Ecological Data Officer in Leeds

Ecological Data Officer

We have an exciting opportunity for an Ecological Data Officer to join the Environment Team at Yorkshire Water and be a part of helping Yorkshire Water provide the best service to our customers. Could this be you?

Location

This role will initially be based in Bradford but we're moving our office to Leeds Valley Park in spring 2026, so you will be based there in the future – Hybrid Working.

Work type

Permanent. 37 hours per week, Monday - Friday.

What we do

Everyone has an idea of what a water company does. Here in Yorkshire, we make sure that over 5.4 million people living in the region and the millions of visitors each year can rely on our services, and have clean and safe drinking water on tap and that their wastewater is taken away. But for us, it's so much more than this.

We look after communities, protect the environment, and plan to look after Yorkshire's water, today, tomorrow 24/7, 365 days a year. We provide essential water and wastewater services to every corner of the Yorkshire region, and play a key role in the region's health, well‑being, and prosperity.

New environmental legislation, unprecedented levels of investment and changing expectations from customers mean that this is an exciting time to discover opportunities within the water industry. The Environment Team is a key part of how we plan to meet the changing expectations of customers and regulators.

Where you fit in

• Take ownership of ecological data management across the Environment Team, ensuring datasets are accurate, consistent, and accessible.
• Lead on quality assurance of YW supplier ecological data and the conversion of externally provided data to YW storage.
• Support delivery of the Biodiversity Performance Commitment, ensuring robust data underpins reporting, forecasting and audit requirements.
• Provide specialist support to WINEP delivery, processing and interpreting complex hydro‑ecological datasets to enable effective project delivery.
• Integrate Yorkshire Water ecological datasets with external systems such as Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), Local Environmental Records Centres (LERCs), and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) frameworks.
• Develop and maintain data systems and processes that enable the business to understand and manage environmental risk, including protected species, invasive species, and sensitive habitats.
• Collaborate with external partners including Rivers Trusts, Wildlife Trusts, and CaBA groups to align data standards and avoid duplication of effort.
• Support the transition and ongoing management of ecological data within ESRI systems, working alongside internal GIS teams.
• Report data to internal and external stakeholders using the most appropriate software, for example Power BI or ESRI Dashboard.

What skills & qualifications you will need

• A degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, GIS, or a related discipline.
• Experience managing and processing ecological or environmental data, including spatial datasets.
• Strong working knowledge of GIS platforms (e.g. ESRI) and data management principles.
• Understanding of habitat classification, protected species data, and ecological survey standards.
• Experience working with large or complex datasets, including hydro‑ecological or monitoring data.
• Ability to assure data quality and translate technical data into clear, usable outputs.
• Experience in presenting large datasets to various audiences using the most appropriate software.
• Experience working collaboratively with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities, particularly in time‑critical reporting environments.
• Full UK driving licence.

You will also benefit from having

• Knowledge of environmental regulatory frameworks (e.g. WINEP, WFD, BNG, LNRS).
• Experience in developing, implementing, and managing multidisciplinary GIS based systems.
• Experience in using dashboards for project level reporting and analytics.
• Experience working in a regulatory environment and being subject to external audit.
• Experience utilising and interrogating publicly available data sets, e.g. EA fish and ecology explorer.
• Experience in ecological survey guidelines such as UK Habitat Classification and the BNG metric with habitat condition assessments.

Why this role matters

• Deliver against key regulatory commitments.
• Reduce environmental risk and ensure legal compliance.
• Improve biodiversity outcomes across our land and river catchments.
• Strengthen partnerships and transparency with stakeholders.

Do we sound like your cup of tea?

If you're passionate about ecology, data, and making a tangible impact on the natural environment, this is a unique opportunity to help shape how Yorkshire Water delivers for people and the environment.