Geospatial Data Engineer

Want to work at the cutting edge of environmental science research?  Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crises? Forest Research (FR) is a leading UK scientific research organisation that provides impactful scientific data, evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners. Internationally recognised, we want to work with people who have the skills and passion to deliver impactful science which informs practical solutions across the sector.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways.  Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our natural environment.  With locations across the UK, you will find us a flexible and inclusive employer who promotes agile working to help you manage your work life balance. If you want to be a part of a growing organisation that makes a difference, find out more at Homepage – Forest Research

The National Forest Inventory (NFI) programme monitors the location, extent and condition of woodlands throughout Great Britain. It does this by means of construction, regular maintenance and updating of a digital spatial map of Britain’s woodlands using information from aerial photography, remote sensing and administrative sources. This is augmented with a large field survey operation with many thousands of individual survey sites covering a representative sample of woodlands across Great Britain. The NFI field survey is designed as a continuous survey of woodland on a 5-year cycle, with repeat surveying of most sites in each cycle. The operation is at the mid-point of the third cycle of assessments 2020-2025.

Outputs from the NFI provide evidence to decision makers across GB supporting the development of forestry policy, the timber industry and the environment and biodiversity within our forests. Through a series of repeat measurements and assessments at our sample site, we are building a picture of how Britain’s woodlands are changing. Take a look at National Forest Inventory – Forest Research for more information about the range and depth of the outputs from the NFI programme.

The NFI team sits within the Centre for Inventory Forecasting & Operational Support (IFOS), an expert, customer focused provider of forestry information, software and services. The team manage and deliver an integrated spatial platform for the National Forest Inventory, comprising the ‘Forester’ field data collection application and custom designed and built analytical and reporting tools.

We seek to appoint a Geospatial Data Engineer to work as part of a wider team including data scientists, data analysts, statisticians, mapping specialists, remote sensing specialists and field data collection experts. The role covers a wide range of geospatial, analytical and information technology projects and will allow many opportunities for skills development. There will be opportunities to liaise with geospatial data engineers and data scientists across Government and to be involved in wider aspects of the work of Forest Research.  Reporting to the NFI Analysis team lead there will be opportunities to work across the entire NFI team and in wider collaboration across FR.

The role will be varied, dealing with technology and data, customers and specialists. You will:

1. Take the lead on, and be responsible for, the continuing maintenance and improvement of the NFI geospatial databases, data assurance processes and data pipelines to the analytical and reporting tools
2. Take the lead on, and be responsible for, the assessment, development and implementation of new business requirements in the NFI systems
3. Collaborate with the NFI analytical team in maintaining the quality of data, ensuring it is fit for purpose for the growing range of analytical tools based on the NFI systems
4. Work with members of the NFI team to identify and develop suitable technology platforms for spatial data management
5. Develop expertise across a broad range of geospatial technologies, data and delivery mechanisms underpinning our ESRI-based Forester GIS platform

Developments will vary in complexity and scale, from relatively minor bug fixes and requests for change through to assessment and incorporation of new technologies in areas such as remote sensing and woodland monitoring. You will be pivotal to a programme of change which will see the migration of the underlying platforms and environments hosting the databases and custom built software to the latest GIS architecture and solutions

You will have the opportunity to plan and carry out business analysis, systems analysis and design, specification, coding, testing, documentation, delivery, training and support functions across the full life cycle of software systems. The key IT systems within the NFI programme include:

• Forest Inventory databases (Oracle and ESRI products)
• NFI field surveyor software (C sharp)
• Data management and validation processes (R, Python, SQL)
• NFI reporting process (ArcGIS, Python, SQL etc.) 

The role allows you to apply your data engineering knowledge and geospatial skills in the world of forestry.  On-the-job training will be provided in the specialist areas such as the custom-built field data collection and analytical tools used in the NFI programme.

Essential Criteria:

• A relevant degree in IT, data engineering or science, environmental science GIS or a STEM subject, or equivalent experience
• Track record of practical knowledge and experience of designing and querying data models, data warehousing, data administration, data management and uses of large enterprise geodatabases such as Oracle, Postgres, SQL Server and NoSQL.
• Hands-on experience using one or more programming or languages such as Python or R for analysis and automating data pipelines.
• Track record of expert problem-solving skills in either the field of geo processing in GIS and / or data analysis and data processing

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience in the management and analysis of large environmental datasets
• Staff management, supervisory or mentoring experience
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience of team working
• Experience in planning projects and workloads

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

• Changing and Improving
• Working Together

Your career

• Excellent professional development opportunities which are tailored to your role, with paid professional membership subscriptions, mentoring, and Civil Service Learning available to all
• access to world class laboratory facilities, as well as state of the art buildings within forest or science park settings

Your work/life balance

• flexible working options such as: up to two days flexi leave per month, blended working, part-time working, paid special leave, career breaks, and unpaid leave. Parents and carers will be supported to enable you to manage work and family responsibilities
• A generous annual leave allowance of 25 days on entry increasing by 1 day each year to a maximum of 30 days (pro-rata for part-timers). Plus 2.5 days of additional leave and 8 days’ paid bank/public holidays

Your wellbeing

• A culture which promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment
• A range of wellbeing benefits including Employee Assistance Programme 24/7
• We want you to feel part of something bigger and we encourage a community feel in our workplaces, with everything from cookery competitions to Pilates and fell running, plus topical talks at Wellbeing Wednesdays and Feelgood Fridays
• Paid volunteering leave of 3 days per year so you can give back to your community and charitable causes by sharing your skills and time

Your benefits

• a highly competitive Civil Service Pension where employer contributions starting at  26% of your salary
• an employee benefits scheme offering discounts on groceries, gym memberships, holidays, days out, online retailers and high street shops
• Cycle to Work scheme and Interest free loans
• Free parking is offered on-site, alongside electric car charging ports
• With maternity, adoption, and/or shared parental leave there’s the flexibility to have up to 26 weeks full pay, followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid leave. Paternity leave of up to two weeks is available with full pay.

Any move to Forest Research 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/.

Job contact :

• Name : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk
• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.services@forestresearch.gov.uk