Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and GIS Officer in London

BASED: The Tree Council HQ in Canada Water, London SE16 with flexible working from home. You will need to be able to connect to the whole of England (the majority of the team is remote working across the UK). To include regular days out on sites across the UK with occasional overnight stays.

SALARY: £30,000 - £34,000 per annum. PENSION 7% contribution by The Tree Council.

TERMS: Full-time, fixed-term role to March 2028, starting immediately / asap, with 25 days annual leave, plus Public Holidays and the period between Christmas and the New Year.

REPORTING TO: Operations Lead (to be confirmed).

INTERNAL LIAISON: Wider S&R Team, Community Grants Team, National Schools Programme Team, Development Team.

EXTERNAL LIAISON: Research Partners Defra, Forest Research, Fera Science, Network Rail, tree grant recipients and other landholders, university partners.

It is a vital moment for the environment as we face the dual nature and climate crises and the world has become increasingly aware of the important role trees play in helping tackle climate change. Longer‑term tree establishment is just as important as tree planting and to maximise this, The Tree Council’s Science & Research (S&R) team is exploring how many of the trees we plant with our partners are thriving into maturity and the different factors that impact on this. Our tree survival research spans a number of Tree Council science and community grant programmes. To help deliver the research, meet different contractual obligations and sustain the future of UK trees, we are recruiting a new Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and GIS Officer.

The M&E and GIS Officer will play a key role in supporting the Science & Research team by coordinating and undertaking fieldwork, collecting and analysing ecological sociological and tree (health and distribution) data, and producing high‑quality quantitative and spatial outputs. This role is ideal for someone with a background in tree assessment, environmental monitoring, and applied research, who has strong analytical skills, plus experience working with GIS and statistical software. Minimum two years’ experience in a relevant field and will be based at our nine‑desk office in a Grade 2 listed building at Canada Water in East London, with considerable flexibility for working from home. The role will include regular travel across the UK, with occasional overnight stays. The role is varied, giving the post-holder opportunity for desk‑based work alongside fieldwork, and the opportunity to support at our regular corporate volunteering days.

Key Responsibilities

• Information Gathering, Fieldwork Coordination & Delivery: Coordinate field visits by others across several projects, including scheduling and managing contractors visiting tree‑planting sites for monitoring activities. This will include managing surveys, handling personal and other data appropriately and liaising with partner organisations. Conduct field visits yourself (especially during the summer) to assess and record tree health and survival metrics and relevant contextual factors, liaising with tree recipients where necessary. Provide guidance to help improve the current field data gathering processes to create new standard methods and practices within the organisation. Ensure accurate, consistent data collection following established protocols.
• Data & Statistical Analysis: Analyse and visualise monitoring data using statistical software such as RStudio or Python. Produce descriptive statistics, regression models, spatial analyses, and clear data‑driven reports. Support wider S&R projects with analytical tasks ranging from basic summaries to advanced statistical techniques (e.g., regression modelling, power analysis, parametric and non‑parametric tests). Familiarity with Bayesian methods is beneficial but not required.
• GIS & Spatial Analysis: Map field sites, manage spatial datasets, and conduct spatial analyses using ArcGIS or similar GIS platforms. Support the development of spatial data collection tools (e.g., ArcGIS Survey123) and maintain accurate geospatial records.
• Team & Organisational Support: Contribute to broader Science & Research team activities as needed, including reviewing grant applications in September/October with the community grants team. Support the community grants team to develop their data gathering processes. Support wider organisational events such as corporate volunteer days, research workshops, and public engagement activities.

Person Specification

Qualifications: Educated to degree level or relevant experience.

Experience and Skills:

• Strong knowledge and experience of tree identification and tree health and tree survival indicators, or related ecological concepts.
• Experience using GIS software for mapping and spatial analysis.
• Experience using ArcGIS and Survey123.
• Advanced knowledge of Excel, with a focus on the use of formulae and pivot tables.
• Experience coordinating teams and logistically challenging projects.
• Experience working on monitoring and evaluation projects, ideally in environmental or ecological contexts.
• Advanced quantitative research skills, including spatial analysis, regression modelling, descriptive statistics, data visualisation, reporting and interpretation of results.
• Qualitative research skills (e.g., interviews, thematic analysis).
• Demonstrable interest in and enthusiasm for trees, nature, biodiversity and the ability to ‘champion’ the cause.
• Highly proficient in office IT systems with good knowledge of all MS Office programmes including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, with Canva and Cognito an advantage.
• Possess strong organisational skills, often working to tight deadlines, with a calm and confident manner.
• Able to prioritise a heavy workload, multi‑task and perform effectively under pressure with excellent attention to detail.
• Ability and willingness to travel (own or access to vehicle) to sites distributed throughout the UK.
• Confident building relationships at every level with a variety of stakeholders. Discretion and ability to handle confidential matters.
• Self‑motivated, high‑energy and proactive with a ‘can do’ attitude and a tendency to smile rather than frown.
• Willingness to “muck in” and be hands‑on, with both routine and less scheduled tasks.
• Able to use initiative and anticipate potential “sticking points” – good intuition and confidence to flag up potential issues early.

Tree Council Attitudes:

• Naturally warm and enthusiastic.
• Diplomatic and collaborative, builds positive relationships quickly.
• High professional standards.
• Approachable, with the gravitas to be listened to seriously.
• Highly practical and resourceful problem solver.
• Can‑do, self‑starter.
• Ability to manage competing priorities effectively.