Senior Geospatial Specialist

We’re looking for a Senior Geospatial Specialist to lead on the delivery of geospatial data services & solutions within our Kingfisher team.

Quick overview:

Job status: This is a permanent, full-time role.
Location: Homebased (should be based in the UK).
Salary: The starting salary in the pay band for this post is £40,109.

The person in this role will be responsible for leading our technical delivery of our geospatial services. This boils down to the management and development of geospatial data processes and mapping interfaces, management of the supply of incoming geospatial data and responsibility for engaging with stakeholders to modernise and provide new geospatial solutions.

You will work as part of our Kingfisher team to assess, develop, and deliver practical solutions for the collection, management and supply of spatial data for use within the UK seafood industry. Fishing is a dangerous and often complex occupation. High quality spatial data, presented in the most user-friendly way, is essential to keep fishers safe and improve understanding.

The main dimensions of the role are:

Leading on:

The data collection, update, and management of Kingfisher services geospatial data – including offshore infrastructure, fishing restrictions and other marine data – ensuring data held is up to date, accurate and fit for purpose.
The internal geospatial development and advancement of Kingfisher services; ensuring the processes and management practices are streamlined, advanced, robust, and fit for purpose.
The external (user facing) geospatial development and advancement of Kingfisher services; assess the mapping and geospatial methods used to supply data and ensure these are streamlined, advanced, robust, and fit for purpose.
Engaging with:

The fishing industry to assess geospatial issues; discuss, define appropriate and practicable solutions, and work with colleagues to deliver these to users with real impact.
Seafish colleagues to assess their use of geospatial data and services, helping to deliver improvements and furthering the value of Kingfisher within Seafish.

Key accountabilities for the role are:

Developing and managing the day-to-day geospatial aspects of services, including spatial data management, workflow management [using Feature Manipulation Engine (FME)], delivery of web services and the broader maintenance of ESRI products and services.
Managing the incoming supply of geospatial data – predominantly relating to oil & gas, subsea cables, renewable energy infrastructure and fishing restrictions – ensuring professional data management standards and the timely supply of data for related services.
Managing the automation of geospatial data, developing and managing workflows using Feature Manipulation Engine (FME), ensuring a professional and joined-up approach to all processes and working with external contractors where needed.
Managing the supply of geospatial data to external ‘authorities’, ensuring the timely and professional delivery of data, whilst assessing service enhancements.
Responsibility for assessing the use of ‘Server or Enterprise’ level geospatial software solutions for advancing our capabilities (ESRI and FME).
Liaising with external contractors to develop and update a range of ‘Kingfisher Awareness Charts’ for use within the European fishing industry, ensuring awareness and safe fishing interaction with offshore developments.
Engaging with internal and external stakeholders and co-manage the development and/or advancement of specialist geospatial services to deliver innovative and modern services.
Co-managing our relationship with ESRI and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) ‘Geographic Information User Group’, developing strong relationships and options to make use of DEFRA software agreements.
Acting as first point of contact for geospatial data enquiries from external project partners, ensuring enquiries from data suppliers and users are handled professionally and in a timely manner.
Working with the marine industry and government organisations, representing and promoting the organisation, achieving an understanding into industry needs for geospatial information.
Contributing to regular team meetings, report on project progress, participate in other projects as appropriate, supervise temporary staff/consultants as required and contribute to the strategic planning of the department.

Life in the Kingfisher Team at Seafish

We are here to give the UK seafood sector the support it needs to thrive. Our work makes a huge difference to the seafood industry and the communities and people who rely on it. As a public body, we collaborate with a wide range of partners – from seafood businesses and trade bodies to government, regulators and environmental organisations. Our work includes research, advice and guidance, campaigns and training and we cover topics like sustainability and climate change.

The Kingfisher team in Seafish works with a broad range of fishing and marine focused organisations to provide geospatial services, predominantly for the UK catching sector. We have a range of high profile ‘fishing safety’ services that we deliver with industry partners to improve safety at sea. We also have a desire to advance and develop new services, broadening our reach and helping the UK fishing and seafood industry with geospatial issues.

We operate a Results Only Work Environment (ROWE) which focuses on performance not presence. Working with ROWE means having autonomy and accountability in equal parts so you can work in a way that is most effective for you, as long as you deliver your work to the expected standards. You’ll have a personal development plan which clearly outlines the objectives and competencies for your role and learning and development goals. You’ll have regular catch ups with your line manager, along with mid-year and end of year reviews to discuss your work and performance.

Knowledge, skills and experience required

Ability to assess real world geospatial problems and define and deliver practical solutions for important stakeholders.
Meticulous attention to detail, with a sharp focus on delivering excellence in geospatial data and delivery of geospatial data solutions.
Ability to innovate and drive change for the better, delivering effective and practical advancements in the use, delivery, or interpretation of geospatial data.
Ability to build strong and effective relationships with clients and customers, discussing technical matters, determining their needs, and proposing suitable solutions in a professional manner.
Work proactively and collaboratively, identifying new work areas and adding value or addressing issues with current services.
Well-developed time management skills to work to tight deadlines demanded by external customers/users, allowing successful completion of both individual and team goals.
Advanced and well-developed literacy skills with the ability to write technical information in simple language for a range of audiences, presenting these to industry where necessary.
Good financial management and budgeting skills required to manage project budgets effectively.

Educated to post graduate degree level in a GIS based subject, or degree level in a GIS based subject with robust and demonstrable GIS industry experience. (Ideally at least 3 years).
Advanced theoretical and practical experience of GIS and GIS software, including an extensive knowledge of ESRI products (ArcMap, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Dashboards, ArcGIS Insights and ArcGIS Enterprise (desirable)).
Extensive theoretical and practical experience of supporting and administering GIS systems (ESRI geodatabases, SQL, AGOL, web services, enterprise databases (desirable), etc).
Solid theoretical and practical experience of working with Feature Manipulation Engine (FME) or similar Extract, Transform and Load (ETL) software and developing complex workflows of your own.
Strong and demonstrable experience of managing high profile projects, including planning, developing, reporting, testing and delivery.
Strong and demonstrable experience of managing stakeholder relations and discussions (preferably in the marine environment).

Salary & Benefits

All roles within Seafish are graded and have defined salary bands. This role is a grade 6 post and the starting salary on this band is £40,109. A new recruit’s appointment on the pay band is dependent on the experience they bring to the role when they start. New recruits normally start at the lower end of the range unless they can demonstrate considerable experience in the requirements of the role.

Additional benefits include:

25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays and Christmas office closure. Optional 5 days per year paid volunteering leave for an activity of your choice.
Flexible working – with ROWE you get your work done to the expected standard in a way that suits you.
A generous employer pension scheme – Seafish will double your contribution, up to a maximum employer contribution of 10%.
A range of health and wellbeing benefits including the Cycle to Work scheme, Tech Scheme, private medical insurance, gym discounts and free eye tests.
Our unlimited employee assistance scheme is a support service available 24/7 – it offers confidential, impartial advice on anything you need such as work, family, finance support or anything else personal to you.
We have a professional development culture with plenty of learning opportunities.
We have a high performing culture and reward those that do well each year.

Special features of the role:

Working and managing stakeholders remotely
Periodic travel for Seafish staff and industry events

Click the “Apply” button to find more about the role & our application process.

If it sounds like you – we can’t wait to hear from you!

Applications deadline: Wed 30th May 2023