IC-ENC Data Validator

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Data Validator to join our International Validation Team – part of the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC) as we retain capacity and increase output.

This role offers the chance to work within a dynamic, globally connected team that collaborates closely with our regional offices in Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, and the United States. The Data Validation team is responsible for the quality assurance of electronic navigational charts (ENCs) (our digital maritime products) produced by 54 organisations worldwide. You’ll have the chance to get involved in a variety of activities and contribute to the delivery of training, if this is something you are interested in.

To support growing demand and maintain our capacity, we are expanding our UK-based team with new Data Validation roles. Please keep an eye out for other roles in IC-ENC.

Want to know what the role is like day-to-day? Check out our blog post where one of our Validators shares their experience blog post.

Hybrid working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance between working at the Taunton office with working from home. It is anticipated that the successful candidate would work from the Taunton office 2-3 days a week dependant on business need.

Initial training will be in the office, after which hybrid working will be available. There are some tasks within the team that require the post holder to be in the office, which is managed through a team rota.

This role is full time but 30 hours per week might be considered.

Job description

The role of the Data Validator ensures our global folio of electronic navigational charts (ENC’s) conforms to standards on behalf of 54 producing organisations. This provides the opportunity to work with international colleagues to improve the quality of digital charts and develop the future of global Maritime Data Products.

You’ll have the chance to get involved in a variety of activities and contribute to the delivery of training, if this is something you are interested in.

As a Data Validator within the international validation team, your key tasks will be:

• Undertake validation of Maritime Data Products, principally Electronic Navigational Chart (ENC) base cells and updates, using a variety of software tools in accordance with defined IC-ENC procedures. Including ENC file management such as loading data onto ECDIS software and completing Data Release processes.
• Support the delivery of IC-ENC technical improvements through the completion of Continual Improvement activities and software testing
• Deliver IC-ENC service improvement work items as directed by Data Manager, including contribute to the assessment and categorisation of validation error messages to maintain IC-ENC External Knowledge Bases.
• Provide Production Support to IC-ENC members, through the contribution to eLearning content and training events.

Person specification

All required training will be provided so what’s most important is having an enthusiasm for quality, service delivery and a desire for true connection to Hydrographic Offices around the world.

Essential:

• Good understanding of geographic data principles, e.g. vector data capture and attribution
• Good understanding of geographical data Quality Assurance requirements and procedures
• Strong analytical skills.
• Good written and spoken English.

Desirable:

• An understanding of ECDIS and the appropriate IHO and IMO standards.
• A working knowledge of hydrographic charting practices, in particular chart generalisation.
• Experience in the production of ENC data.
• A working understanding of ENC quality assurance tools, for example, dKart Inspector and ENC Analyzer validation tools.
• An understanding of software testing requirements
• Language skills, particularly Spanish and Portuguese

Behaviours

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

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Good understanding of data Quality Assurance requirement and procedures

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,952, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £9,256 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

You will be asked to attach your anonymised CV along with a 500 word supporting statement on the experience criteria below.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 11th January 2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 19th January 2026
• Interviews: w/c 2nd February 2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Pre-sift Criteria:

• Do you have a qualification or equivalent experience in a geospatial or related discipline (GIS – Geographic Information Systems, Geography, IHO CAT B course completion. This information will be taken from your CV.

Please note if you not hold this qualification, your application will not be taken through to the sift stage as set out below.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria:

• Good understanding of Data Quality Assurance requirements
• Relevant experience in geospatial related disciplines (lead criteria)
• Experience and training in geospatial software tools and data.

The 500 word supporting statement will need to cover the above criteria.

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Technical:

• Good understanding of data Quality Assurance requirement and procedures (lead criteria)

Civil Service Behaviours (EO level):

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Process:

• Single Stage MS TEAMS interview. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of 3 people and will last approximately 45 minutes.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

BPSS – non reserved
This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and is open to UK, British Commonwealth, and European Economic Area nationals. Successful applicants will be required to pass the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and will therefore need to provide evidence if they have resided outside of the UK for a period of 6 months or longer within the last 3 years. This is not a bar to employment, but a successful applicant will be required to provide sufficient evidence to allow the UKHO to conduct meaningful background checks. Please contact the recruitment team on the email address below if you have any concerns regarding this.

Eligibility

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.

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.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 : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk
• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk

Further information

Further Information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact recruitment.queries@ukho.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or view more details at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk

Attachments

UKHO Candidate Information Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 5713kB)20210309 additional pay info Opens in new window (pdf, 163kB)