Geographic Applications Branch - GIS Developer

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).

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.

Open to UK nationals only.

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.

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:

Behaviours:

• 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.