Spatial Analyst

Job summary

The Forestry Commission increases the value of woodlands to society and the environment. Our work with England’s trees, woodlands and forests is vital to helping tackle climate change and providing a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. Our government is committed to increasing tree canopy and woodland cover to at least 16.5% of total land area by 2050, and restoring or creating more than 500,000 hectares of a range of wildlife-rich habitats outside protected sites by 2042.

We aim to expand, protect, improve and connect woodlands across the country. If you are passionate about the role of trees, woodlands and forestry in creating a better future for England and want to play a key part in realising that we want to hear from you.

This role is located in Forest Services’ (FS) Strategy and Transformation Team which enables FS staff to do their best work. This role is in the Economics, Evidence and Analysis team which provides a range of analytical multi-profession support. The team supports colleagues in forestry policy, grants and regulations and front-line delivery across England.

We are looking for a Spatial Analyst to produce, deliver and advise on geospatial data, maps, statistics, and data visualisation across Forest Services. The role will focus on using geographical and statistical evidence and analysis to support work on any of the Forestry Commission’s aims and goals for the natural environment, people and economy.

You will be guided and supported by the team leadership as well as working closely with customers across the organisation. You will liaise regularly with stakeholders in Forest Research and beyond.

The successful candidate for this post will be competent working with geospatial data, producing high quality maps and statistics, well able to carefully follow professional processes and communicate accurate, relevant and timely evidence.

You will need a diplomatic and positive approach to the work to build and maintain relationships with all stakeholders. Problem solving will be needed to define, document and implement a range of short term and some larger analytical projects with precision.

The post holder will be responsible, able to think carefully through, agree and carry out analytical projects. Tasks will include computing, collating, quality assuring, managing, analysing, documenting and aptly presenting geospatial and statistical data and metadata. Tasks will principally use geographical information systems (ESRI ArcGIS), spreadsheets and data visualisation techniques to serve customers, putting their needs at the heart of everything you do.

Job description

Key work areas

1. Work with others and self-reliantly to plan, agree and conduct bespoke desktop GIS and statistical analyses for Forest Services customers, using GIS software (including ESRI ArcGIS and Python), office software (including MS Excel & MS Word) and delivering appropriate visualisations in maps, tables and text to agreed timescales and professional standards (some MS PowerBI).
   
   
2. Work across the Forestry Commission and sometimes Defra group computing, collating, quality assuring, managing, analysing, documenting and aptly presenting geospatial and statistical data and metadata.
   
   
3. Help manage data for our enterprise-wide GIS systems and data sharing and licencing.
   
   
4. Contribute to Forestry Commission Official Statistics and management information and to other analyses for the FC in support of its goals.
   
   
5. Support policy and delivery colleagues by giving technical advice on policy questions at meetings.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

1. Ability to compute, collate, quality assure, manage, analyse, document and aptly present geospatial and statistical data and metadata to meet customers’ requirements to professional standards.
   
   
2. Experience in the successful use of desktop GIS software; e.g. ESRI ArcGIS Pro, and spreadsheet software; e.g. MS Excel, to produce maps, statistics and text reports. Experience in interactive data visualisation (tables, graphs and maps); e.g. MS PowerBI. Experience in or willingness and aptitude to learn to produce deliverables in Python programming language.
   
   
3. Experience of successful data management and quality assurance. Experience of successful analysis and presentation of geospatial and statistical reports including management of these projects.
   
   
4. A degree in Geographical Information Systems or a related field, and/or equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable criteria:

1. Experience in using natural environment, social and economic data.
   
   
2. A Master's degree in Geographical Information Systems or a related field, and/or equivalent relevant experience.
   
   
3. Experience in project management.
   
   
4. Experience of using spatial data within the context of policy development.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Experience in using GIS software (e.g. ESRI ArcGIS Pro), MS Excel and Power BI to produce maps, statistics, reports and interactive data visualisations, and experience in or the aptitude to learn to produce deliverables using Python.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,388, Forestry Commission contributes £11,700 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).

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• A range of family friendly benefits.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• A range of wellbeing benefits including discounted Civil Service Healthcare,access to an Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, Bike to Work Scheme, plus many more.
• 25 days annual leave, with 1 additional day for each years’ service up to 5 years(pro rata), plus 10.5 bank holidays/privilege days (pro rata).
• Ability to buy or sell 5 days annual leave.
• 3 days volunteering per year (pro rata).

We aim to provide a great place to work, whichever location you work from. Blended working forms part of our flexible and inclusive approach to future ways of working. It is an informal arrangement which gives you the option to work some of the week from home, and some of the week from our Forestry Commission workplaces, subject to role requirements, business needs, and regular review. Informal blended working arrangements will be available as agreed with the line manager.

Things you need to know

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