The successful applicant will have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in a politically sensitive environment. He/she will have demonstrable professional experience in data management and the management of databases in addition to awareness of marine conservation issues and threats to cetaceans. He/she will be fluent in English.
This post is advertised on a fixed term basis until 31 December 2026, with a possibility of extension subject to confirmation from the Commission.
The role will work with the IWC’s capacity in data collation, management and provision focusing on Vessel Strikes and Cetacean Strandings. In addition, the postholder will contribute to the development of a coherent approach to reporting, databases and data management across the IWC and its work programs, enhancing both the utility of IWC data holdings and sharing of these data with other organizations.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
The main tasks and responsibilities of this post are to identify and deliver on priorities within the three key areas detailed below in addition to scoping their future development:
Vessel Strikes
To ensure the increased, reporting of Vessel strikes incidents into, and use of the IWC database including through:
- Systematic outreach to data providers (e.g. countries, regional authorities, shipping sector, and researchers) to help obtain and secure records for entry to the database and management of the data entry. Ensuring data from IWC National Progress reports is assessed and entered where appropriate.
- Follow up on any reports that are submitted to the database or identified through the media or other sources in order to ensure that as much information as possible is gathered from each incident.
- Follow up with holders of other large datasets to develop ways that these can be included in the IWC database and reviewed where necessary.
- Liaise with the Vessel Strike Data Review Group of the Scientific Committee to review new information (This group includes members with wide experience of different aspects of the vessel strike issue and is tasked with providing expert advice and support to the coordinator).
- Work with the Chair and expert panel of the Vessel Strikes Standing Working Group to help progress the Vessel Strikes workplan.
- Respond to requests for data within the database by running queries to select the relevant data and providing appropriate supporting documentation.
- Promote access to information in the database including updating the website with the most recent data, regular publication of routine summary statistics of vessel strikes, updating database documentation and maintaining a compendium of relevant papers and reports of Vessel strikes issues.
- Increase accessibility of the database including undertaking a review of the database to understand how it can be used and improved to help meet the IWC Vessel Strikes Strategic Plan.
Strandings
- Liaise with international organizations and experts to identify sources of existing data available on cetacean strandings and key gaps with opportunities to address them.
- Scope the need and feasibility for/of a global repository of strandings and/or necropsy data in liaison with the IWC Strandings Expert Panel and other interested groups.
- Help to scope and initiate delivery of other priorities emerging from the Strandings Initiative Workplan related to data collation and use. IWC reporting and data management.
- Enhance synergies across IWC work programs (including the two work programs above) to streamline data reporting validation and curation.
- Work with the Secretariat IT team to increase reporting through IWC National progress and other reports, reducing reporting burden and ensure the most useful data is acquired for identifying threats to cetacean species.
- Develop high level data analyses and visualization methods such as data dashboard and online mapping services to promote data holdings and reports from IWC member countries to a wide audience.
- Increase IWC capacity (e.g. through involving student projects) in historic data analysis and develop appropriate relationships with research institutions and universities.
- Any other tasks that may be required by the organization that are commensurate with the job role.
Salary range: G2 – between £26,330 – £29,532
