About the job

Job summary

Do you have experience in assessing and compiling geospatial products?  

Tactical Product Specialists are responsible for planning, producing, verifying and improving world renowned products which allow our Defence customer to exploit the maritime environment during live operations and exercises.  We currently have a vacancy within the Littoral and Riverine (LitR) area.

The LitR area create products to enable customers to operate close to shore and at times, onto the land.  These products are primarily based on the ESRI GIS production tools, successful candidates will be required to demonstrate experience of ESRI production tools. 

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 tactical products and services.  You will also work closely with Defence Product and Services 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.

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 the 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. 

Tactical Product Specialists will contribute to the production and maintenance of their respective product sets. This may also include engagement with internal and occasional external Stakeholders to support the supply of data and information of their area’s products and services.  This may require the post holder to travel nationally.  As product specialists, they will support customers using their products, and support colleagues with the evolution of these products and associated standards/specifications.

Person specification

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

The role of a Tactical Products Specialist is to assess incoming data against customer requirements, standards and specifications in order to compile products which allow our customers to exploit the Littoral environment.  

Tactical Product Specialists will be required to use a range of software packages to create products.  Within the LitR area, post holders will need to have a basic proficiency with the ESRI GIS suite, but experience of ADOBE software would also be an advantage. 

Post holders will often work closely with our Defence customers who often have complex requirements.  Previous experience of working with Defence, and operating with marine data/in the maritime environment would be an advantage.

To meet the frequently changing needs of our customers, we are always looking to improve our products and processes.  Post holders will need to become comfortable supporting change activities, such as CI methodologies and occasionally Project Support. 

Some customer requirements are time critical, and received at short notice.  Post holders will be expected to be able to manage their own workload against defined priorities as well as being able to effectively communicate with colleagues in order to best meet customer need. 

This is a reserved post, open to sole UK Nationals only.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,539, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £7,975 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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

Apply by clicking 'Apply Now' at the bottom of this page. You will be asked to enter a Statement of Suitability of up to 250 words which will be assessed against the experience criteria below.  You will also have up to 250 words to demonstrate how you meet each of the Civil Service Behaviours listed below. 

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications:    12/02/2024
• Shortlisting: week commencing:  19/02/2024
• Interviews: week commencing:    26/02/2024

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. 

Sift/Shortlist Criteria: 

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria: 

Experience:

Your Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the below criteria:

• Experience in working with geospatial/hydrographic data and information using ESRI GIS and production tools. 

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 2):

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together  

Interview Criteria: 

You will be interviewed against the following criteria: 

Civil Service Behaviours (Level 2):

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions 

Experience:

• Experience of using ESRI ARCGIS/ARCPRO
• Experience of interpreting and manipulating geospatial/marine date and information  

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 mins 

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 Clearance), but you may be able to start your role before gaining this. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

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.