Gola Data Manager

The RSPB Centre for Conservation Science is responsible for providing high-quality ecological evidence to ensure the effectiveness of landscape-scale conservation in the Greater Gola Landscape in Sierra Leone and Liberia, a global biodiversity hotspot comprising several tropical forest protected areas separated by community lands. This is best achieved by ensuring the data on biodiversity, land use and socio-economic factors is well managed, spatially referenced and readily available to both RSPB and in-country partners. This empowers the partnership to work with communities in the landscape to help them develop their livelihoods whilst conserving areas important for biodiversity and ecosystem services.

We currently seek an experienced data manager for 12 months to support this exciting project. The successful candidate will design and develop an appropriate data management system, using existing software, to combine a diverse range of spatially referenced datasets, ensure that they meet appropriate quality control standards and are accessible for RSPB staff and partners to search for and extract relevant data. Covid permitting, we also expect the successful candidate to spend several months towards the end of their contract working with NGO partners in Sierra Leone and Liberia to train them in data extraction and basic GIS skills. The post-holder will be part of the RSPB Conservation Science department, but will also work closely with the Conservation Data Management Unit, the RSPB project manager based in Liberia, and several NGO partners in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

The successful candidate will have an MSc or equivalent experience in GIS, geography, conservation or a similar subject. They will be confident and skilled in communicating with data users with a very wide range of experience in data extraction and GIS in order to understand their data needs for answering various conservation-relevant questions and, where necessary, providing training to help them meet those data extraction and display needs. They will have expert knowledge of GIS and data and information management good practice and of database or information management software such as Microsoft Access, SQL Server, and a track record in delivering data management projects to deadline. Familiarity with West Africa, particularly Liberia and Sierra Leone, is an advantage, as is a familiarity with current conservation issues affecting tropical forest and agricultural landscapes.

Although the post is initially based in the UK/working remotely, the post holder will need to be culturally adept and willing to travel to West Africa.

Closing date: 17 August 2020
Interview date: 10 September 2020, 11 September 2020

Please click the apply button to be taken to our website where you will be able to download the Role Profile and Application Details.

No agencies please.