GIS Analyst

Job summary

Forest Services as part of Forestry Commission are the Government’s forestry experts. We advise nationally and locally on how to unlock the full potential of woodlands and support the forestry sector to protect, improve and expand England’s valuable woodland assets, ensuring that they continue to provide benefits to people, the environment and the economy.

Never has there been a more important time for trees and forests to help tackle the climate emergency and provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife.

We aim to at least treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament, reflecting England’s contribution to meeting the UK’s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this Parliament. This acceleration in current planting rates in England will contribute to meeting the net-zero by 2050 ambitions, and to government’s wider environmental targets. These include protecting the existing woodland resource from the threat of pests and disease. The Farming and Countryside Programme funds a grant to trial new ways of tackling specific pests and diseases through the Tree Health Pilot.

By joining the Forestry Commission, you will become part of a team of passionate, committed colleagues, and be able to build on a wealth of expertise to take this ambitious work forward. You will be able to make your mark by helping the Forestry Commission to transform how we work together and reach new stakeholders.

If you are passionate about the role of forestry in creating a better future for England, and want to play a key part in that, we want to hear from you.

Job description

The Plant Health Forestry team supports the health of trees, woods, and forests. This team works together to prevent the entry of, provide early detection of, and minimise the impacts of harmful tree pests and diseases, and to ensure traceability of forestry planting material. The role in this team is responsible for managing Plant Health Forestry datasets and delivering bespoke geospatial solutions to support both operational work and policy related to the statutory control of tree pest and diseases. The team is geographically dispersed with individuals based in a variety of locations nationally. The post holder for this post can work from any Forest Services office in England.

Due to the expansion of the Plant Health Forestry team, we are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic GIS Analyst to deliver and advise on geospatial data, statistics, maps, and data visualisation across Forest Services.

The successful candidate for the post of GIS Analyst will be competent working with geospatial data, delivering high quality maps and statistics, and will be well able to communicate relevant, sound and timely geospatial evidence, and to learn quickly. An element of self-reliance will be necessary to help define and set work targets, and in building strong relationships with both FS colleagues and a wide range of partners, customers and stakeholders, including other teams within the Forestry Commission in Forest Research and Forestry England, in Defra, the Devolved Governments of Wales and Scotland, and other government departments and agencies.

The post holder will be experienced in collating, computing, analysing, and presenting geospatial and statistical evidence using principally geographical information systems (GIS), databases and spreadsheets. They will enjoy working with a wide variety of internal and external colleagues.

Key Work Areas:

1. Developing bespoke desktop GIS and statistical analyses for customers of the Plant Health Forestry team, using GIS software (ESRI ArcGIS Pro), MS Office software and delivering maps, tables and narrative reports to agreed timescales and professional standards.
   
   
2. Contributing to the reporting, development and refinement of Forestry Commission Official Statistics and management information, as needed, including collating, validating and communicating data such as for dashboards.
   
   
3. Assisting others in the team to provide rapid response information gathering and mapping for periodic national incidents such as tree pest outbreaks.
   
   
4. Supporting the creation of mobile working solutions using the ESRI platform and providing guidance and support to wider FS staff on how to use GIS systems.
   
   
5. Assisting with the management of FS data and metadata, e.g., preparing & loading data to the corporate geospatial data store and mapping systems and publishing as Open Data.

Person specification

Essential:

1. Demonstrable ability to identify, define and meet customers geospatial requirements to time and professional standards.
   
   
2. Experience in successful production of maps and statistics using desktop geographical information systems (ideally ESRI ArcGIS Pro) and experience of at least one other GIS platform, such as for example ArcGIS online, Survey123 or Field Maps.
   
   
3. Experience of successful analysis and presentation of geospatial and statistical data.
   
   
4. Experience of data management, manipulation and quality assurance using tools for example, MS PowerBI or MS Excel.
   
   
5. Experience in using natural environment and/or socioeconomic data.
   
   
6. A degree in a Geographical Information Systems, or a related field, and/or equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable:

1. Experience of successful management and/or analysis of satellite remote sensing data.
   
   
2. Working knowledge of programming languages such as Python, SQL or Arcade.

Languages

English

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £33,854, Forestry Commission contributes £9,807 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).

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 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, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a personal statement and provide details of your job history and qualifications.

Your job history must set out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

For candidates successful in gaining an interview, we will be assessing you on Experience, Behaviours and Strengths. Candidates invited to interview will be asked to provide a short presentation; details about what will be required will be provided to those invited.

Indicative timeline:

Interviews are planned for week commencing 3 August 2026. The dates are subject to change.

We will be conducting interviews online using MS teams. Candidates will need to have access to a suitable computer for an MS Teams meeting.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Forestry Commission 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 visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Existing Civil Servants (excluding Forestry Commission employees) and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, and will only be considered on a loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant.

Existing Forestry Commission, Forestry England and Forest Research employees are eligible to apply for this Fixed Term Appointment and will only be considered if there is written confirmation from their line manager and HR that their current role will be temporarily backfilled or held open before commencing the application process.

The post is full time. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply; however your preferred working pattern may not be available, and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Where a role has been identified as one which falls under the scope of the Public Sector English Language Requirements, within Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, it is essential that applicants should have the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English

Travel options include: -

Some occasional travel may be required as part of the duties of this post. The FC is willing to consider any proposals put forward by applicants that would allow them to do the job by any method of travel, subject to prior approval. Successful candidates wishing to use their own private vehicle for business travel will need to comply with the FC Travel Policy on CO2 emissions.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via FCERecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : FS Recruitment
• Email : fs.recruitment@forestrycommission.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : fcerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment on the basis of fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles.If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact FCE by email: englandhr.services@forestryengland.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.