Senior Geospatial Technologist

Job summary

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK’s largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime and migration.

We are transforming how we use data to better understand and measure the UK’s economy and society, to drive better decision making, and to improve the lives of citizens. A core part of this work is the development of our geospatial capability, driving the effective use of geospatial methods across the organisation to add maximum value to ONS statistics.

The ONS Geography team provides geospatial expertise and guidance to ONS and across government. The team is dynamic and undertakes a mixture of work aimed at improving the use and integration of geospatial data with statistics.

We are seeking a highly skilled geospatial technologist to join our team and support the provision of a fit-for-purpose and up-to-date geospatial service and infrastructure. This role is pivotal in delivering the geospatial technology strategy within ONS ensuring our users can find, use, and unlock the potential and the availability of geospatial data. The successful candidate will oversee the maintenance, update, and delivery of geospatial tools and technology platforms, in alignment with our strategic objectives.

Job description

As the successful candidate, you will work in an exciting, fast-paced and technically diverse role. You will provide expertise in geospatial data management, architecture, solutions and infrastructure. You will develop automation workflows using Extract Transform Load (ETL) software (e.g. FME), ensuring that ONS Geography data and metadata are maintained and comply with relevant standards. You will maintain and develop systems and applications, including the Open Geography Portal, which is currently being redesigned in ArcGIS Online Hub.

You will work collaboratively to gather user requirements and feedback, develop technical solutions, and lead user testing. You will build positive relationships with stakeholders across the projects you lead.

We believe in continuous development, and you will be encouraged to further enhance your skills by keeping abreast of emerging geospatial technologies and industry best practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day administration, maintenance and optimisation of geospatial platforms and infrastructure, including ArcGIS Online.
• Lead cross-disciplinary projects and workstreams, supporting delivery from initial scoping and planning through to implementation and review.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of geospatial infrastructure, systems and technical designs used across ONS.
• Ensure geospatial data, services and platforms comply with relevant national and international standards relating to data format, metadata, interoperability, infrastructure and APIs.
• Plan, coordinate and lead user testing to ensure geospatial applications and infrastructure meet business and user requirements.
• Develop and implement automated solutions primarily using FME to improve the efficiency, quality and consistency of geospatial data management, integration and linkage processes.
• Work collaboratively with teams across ONS to review, enhance and maintain the structure, design and accessibility of geospatial data and solutions.
• Support stakeholder engagement activities, gathering user requirements and feedback to drive the continuous improvement of geospatial services.
• Monitor developments in geospatial technology, commercial products and solution design, identifying opportunities to enhance existing services and capabilities.
• Contribute to the development and promotion of the geography community across ONS and wider government through collaboration, knowledge sharing and best practice.
• Support ONS engagement with external organisations and professional bodies on topics relevant to the role, including geospatial standards, technology and open-source solutions.

Person specification

Essential Skills & Experience

Skill level definition

• Expert: Has knowledge and can demonstrate experience in the application of this skill. Is a recognised specialist and advisor in this skill including customer needs, generation of ideas, methods, tools and leading or guiding others in best practice use.
• Practitioner: Shares knowledge and experience of the skill with others, including tools and techniques, defining those most appropriate for the environment.

• Geospatial Software and Systems – Expert: The use of desktop and online tools including QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, FME and ArcGIS Online for managing, analysing and displaying geospatial data, interactively or in workflows.
• Geospatial Data Standards – Practitioner: The ability to recognise, use and apply the agreed geospatial standards for sharing and accessing geographic information with a view to enable interoperability. This will include the use of appropriate data formats, schemas, metadata, and accessibility standards.
• Geospatial Data Management – Practitioner: The ability to collate, manage and curate datasets within a workflow and architecture for geospatial data (e.g. ArcGIS Enterprise), for use within the organisation and beyond, taking into consideration data governance policies (including data versioning and licencing, as well as the need for authoritative data), procedures and methods that manage data access, sharing, dissemination and protection.
• Geographic Strategy – Practitioner: The ability to understand the capability and the art of the possible relating to the application of geographic information, in the aim of developing strategies, plans and road maps for geographic policy, research or delivery of products.
• Problem Management – Practitioner: The ability to anticipate and identify problems in systems, processes or services, and ensuring appropriate solutions are implemented, by monitoring the health of the systems, investigating issues when they arise and implementing solutions.

Qualifications

At least either a masters degree, or equivalent, with relevance to the job description OR at least 2 years’ experience in a role/study relevant to the job description.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Geospatial Software and Systems
• Geospatial Data Standards

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,644, Office for National Statistics contributes £12,643 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.

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