Transect Coordinator; Isle of Wight

Our Transect Co-ordinators help us to understand butterflies in their local area and, by extension, across the UK. They inspire people to better understand the butterflies that they see – contributing to scientific monitoring and supporting a major citizen science project – the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS).

We are looking for a Transect Coordinator to support the surveyors on the Isle of Wight. There is a brilliant, established network of transects and surveyors on the island, so this role offers a great way to contribute to an established, thriving scheme.

At Butterfly Conservation, we want to create a world where butterflies and moths are enjoyed by everyone, forever. We need people to help co-ordinate butterfly transect walkers in their local area, making sure they have everything they need for their role. They will also help us to make sure that the data they collect gets to the right people. This data is used to inform decisions which help to conserve butterflies, both locally and nationally.

You will be volunteering with a wide range of people helping us to monitor butterflies in your local environment.

Transect Coordinator

UKBMS Programme Lead / Butterfly Monitoring Officer

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This is a key role which makes an important contribution to the collection and analysis of butterfly and day flying moth records in your local area. We will ask you to help us to:

• Coordinate transect recording each season, on behalf of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS), within your Branch area.
• Coordinate the submission and verification of transect data through the season.
• Maintain the transect network and promote transect recording within your branch area.
• Share the results of the recording season with the local branch, other UKBMS volunteers and local site managers.

• Be the first point of contact for Transect Surveyors in your Branch area, answering queries or deferring them to BC staff where needed.
• Advise and support the local transect recorders over issues of commitment, methodology and route design.
• Coordinate the submission and verification of transect data on the UKBMS website.
• Liaise with County Recorders to make sure the data are made available to local datasets in suitable formats.
• Promote transect recording to the local butterfly recording community.
• Recruit and train new volunteer recorders and match them to suitable transects.
• Seek to maintain the existing transect network, especially long-running transects at key sites or including priority species.
• Establish new transects to fill gaps and improve the monitoring of key species and habitats where required.
• Maintain site information for all transects in the Branch area, including a list of volunteers who are surveying them.
• Be prepared to help volunteers interpret their results and provide useful feedback to site managers.

• Enjoy working with other people.
• Ability to communicate effectively with butterfly enthusiasts and site managers.
• Well organised and have some experience in keeping records.
• Confident using a computer and have access to the internet; some experience with Excel would be useful, but not essential.
• Good understanding of the principles and objectives of long-term monitoring.
• Enthusiastic about monitoring butterflies, including familiarity with the UKBMS survey methods.

• Involve new people in recording butterflies scientifically, and increase the number of butterfly records in your area.
• Increase your knowledge and experience of the technical aspects of collecting and analysing long-term butterfly data.
• Meet more people, locally and nationally, with a shared passion for butterflies.
• Discover and learn with us as we uncover regional and national patterns in butterfly abundance and distribution.

The transect season runs from April 1st to September 30th, but this role is active all year round. Early spring is a key time for helping volunteers establish new transect routes and the autumn is a key period for chasing and validating data. This role can be done from home, though field meetings with new volunteers or site managers can be beneficial.

We are flexible about the days and times at which you volunteer. You can expect to spend around 1 to 7 hours a week on this role, at different times of year. We ask for a minimum commitment of 12 months. You will be asked to complete training on starting in the role and may also be asked to complete refresher training from time to time.

Children aged 13-15 must be accompanied by an adult whilst volunteering. If you are aged 16 or 17, your parent may give written permission for you to volunteer unaccompanied. Please be aware that our insurance cover differs slightly for people aged 75 or over. Please contact the Volunteering Team for more information.