. Lead on the ongoing maintenance and future requirements of MIDAS (and other systems as required) through user research and business analysis. Proactively seek out opportunities for improvement.
5. Work with external partners to ensure that links made to MIDAS, and other PAID Activity systems, for the display of protected areas data, is current and accurate.
6. Provide expert advice, support and training to NatureScot staff on the use of MIDAS
7. Support NatureScot staff and external partners and customers by providing advice on Protected Area data, e.g. responding to ad hoc and annual data requests and by proactive provision of internal and external data reports.
8. Communicate, using appropriate styles, methods, and timing, including digital channels, to maximise understanding and impact.
9. Identify and develop team members to support succession planning, coaching, mentoring, and developing others.
10. Line management (currently for two members of staff).        
            

Please use the following competencies to frame your application and keep to two sides of A4           
Essential skills (Please Refer to these in your Supporting Statement)

• A can-do, enthusiastic and motivational approach to work and change management.
• An open mind and ability to see the ‘big picture’. Critical evaluation of innovative opportunities.
• Database management. Data manipulation and presentation. Ability to interrogate large data sets. Basic understanding of statistics and infographics.
• Project and budget management skills, including an understanding of Agile working and the Minimum Viable Product concept.
• Good communication skills, including influencing, listening, and demonstrating clear written and verbal presentation. 
• Ability to manage multiple tasks within a small team and limited resources and work on own initiative.
• The ability to work in collaboration with others, to build relationships and identify opportunities and overcome barriers.    

Desirable skills:

• Understanding, and preferably demonstrated application, of the key concepts of business analysis    
• Experience of one or more data reporting tool, e.g., Microsoft Power BI (NatureScots current BI tool), QuickSight  etc..
• An understanding of the data that underpins Scotland’s protected areas    

Prerequisites

• Proof of right to work in UK
• To undertake a Disclosure Scotland application.
• Although Gaelic language is not a prerequisite it is a desirable skill in support of our commitment to our Gaelic Language Plan.

Working for NatureScot

NatureScot offers some great benefits to reward and support you whilst you are working for us. Our benefits package includes the civil service pension scheme, a generous holiday leave allowance plus flexi time, and employee discount scheme. Visit the NatureScot website for further details.

NatureScot’s Net Zero commitment:

Whether working at home or in an office, or travelling to meetings and site visits, as a NatureScot you will contribute to our Net Zero plan, for example through positive carbon travel choices.

Application Process:

Application is by CV and Supporting Statement. Please ensure you have attached these documents when submitting your application.

Before applying for this post;

• Internal applicants should read the Self Service Guide (eRDMS A3155575)
• External applicants should read the Online Job Application Guide – link below
• https://www.nature.scot/doc/online-job-application-guide-naturescot

If you have previously applied for a vacancy with NatureScot you must remove the supporting statement from your profile, before uploading a new version.

Interviews 

External candidates will be invited to interview if we are unable to recruit internally

NatureScot is an inclusive workplace. We will share interview questions for this vacancy prior to interviews as a way of supporting neurodiversity at NatureScot.

For information regarding the vacancy, please contact:

Bob Bryson, bob.bryson@nature.scot 

For information regarding the application process please contact recruitment@nature.scot

Nature is vital to all of us, so it is vital that we are an organisation for all of Scotland. The more diverse NatureScot is, the better we will be in connecting everyone with nature. We particularly encourage applications from people from Minority Ethnic (ME) backgrounds and people with a disability.