Butterfly Verification Assistant; Staffordshire

Butterfly Verification Assistant (Staffordshire)

Butterfly Conservation’s science depends on the flow of data gathered by the 20,000 regular local recorders, which is checked (verified) through the network of County Recorders. Butterfly and moth recording is more popular than ever, and County Recorders need help to harvest and verify all of the valuable data generated by the growing recording community.

The role of Verification Assistant is pivotal in supporting the County Recorder network with the verification and collation of records to keep the data flowing into our world‑class recording schemes. The data collected are used for scientific research, conservation decisions, and influencing land‑management policy for the benefit of butterflies and moths.

As a Verification Assistant, you will be part of a strong network of 200+ volunteer County Recorders and Verification Assistants, using your skills and expertise to directly help conserve butterflies and moths.

This role is suitable for anyone with an interest in biological recording and the ability to independently verify records of a range of species with a high degree of accuracy. The Recording team at Butterfly Conservation will support the Verification Assistants, providing training as appropriate. If you’re a beginner, we can set you up to verify records with photographs of easy to distinguish species.

As your skills develop over time, we can widen your verification remit.

Help us save butterflies and moths and make the environment better.

Butterfly Verification Assistant

Recording Schemes Officer

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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 directly 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).

• 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, at least annually in January
• Discuss the timing and formatting requirements and preferences of the download with the County Recorder
• Process national scheme records in accordance with our training, instruction, data policy and GDPR
• Perform validation checks in Excel or NBN Record Cleaner

• Proficient at butterfly identification or 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

• 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

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 incl. 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.