Data Volunteer (Non Technical) - Anywhere

About us

The RNLI's Data Department plays a crucial role in supporting the organization's decision-making, particularly in areas like strategy, operational practice, and lifeboat configuration. The department supports with data management, integration and engineering to enable analysis of internal and external data to provide evidence-based insights that help the RNLI make informed decisions. 

The data team are looking for volunteers to support their important ongoing work. This might be someone with a project idea to work together on, an academic project that you are thinking of where access to our tools and data would help, or maybe you have some strong research, analysis r GIS skills and would enjoy applying them to real data in a lifesaving context. 

This role can be carried out remotely or at our offices in Poole. The team work core business hours – 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, but we are keen to discuss flexible arrangements that work for both sides and help us to get the job done. 

Training will be provided in line with the relevant role requirements and an RNLI line manager and a buddy within the team will be assigned. 

The impact you will make  

This role involves supporting the data department in various capacities, including but not limited to project management or support, data collection, data processing, research activities or data analysis and reporting. 

You will assist in helping the RNLI to underpin its decision making with evidence and insight, understanding what is important to the Institution and improving our effectiveness and efficiency. 

What you may be doing  

Assist in data collection and data quality tasks:

• Help gather and organize data from various sources.
• Perform data entry and verification to ensure accuracy. 

Support research and reporting activities:

• Conduct literature reviews and internet research and summarise findings.
• Assist in preparing reports and presentations based on research data. 

Ensure data accuracy and integrity:

• Perform quality checks on data to identify and correct errors, proposing systematic improvements where possible
• Help maintain data records and documentation 

Collaborate with team members on projects:

• Participate in project planning and coordination meetings.
• Provide administrative support for project management tasks.
• Help to carry out system and user acceptance testing activities
• Train users of systems and support end users and lifeboat stations with the adoption of data and evidence 

Contribute to documentation and metadata:

• Assist in updating and maintaining documentation.
• Help create and organise metadata repositories and data product catalogues and intranet pages. 

Participate in team meetings:

• Be a part of our team, attend team meetings and contribute to discussions.
• Provide feedback and suggestions on processes and best practices. 

Assist in creating visualisations and dashboards:

• Help design and format visual aids for presentations.
• Support the creation of data visualisations such as basic charts and graphs 

Support ad hoc tasks:

• Assist with various administrative tasks as needed.
• Provide support for special projects and initiatives. 

What you need for this role  

• Organisation skills
• Good communication skills
• Able to work as part of a team
• IT skills & Foundational Data Literacy
• Ability to learn new skills and technical proficiencies 

What’s in it for you  

• Join an inclusive and diverse organisation  
• Have fun, meet new people and join a motivated and enthusiastic team who are making a difference 
• Learn skills and gain experience to enhance your CV  
• Gain the satisfaction of giving back 
• Training to fulfil your volunteer role will be provided and reasonable out of pocket expenses reimbursed

Safeguarding

The RNLI is committed to safeguarding; protecting a person’s health, wellbeing, and human rights, enabling them to live free from harm, abuse, and neglect. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment and have a zero-tolerance approach. The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out dependent on the eligibility of the role. (England & Wales; DBS check, Scotland; Disclosure Scotland PVG, Northern Ireland; Access NI, Republic of Ireland; Garda Vetting; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).

Diversity at the RNLI

Our staff and volunteers have been saving lives at sea without prejudice for 200 years. We respect and value diversity of background, skills and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. We are an inclusive organisation and welcome applications from everyone. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One.