Geographic Applications Branch - GIS Developer

RAF Wyton Job Summary As an important part of the Ministry of Defence, Defence Intelligence (DI) provides intelligence analysis, specialist outputs and advice that supports decision making across government. At the heart of DI is the National Centre for Geospatial Intelligence (NCGI). The Defence Geographic Centre (DGC) is a unit within NCGI, which delivers geospatial intelligence (GEOINT) and geospatial information (GEOINF) to Defence and is committed to providing comprehensive global geographic support for operations, planning, training and international co-production programmes. The Geographic Applications Branch (GAB) supports how the Defence Geographic Centre uses mapping and location-based technology to deliver intelligence for Defence. We build and improve the tools and services that people rely on to make important decisions. Our team focuses on solving real-world problems and improving the way work gets done. We use a mix of commercial, open-source, and in-house tools to create practical, innovative solutions. We’re Looking For Motivated Individuals To Join Us As GIS Developers And Take The Lead On Small Projects From An Early Stage. In This Role, You Will: Lead small-scale projects, shaping ideas and delivering real outcomes Take ownership of tasks and see your work through from start to finish Work closely with experienced colleagues while building your confidence Apply your skills to meaningful challenges that make a difference If you’re hardworking, curious, and excited about using technology to solve problems—and ready to step up and lead early in your career—this could be the perfect role for you. This role is advertised at 37 hours per week (unless part time). Job Description Main Responsibilities: GAB’s prime role is to enable DGC users to operate our geospatial platforms and ensure they have the technical capability to perform data capture, manipulation, curation and provision of Foundation GeoINT to Defence customers and Partners delivering Requests for Information on time, every time. We do this by working to a continuous integration / continuous deployment (CI/CD) approach ensuring DGC staff have the tools and technical skills by researching commercial software and solutions or developing custom made processes and providing end to end technical support. You will design, build and maintain workflows combining COTS software, Low Code / No Code tools and custom scripts. The successful candidates will be required to have or develop a working knowledge of DGC’s Geospatial technology stack (including but not limited to, Esri Enterprise and ArcGIS Pro, SAFE FME), Python programming language, SQL, and AI technologies for increased automation of business processes. Your Day-to-day Responsibilities May Include: Providing technical support to DGC users, maintaining in service systems as requested by user originated Service Desk calls. Collaboration with external software vendors. Supporting the development of new data exchange formats & metadata requirements. Developing new and enhancing existing capabilities employing CI/CD methodologies incorporating modern software engineering practices and tools. Meet evolving requirements ensuring that DGC solutions are optimised for the latest technological developments and software. There may be the opportunity for international travel to attend meetings. In Defence Intelligence (DI) our people solve problems, create understanding and give perspective to the diverse and complex Defence threats and challenges in a rapidly changing world. Together our civilians and military personnel inform decision making in Defence, manage complex finance programmes and develop new technology. In DI we believe your unique experiences, view and understanding of the world could provide a vital perspective and contribution to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase our diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunities employer we hire, train and promote people based on merit and inspire to create an inclusive workplace free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexi-time, job share and compressed hours. All jobs advertised in DI are subject to fair and open competition. Your Day-to-day Responsibilities May Include: Providing technical support to DGC users, maintaining in service systems as requested by user originated Service Desk calls. Collaboration with external software vendors. Supporting the development of new data exchange formats & metadata requirements. Developing new and enhancing existing capabilities employing CI/CD methodologies incorporating modern software engineering practices and tools. Meet evolving requirements ensuring that DGC solutions are optimised for the latest technological developments and software. There may be the opportunity for international travel to attend meetings. In Defence Intelligence (DI) our people solve problems, create understanding and give perspective to the diverse and complex Defence threats and challenges in a rapidly changing world. Together our civilians and military personnel inform decision making in Defence, manage complex finance programmes and develop new technology. In DI we believe your unique experiences, view and understanding of the world could provide a vital perspective and contribution to our work. We recognise that great minds do not think alike and are striving to increase our diversity representation at all levels. As an equal opportunities employer we hire, train and promote people based on merit and inspire to create an inclusive workplace free of discrimination. We also offer flexible working arrangements such as flexi-time, job share and compressed hours. All jobs advertised in DI are subject to fair and open competition. Person specification We’re after someone who is self-motivated, has an inquisitive approach to problem solving, eager to learn, and has a keen eye for detail. You will bring technical skills to continuously improve processes and best practice. Essential Criteria: Strong attention to detail and the ability to address issues and find innovative solutions for geographic problems with positive, can-do attitude and willingness to learn or adapt. Ability to work independently and collaboratively to identify inefficiencies in workflows. Apply industry standards and best practice for scripting and software development. Working knowledge of programming languages including Python, html, SQL, JavaScript and development principles. Understanding of relational databases and data storage. Desirable Criteria : Knowledge and/or experience in geospatial data, production, analysis and cartographic products. Proficiency using desktop and web GIS software (ideally ESRI and SAFE). A broad knowledge and understanding of the GEOINT and/or wider intelligence communities. Desirable Qualifications May Include Any Of The Following. GIS certification IT or Computer Science certification Python coding language Chartered Geographer (RGS). Awareness of the ITIL Framework and/or AGILE Project Management. Candidates are not expected to hold any or all listed qualifications, as relevant experience will be considered equally and training can be provided where required. Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Changing and Improving Managing a Quality Service Seeing the Big Picture Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Web Enabled Dissemination (DG8.2) GIS Development and Support (DG9) Alongside your salary of £30,740, Ministry of Defence contributes £8,905 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). We offer a range of excellent benefits including but not limited to the following: All successful candidates will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Leave entitlement - 25-day annual leave allowance per year increasing by 1 day per year (maximum 30 days per year). In addition, 8 statutory Bank Holidays and 1 privilege day per year. Complementing our generous annual leave allowance, we also have a flexible working scheme. Additional working pattern options – we have a strong culture of flexible working and encourage all employees to have a healthy work/life balance. We offer a wide range of potential working patterns, including part time, job share and compressed hours. These need to be balanced with business needs so they will vary from job to job. If you would like to know more, please speak to the Recruiting Line Manager. Professional Development - We are committed to your continued professional and personal development with learning as one of our core values. Health and Wellbeing – for a small fee we offer the staff the use of the exceptional site gymnasium facilities. We also offer an excellent range of family-friendly benefits, for example, enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave. Special Paid Leave to volunteer up to 6 days a year RAF Wyton has free car parking; and other facilities such as a Sports & Social Club, Gym and onsite shop. Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements. The post does not offer relocation expenses. External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period. Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed. Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts. Any move to MOD 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/. The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments. MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights. Artificial intelligence Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use. Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Candidates will need to provide a Personal Statement ( 750 Words ) including evidence of the essential and desirable criteria requested within the job advert. It will explain how your knowledge, experience and skills, relevant to the purpose and main objectives of this role, have been applied to achieve outcomes. The selection panel will use your Personal Statement to assess your potential suitability for this role. At sift , you will be assessed against your Personal Statement. The sift should take place within two weeks of the job closing and candidates will be informed of the results, at all stages, via the website. Interview dates are to be confirmed. Behaviours: At interview , applicants will be sifted against the following Civil Service Behaviours and Technical skills and will also be asked to complete an exercise to assess proficiency with Python: Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Managing a Quality Service Technical Skills: Defence Geographer framework 8.2 Web Enabled Dissemination 9 GIS Development and Support In Tray Exercise: Python coding exercise This exercise will include a series of questions to assess your knowledge and experience of using and scripting in python. All equipment required will be provide for you. We would generally expect Behaviour examples to follow the STAR structure and encourage candidates to use this throughout their application. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. Further Information: 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. As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system. Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn. The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment. The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out. Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) generates and operates specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains to make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. Always on, we are across every UK operation, delivering the capabilities you don’t usually see - or those you can’t. From cyber warriors and medics to intelligence analysts, special forces, educators, and Defence attachés, our collective expertise delivers the warfighting edge Defence needs to deter threats and secure the nation today and prepare for tomorrow. CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single, military command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army, and the Royal Air Force - acting as the UK’s fourth Military Command. For more information, please see here.’ Cyber and Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) is going through a significant transformation programme which aims to design the way in which the new Military Command conducts its business and delivers for Defence and the nation. As a consequence of this, posts within CSOC are/or may become subject to review and potential changes as we continuously improve across the period of the transformation programme. These changes may be minor or could be more substantive and will generate new opportunities. Throughout, the Command’s transformation programme is committed to following the MOD’s framework on managing and supporting people through the change process and places an emphasis on early and open consultation and engagement with the Command’s personnel and Trade Unions. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills. Security Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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. Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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. 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. 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 : NCGI Recruitment Team Email : [email protected] Recruitment team Email : [email protected] Further information Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [email protected].