Junior Geospatial Specialist
UK Hydrographic Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 16th October 2024
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Defence Operations
Operational Delivery
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About the job
Job summary
These roles, which sit within Operations Division at the UK Hydrographic Office, are being advertised as development roles, where successful candidates will undertake a comprehensive training and development programme, with an expectation of gaining experience in more than one team, to provide a strong foundation for your future career and some breadth of understanding of work in Operations. Confirmation of temporary promotion to B3/EO and subsequent substantive promotion to the B3/EO grade will be evidence based – incorporating both Civil Service expected Behaviours for the grade and technical competence and subject to approval by a review panel. The time it will take to reach temporary and substantive promotion will vary between individuals and be dependent on achieving competency/behaviours milestones that will be defined and evidenced in a development passport.
In these roles you will be directly involved in the flowline for the delivery of services or products for customers; whose safety at sea relies on the accuracy and timeliness of the information the UK Hydrographic Office provides. Within these roles, and as you progress, you will develop a number of these analytical and geospatial skills:
› Geospatial Data Analysis & Manipulation
› Geospatial Data Management
› Geospatial Data Standards and Quality
› Cartography and Interactive mapping
› Geospatial Tools, Software and systems
You will have the opportunity, in whichever teams you are assigned to, to work alongside and learn from subject matter experts in fields such as geospatial data management, GIS, data standards, hydrography, cartography, and navigation. You will also have the experience of working in a modern, flexible and supportive working environment with great benefits, alongside colleagues who are passionate about what we deliver for our customers.
Please note, we are currently planning for a cohort start in January 2025.
Our teams across Operations work in different ways, depending on the ways of working of the team and customer needs. Some Teams, due to the nature of their work, require team members to attend the office in Taunton daily, whilst others can support a more hybrid work pattern.
There will be introductory classroom training for these roles which will be onsite at our office in Taunton. This will be for a minimum of 2 weeks but could be up to 10 weeks depending on the team you are allocated to.
Job description
These roles support the acquisition, analysis and management of hydrographic and marine information and subsequent processing into navigational products and services.
Following introductory training, you will work within a team of approximately 10 – 12 staff of differing levels of experience and will be mentored on the job. GIS and other bespoke software and databases are used in all roles, so you will build hands-on, practical experience.
Day-to-day activities include database management, using GIS based production systems to complete rules-based editing of UKHO geospatial products, data sourcing, data capture and distribution and quality checking. Other tasks may include managing and maintaining records, archival research and job preparation.
As you progress through your development, and depending on your team, examples of day to day tasks are as follows:
- Interpret and assess a full range of incoming analogue and digital data against product masters, databases and services and recommend subsequent actions.
- Assess impact of complex source data on databases and update accordingly.
- Update and deconflict data in databases from new and historical sources.
- Produce ENCs as a result of changes to the database.
- Compile Submarine bathymetric ENCs.
- Maintain authoritative, feature specific master data layers.
- Produce specialist analogue and digital products in support of RN deployments.
Person specification
Please note that we will only score against the sift and interview criteria and not the information below.
If you have a real interest in building geospatial skills and experience within an Organisation that is responsible for providing all users of marine/hydrographic information with the data, products and services they need to make effective decisions, then this could be the right opportunity for you.
If you are a supportive team player, who has great attention to detail and the ability to work at pace to meet the needs of our customers worldwide, then we would love to hear from you.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please tell us about your understanding/awareness of the uses of geospatial information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Benefits
At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.
We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.
See our attached Candidate Pack for more details.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to Apply:
Click Apply Now and enter the requested information from your CV. Your CV will not be scored and is for information purposes only. You will also be asked to provide a Personal Statement of up to 500 words, including examples of how you meet the experience criteria below. In addition, You will be required to input details in line with the technical criteria below.
Timeline:
- Advert closes for applications: 16/10/2024
- Shortlisting will take place week commencing 21/10/2024
- Assessment centres are likely to take place on 6/11/2024 and 8/11/2024
Please note the above dates are subject to change.
Sift/Shortlist Criteria:
All applications are processed anonymously.
You will be short-listed against the following criteria:
Experience:
You will be asked to enter your Job History, Full Qualifications and Previous Skills and Experience. This is for information purposes only.
A Personal Statement of up to 500 words will also be required and will be assessed against the following criteria:
- An example(s) of working as part of a group/team to, detailing what/how you contributed to the successful outcome of the activity.
- An example(s) of how you have managed competing priorities or deadlines to ensure outcomes are delivered to time/quality.
Technical:
- Your understanding/awareness of the uses of geospatial information and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Assessment Centre Criteria:
Short listed candidates will be invited to attend a virtual assessment centre, which will last approximately 2.5 hours. You will be assessed through tests and a group scenario against the following criteria:
Civil Service Behaviours (Level 1):
- Working Together (Group Assessment centre exercise)
- Making Effective Decisions (Test)
- Delivering at Pace (Test)
Technical Skills:
- Good attention to detail (Test)
See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Process:
- Single Stage group Assessment centre via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
- Short listed candidates will be invited to attend a virtual assessment centre, which will last approximately 2.5 hours. You will be assessed using tests involving 3 x 30 minute exercises followed by a 1 hour group scenario
- The Assessment centres will involve a panel of no more than 4 people
Onboarding Checks:
In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. You will also need to apply for SC (Security Checked) Clearance, but you may be able to start your role before gaining this. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.
Eligibility
Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.
Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.
SC – non reserved
This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and although open to UK, British Commonwealth and European Economic Area nationals, successful applicants will require a security clearance (SC) and therefore need to have resided in the UK for a minimum of 12 consecutive months within the last 5 years.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
- Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
Further information
