Butterfly Verification Assistant

Butterfly Conservation; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a dedicated team as a Butterfly Verification Assistant, where you'll play a vital role in supporting the County Recorders network. This volunteer position allows you to work from home while contributing to the conservation of butterflies through data verification and communication with recorders. With full training provided, you'll enhance your knowledge of butterflies and gain valuable experience in data management tools like iRecord and Excel. This is a unique opportunity to make a real difference in your local environment and beyond, all while collaborating with passionate individuals in the field of conservation.

Benefits

Full training provided

Opportunities for mentoring

Chance to contribute to conservation

Improved knowledge of butterflies

Qualifications

• Proficient in butterfly identification or willing to learn.
• Strong Excel skills for data validation and processing.

Responsibilities

• Verify records in iRecord and maintain communication with County Recorders.
• Process national scheme records according to data policy and GDPR.

Skills

Butterfly identification

Excel proficiency

Knowledge of species flight times

Personable attitude

Willingness to learn

Tools

iRecord

NBN Record Cleaner

QGIS

Job description

Can you identify butterflies from photographs, or are you an Excel star? You might be able to help support data checking by the County Recorder network and help our work to save butterflies.

County Recorders are the critical people in the data flow from recorder to the schemes that we manage at Butterfly Conservation. Only data sent to us direct from County Recorders makes it into the two key databases that we collate and manage: the Butterflies for the New Millennium (BNM) and the National Moth Recording Scheme (NMRS).

As a Butterfly Verification Assistant you will work from home to digitally help a County Recorder with an aspect of their workload and ensure that data are correct and up to date.

Volunteer role

Butterfly Verification Assistant

Volunteer manager

Senior Surveys Officer

Where you will be based

Home

Why we want you

Verification Assistants have a key role to play in supporting the County Recorders network. County Recorders are the critical people in the data flow from recorder to the schemes that we manage at Butterfly Conservation. Only data sent to us direct from County Recorders makes it into the two key databases that we collate and manage: the Butterflies for the New Millennium (BNM) and the National Moth Recording Scheme (NMRS).

What you will be doing

• To verify records in iRecord and other sources
• Establish channels of communication with recorders
• Query dubious records
• Provide regular downloads of verified records to the County Recorder or at least annually in January
• Discuss the timing and formatting requirements and preferences of the download with the County Recorder
• To process national scheme records in accordance with our training, instruction, data policy and GDPR.
• To perform validation checks in Excel or NBN Record Cleaner

The skills you need

• Proficient at butterfly identification or be willing to work with others to learn this
• A knowledge of species flight times and distributions or access to this information
• A willingness to learn more about butterflies
• Personal computer password protected with up-to-date antivirus software and internet connection
• Personable and approachable attitude
• Able to represent Butterfly Conservation and its values

What's in it for you

• Full training to carry out the role including, iRecord verification training
• Other training available includes QGIS (geospatial data visualisation)
• Improved and ongoing knowledge of butterflies
• Opportunities for mentoring from County Recorders
• The chance to contribute to Butterfly Conservation’s world-class recording schemes, and ultimately science and research
• An opportunity to make a real difference to people, butterflies and the environment in the local area and beyond

Disclaimer

This role can be performed year-round or seasonally depending upon the requirements of the County Recorder. Training and induction sessions will be provided to Verification Assistants to help support and guide you as you get established in the role. There will be a rolling monthly programme which includes Introduction to BC, Essential role-based induction inc. health and safety, GDPR, Safeguarding and Widening Participation / EDI as needed. Some of the training may involve annual refreshers, for example GDPR. Please be aware that our insurance cover differs slightly for people aged 75 or over. Please contact the Volunteering Team for more information.