About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience in assessing and compiling geospatial products?  Are you able to build and maintain a relationship with end users of your products?

Senior Tactical Product specialists are responsible for planning, producing and improving world renowned products which allow our Defence customer to exploit the maritime environment during live operations and exercises.  This particular role will work with Littoral and Riverine (LitR) products which enable customers to operate close to shore and at times, onto the land.

Working within a small team of specialists, you will be liaising with other UKHO teams to combine a wide range of data, imagery and textual information into LitR products and services.  You will also work closely with Defence Product Managers to understand the Customers’ needs.  This will inevitably require you to build and maintain a close working relationship with our customers which will in turn give you a unique opportunity to see your products in use, and play a key role in their development.

This is, therefore, a genuinely exciting opportunity for individuals with existing experience and skills in geospatial products and specifically - ESRI GIS tools.

Due to the nature of the work of the Team, you will spend on average 3 days a week working in the Taunton Office. 

For your first few weeks whilst training, you will be required to work in office 4 days a week. Specific requirements will be discussed with the line manager.

Please note our Policy on informal hybrid working (arrangements available as agreed with the line manager) applies within the UK, and does not extend to working overseas.

Job description

The Littoral and Riverine area of Tactical Products combine a wide range of UKHO and external data, imagery and textual information into bespoke, mission critical products for the Defence Customer.  Often required at short notice, these products generally enable Royal Navy units to operate close to the shore to deploy/recover amphibious forces or operate in confined, high risk areas.

Senior Tactical Product Specialists are responsible for the specification and scheduling of these products through a close liaison with the Defence Customer and adherence to the UKHO/MOD Service Delivery Annex (SDA).  They are required to source and assess data so that the products are capable of meeting the needs of the customer.

As Subject Matter Experts for their products, Senior Tactical Product Specialists will routinely offer technical insight into their products at national, and occasionally international, events.  There is therefore an expectation that postholders will be available for occasional overseas travel and with support, an ability to present technical information to a wide range of audiences.

Senior Tactical Product Specialists are also responsible for the wider development of personnel and processes within the Tactical Products team which could include delivery of training, management of change activities and support to wider management activities.  As part of working within a small technical team, post holders may occasionally support defence products outside of their key specialisation to build resilience, career progression and to ensure consistency across the team.

Person specification

Please note that we will only score against the sift and interview criteria and not the information given below.

The role of a Senior Tactical Products Specialist is a balance of technical expertise and example setting.  To be successful in the role, you will need to have the technical capability and knowledge to undertake the more complex activity within the team and effectively verify decisions made by more junior staff - provide feedback and guidance in an inclusive and nurturing way to enable others to build their own capability. 

Senior Tactical Product Specialists will need to foster close working relationships with a range of stakeholders in order to develop and maintain SME knowledge, and then from that knowledge, effectively communicate relevant technical updates to the team.  This will require post holders to routinely present technical information to a wide range of audiences and therefore have a good level of both spoken and written English.

As the Subject Matter Experts within a team, Senior Tactical Product Specialists will be actively involved in process improvement and wider changes driven by internal Business direction and external developments, so will need to have a positive approach to change and the drive to develop themselves to meet and embrace such changes.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £35,744, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £9,650 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.

How to Apply:

Please send a copy of your anonymised CV demonstrating your relevant experience to the role by clicking "Apply Now" at the bottom of this page. (Your CV will not be scored). You will also be asked to submit a Personal Statement of up to 250 words on the Experience criteria shown below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications:    25/01/2024
• Shortlisting: week commencing:  29/01/2024
• Interviews: week commencing:   12/02/2024

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates. 

All applications are processed anonymously

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

Experience:

Experience in the examination and assessment of incoming geospatial/hydrographic data; and compilation, maintenance and verification of data and information using ESRI GIS and production tools (Personal Statement of up to 250 words).

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 3):

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Interview Criteria:

Experience:

Experience in the examination and assessment of incoming geospatial/hydrographic data; and compilation, maintenance and verification of data and information using ESRI GIS and production tools. 

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 3):

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 Process:  

• Single Stage Interview via TEAMS. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of no more than 3 people and will last approximately 45 minutes.  During your interview you will be requested to give a 10 minute presentation based on the Experience criteria.  The title of the presentation will be provided in the Invitation to Interview.

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. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms. 

Please note, we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

SC - Reserved

This is a Ministry of Defence reserved post and open to sole UK nationals only. 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

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.