About the job

Job summary

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science research?  Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crises? Forest Research (FR) is a leading UK scientific research organisation that provides impactful scientific data, evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners. Internationally recognised, we want to work with people who have the skills and passion to deliver impactful science which informs practical solutions across the sector.

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 natural environment.  With locations across the UK, you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer who promotes agile working to help you manage your work life balance. If you want to be a part of a growing organisation that makes a difference, find out more at Homepage - Forest Research

The GIS and Data Services team sit 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 within IFOS, and delivery of spatial data and analytical services to internal and external customers. 

Job description

The successful applicant will work within the newly formed GIS Technology Development team, responsible for driving forwards developments underpinning Forester, National Forest Inventory and Natural Capital Ecosystems Assessment work programmes. Working across IFOS and Forest Research, you will lead the introduction of new technologies and rationalise existing, to form a core geospatial environment for delivery of spatial data, mapping, and analytical services. 

• Lead a team of GIS Specialists responsible for GIS technology development across IFOS.
• Lead GIS technology development for NCEA and NFI work programmes.
• Significantly contribute to, and lead aspects of, new technology development underpinning modernisation of ForesterWeb.
• Manage translation of business requirements into GIS technology solutions.
• Work with the GIS Data Delivery Lead and Forest Research IT team to identify and implement suitable technology platforms for spatial data management and delivery across IFOS and to our customers.
• Work with the GIS Service Delivery Lead to ensure appropriate technology underpins successful service delivery to our customers within terms of agreements and SLAs
• Report to the Head of GIS Technology Development and manage delegated budgets related to GIS technology and analytical services.
• Responsible for financial management aspects of GIS technology products and solutions including forecasting and reporting.

Key work areas:

Leading GIS technology development

1. Responsibility for GIS technology products across IFOS including technical ‘ownership’ of NCEA and NFI Geospatial systems
2. Shared responsibilities for the future technical development of the Forester GIS Platform
3. Responsibility for technology underpinning the management and delivery of spatial data e.g. cloud based spatial data architectures
4. Responsibility for technology underpinning the management and delivery of GIS-based analytics e.g. desktop GIS tools, web-based tools, analytical services, and related application development code
5. Design, development, implementation, and testing of GIS technologies across projects relating to web, mobile and desktop applications and have full ‘ownership’ of these solutions (e.g. based on ESRI Field Apps, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Pro)
6. Translate business requirements into technology proposals and develop implementation roadmaps
7.  Stay abreast of GIS industry trends and ensure technology solutions align with business and industry direction
8.  Act as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for GIS technology and analytics within projects across the wider-team, IFOS and throughout our customer base
9.  Ensure security, accessibility, resilience, and scalability for all GIS technology solutions
10.  Work alongside the Head of GIS Technology Development and Head of GIS and Data Services in showcasing and promoting our GIS products and services across the industry

Leading GIS applications development

1. Coordinate and oversee delivery of GIS application development across IFOS and our customer projects, ensuring adherence to application development standards, development frameworks and coding patterns
2. Coordinate code management across IFOS, working with FR IT introduced systems (e.g. GitHub to manage geospatial code development in python, JavaScript and .NET and ensure security accessibility, re-usability and documentation)
3. Coordinate testing and continuous integration tools across IFOS for geospatial product development e.g. Azure DevOps
4. Coordinate development of COTS applications such as ArcGIS field applications, web mapping and dashboards to our internal and external customers
5. Coordinate wider-team use of COTS applications, ensuring alignment with standards and best-practice approaches, acting as product owner and SME

Managing the GIS technical capability

1. Manage, develop and mentor a team of GIS Specialists
2. Manage tenders for new GIS products and services
3. Responsibility for engagement and managing relationships with our GIS technology suppliers to ensure appropriate use of resource and to manage contracts and licensing arrangements
4. Work alongside the GIS Service Delivery Lead to define and implement GIS technology and analytical components of customer SLAs and Managed Service Agreements
5. Liaise with the GIS Service Delivery Lead to resolve technical GIS and analytical components of customer service problems and requests in a consistent and timely manner
6. Work with the GIS Data Delivery Lead to ensure efficient business as usual data integrations, data flow and delivery, providing SME management and development of ETL workflows.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• A relevant degree with substantial GIS, IT, remote sensing or data science component or equivalent experience
• Substantial experience with developing, managing and improving a GIS capability within ESRI Enterprise and ArcGIS online environments
• Experience and competence with spatial data management systems, preferably cloud based, such as Azure SQL or Amazon RDS for PostgreSQL
• An excellent working knowledge and proven track record implementing GIS analytical solutions across a range of Esri technologies including ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Field Maps, ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise.
• An excellent understanding of the role of JavaScript and python APIs within the ESRI environment
• Experience of managing a team of GIS specialists within a customer-focussed environment
• Strong organisational or project management skills.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of contract management and customer liaison
• Experience of budget and resource management
• Experience in the analysis of remotely sensed data, including deep learning classification techniques
• Development experience using ESRI ArGIS API for Python and ArcPy
• Experience of web mapping applications development or ESRI web application/experience builder widget development, using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript
• Experience of Microsoft Azure or Amazon AWS cloud-based architectures and patterns

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,260, Forestry Commission - Forest Research contributes £12,220 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

Sift Date:             Week commencing 8th April 2024.     
Interview Date:    Week commencing 29th April 2024.

If a large volume of applications is received, then we will sift on Experience/Technical Expertise and the Lead Behaviour, Changing and Improving.  However, candidates will be expected to answer questions on all Behaviours at the interview stage.  

Candidates invited to interview will be required to prepare and present a 10-minute talk on:

Key technical considerations for implementing an ESRI Enterprise or AGOL solution to deliver data and analytical services to internal and external customers.

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.