GIS Specialist - Data Management

Forestry Commission - Forest Research

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 10th November 2024

 
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Details

Reference number

367052

Salary

£37,485 - £40,590
Appointments to Forest Research are made at the entry level of the salary quoted above except in exceptional circumstances where a candidate's experience and skills may justify a higher starting salary. Normal pay on transfer rules apply for existing civil servants. New entrants to the civil service will be expected to start on the minimum of the pay-band.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer
Pay Band 4

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

FR - Inventory, Forecasting and Operation Support

Type of role

Architecture and Data
Geography
Information Technology

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

The role can be based in Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9SY or Alice Holt, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LH with blended working which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from the workplace. You will be asked to express a location preference during the application process. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

Job summary

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science?  Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis?  Forest Research is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways.  Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet.  And you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So, whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit forestresearch.gov.uk.

The GIS Team sits within the Centre for Inventory Forecasting & Operational Support (IFOS), an expert, customer-focused provider of forestry information, software, and service. The team is responsible for development and management of GIS and spatial data technologies, this includes an integrated spatial platform for forest and land management, ‘Forester’. ESRI ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Online and open-source technology are used to deliver services from the platform to 1500 users. 

Job description

The GIS and Data Services team are recruiting a GIS Specialist; an expert in GIS technologies, spatial data management, spatial data creation and analysis, data visualisation and service/project delivery. This role sits within the Data Delivery function and reports to the GIS Data Delivery Lead, there will be line management responsibilities. You will work with members of the GIS Service Delivery and GIS Technical Development team to develop and support our successful delivery of data as a service to our customers.  Your day-to-day role will be varied, dealing with technology and data, customers and users and supporting development of new products and services. 

Key Work Areas: 

•    Management of the spatial databases, web data services and associated metadata which underpin Forester and other supported applications
•    Responsible for monitoring the correct use of data within terms of licensing and service level agreements (SLAs)
•    Act as a trusted advisor to our customers, supporting them in the use of their corporate spatial data within our platform
•    Resolve customer data service incidents and requests in a consistent and timely manner, attending customer service delivery meetings as required
•    Produce technical documentation on spatial data management and delivery workflows
•    Support the testing, implementation and roll out of new user functionality, data services and infrastructure improvements
•    Support the delivery of our cartographic mapping services to customers ensuring sufficient resources are available to meet demand
•    Develop expertise across a broad range of proprietary and open source geospatial technologies, data and delivery mechanisms underpinning our Esri-based Forester GIS platform e.g ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, Azure, AWS, FME
•    Use GIS programming methods to streamline workflows
•    Seek to identify and develop improvements in the quality of products and services being delivered to our customers
•    Provide project management support on internal or customer-driven projects which may include managing discrete budgets
•    Mentoring with regards to GIS/spatial data management expertise across the wider GIS and Data Services team
•    Stay abreast of developments within the GIS industry through participation in conferences, training sessions and self-learning

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

    •    Relevant degree with substantial GIS, IT, remote sensing or data management component or equivalent experience
    •    Significant spatial data management experience including data quality control procedures and handling data licensing agreements
    •    Experience with developing, managing, and improving a spatial data service within Esri ArcGIS Enterprise and/or ArcGIS Online environments
    •    Excellent working knowledge of Esri technologies such as ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online
    •    Experience with spatial databases, such as PostgreSQL/PostGIS, and associated spatial data types
    •    Ability to problem solve effectively and efficiently
    •    Customer-focused, motivated with an eye for detail
    •    Strong interpersonal skills and experience of team working
    •    Ability to provide and tailor, written and verbal communications to both clients and colleagues

    Desirable Criteria:

    •    Programming languages and Esri APIs, such as Python, ArcPy, ArcGIS API for Python, Esri Javascript API, Arcade, SQL, or willingness to learn
    •    Experience of Microsoft Azure or Amazon AWS cloud-based architectures
    •    Experience of working in a cross-functional team using agile methodologies to deliver quality GIS solutions within budget and on time 
    •    Knowledge of extract, transform, load (ETL) tools and program languages e.g. FME or Python
    •    Staff management or training experience

    Behaviours

    We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

    • Managing a Quality Service
    • Changing and Improving
    • Working Together
    Alongside your salary of £37,485, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £10,859 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

    Your career

    • Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
    • access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings

    Your work/life balance

    • flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
    • A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays

    Your wellbeing

    • A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
    • A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
    • We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
    • Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time

    Your benefits

    • a highly competitive Civil Service Pension of 28.97% your salary
    • an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
    • Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
    • Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
    • With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.

    Any move to Forest Research from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

    Selection process details

    This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

    Sift will take place in the week commencing 11th November 2024

    Interviews are planned to take place week commencing 25th November 2024

    Applicants invited to attend for interview will be required to prepare a short presentation.  Details will be advised on confirmation of interview.

    If we receive a large volume of applications, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour,  Managing a Quality Service, However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all behaviours listed at the interview stage.

    Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Forest Research which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

    Diverse perspectives and experiences are critical to our success and we welcome applications from all people from all backgrounds with the experience and skills needed to perform this role.

    If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

    Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.



    Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

    Security

    Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
    People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

    Nationality requirements

    This job is broadly open to the following groups:

    • UK nationals
    • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
    • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
    • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
    • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
    • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
    • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
    Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

    Working for the Civil Service

    The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

    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).
    The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
    The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

    Diversity and Inclusion

    The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
    This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
    The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
    Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

    Contact point for applicants

    Job contact :

    • Name : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
    • Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

    Recruitment team

    • Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

    Further information

    Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FR HR Services by email: hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

    Attachments

    CS_Behaviours_2018 Opens in new window (pdf, 1043kB)

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