GIS Officer
Butterfly Conservation
We are looking for a talented GIS Officer to help drive forward innovative conservation work through mapping, analysis, and data expertise. If you’re as comfortable innovating with GIS as you are training others, this could be your perfect role!
The Role:
As the GIS Officer, you will be the go-to expert for all things GIS within Butterfly Conservation. You’ll lead on QGIS support and training for staff and volunteers across the UK, help manage and improve data systems (including BC’s Site Activity Recording Database), and produce high-quality spatial analysis that directly supports conservation projects, policy work, and scientific research. This is a fantastic opportunity to apply your technical skills to a cause that really matters — protecting some of our most vulnerable species and habitats.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide QGIS support to staff and volunteers, including troubleshooting, 1:1 guidance, mapping, and data extracts.
- Design and deliver engaging QGIS training for all levels — from complete beginners to advanced users.
- Digitise and manipulate data, creating clear maps and insightful GIS analyses.
- Maintain and develop QGIS plugins, projects, and PostGIS queries to improve staff access to key datasets.
- Work closely with the Biological Data Officer to ensure butterfly and moth records are readily available for conservation work.
- Train and support staff and volunteers in using BC’s internal system for site activity recording – Site Activity Recording Database (SARD)
- Lead annual analysis and reporting of SARD data.
- Collaborate with teams to develop creative GIS outputs for campaigns, conservation delivery, and research.
- Support communications by producing compelling GIS visualisations for web, social media, and publications.
- Represent BC by sharing results through presentations, reports, and media opportunities.
Essential experience:
- Degree, equivalent qualification, or equivalent experience in GIS, Geomatics, or a related field
- At least two years’ relevant work experience in a similar position
- Skilled in data manipulation, spatial analysis, and producing professional maps.
- Advanced knowledge of GIS
- Experience in providing GIS training and support to users with varying levels of experience, including beginners (online and in person).
- Knowledge of PostGIS and database management.
- Experience delivering database training or conducting user testing of databases (ideally SQL Server, PostgreSQL / PostGIS)
- Collaborative, approachable, and able to explain technical concepts to non-specialists.
- Passionate about conservation and making a positive environmental impact.
- Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail.
- Enthusiastic about innovation and finding creative ways to present data.
Why Join?
You will be part of a friendly, passionate, and supportive organisation making a tangible difference to biodiversity. Your work will directly influence conservation action across the UK - and you’ll get to use your GIS skills to protect the natural world.
If this sounds like you, apply now and help us create a world where butterflies and moths thrive.
About Butterfly Conservation
Butterfly Conservation is a vibrant, inspiring place to work and we're passionate about connecting people to nature. We're looking to recruit passionate ‘can-do’ people who can help us to create a world where butterflies and moths thrive and can be enjoyed by everyone, forever.
- Butterfly Conservation is a charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths, and our natural environment. We are a leading authority on the conservation of these beautiful creatures – key indicators of a healthy ecosystem – and we have achieved numerous successes for them locally and nationally.
- Our people are at the heart of what we do. Our work is only possible thanks to the commitment and dedication of our supporters, volunteers, and staff.
- We employ world-class conservation scientists, making us the world’s largest research institute for butterflies and moths. Our data is used by government and policymakers to make a long-term difference for the environment.
- We are actively involved in hands-on conservation throughout the UK, at every level from individual households to landscape-scale habitats, working tirelessly to make a difference for butterflies, moths, and our environment – and to benefit all wildlife and the ecosystems upon which life depends.
- We run projects to protect threatened species, and we are involved in conserving hundreds of other sites across the UK.
Butterfly Conservation is a vibrant, inspiring place to work and we're passionate about connecting people to nature. We're looking to recruit passionate ‘can-do’ people who can help us to create a world where butterflies and moths thrive and can be enjoyed by everyone, forever. Butterfly Conservation is a charity dedicated to saving butterflies, moths, and our natural environment. We are a leading authority on the conservation of these beautiful creatures – key indicators of a healthy ecosystem – and we have achieved numerous successes for them locally and nationally. Our people are at the heart of what we do. Our work is only possible thanks to the commitment and dedication of our supporters, volunteers, and staff. We employ world-class conservation scientists, making us the world’s largest research institute for butterflies and moths. Our data is used by government and policymakers to make a long-term difference for the environment. We are actively involved in hands-on conservation throughout the UK, at every level from individual households to landscape-scale habitats, working tirelessly to make a difference for butterflies, moths, and our environment – and to benefit all wildlife and the ecosystems upon which life depends. We run projects to protect threatened species, and we are involved in conserving hundreds of other sites across the UK.
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