Spatial Analyst - Nature Recovery

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 provide a much-needed sanctuary for people and wildlife. Our government are committed to increase tree canopy and woodland cover to at least 16.5% of total land area by 2050 and restore or create more than 500,000 hectares of a range of wildlife-rich habitats outside protected sites by 2042.

The Forestry Commission is working together with the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to support the forestry sector, landowners, farmers, stakeholders and communities in deliver these ambitions.

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 would like to hear from you.

We are a non-ministerial department, supported by two agencies and public bodies; namely Forestry England who manage the nation’s forests and Forest Research, Great Britain’s principal organisation for forestry and tree related research.

This role operates within an interdisciplinary environment, based in Forest Services’ (FS) Policy and Advice team, working with nature recovery specialists and also working closely with the Economics, Evidence and Analysis team which provides geographical and statistical evidence, analysis and advice.

We are looking for a Spatial Analyst to produce, deliver and advise on geospatial data, maps, statistics, and data visualisation. The primary focus of the role will be to use geographical and statistical evidence and analysis focussed on biodiversity and other environmental outcomes to inform our work. Working with the Policy Advice team in FS to manage, collate, analyse, map and present geospatial datasets to support the development and implementation of key government plans and strategies, including the Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) and related Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs); the preparation of Protected Sites Strategies; and support the delivery, analysis and review of Local Nature Recovery Strategies.

Job description

The successful candidate for the post of Spatial Analyst 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 collaborative and positive approach to the work to build and maintain relationships with all stakeholders. Problem solving skills will be needed to define, document and implement a range of short term and some larger analytical projects with precision.

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

Key work areas

1. Plan, agree and conduct bespoke desktop GIS and statistical analyses for Forest Services’ contribution to the Defra Nature Restoration Fund and other nature recovery programmes, using GIS software (including ESRI ArcGIS), office software (including MS Excel & MS Word) and delivering appropriate visualisations in maps, tables and narrative reports to agreed timescales and professional standards.

2. Work across the Forestry Commission, computing, quality assuring, analysing, documenting and presenting geospatial and statistical data and metadata. Update and expand the central repository of statistics for strategic land use planning and nature recovery.

3. Help manage data for GIS systems across FS, and Defra group, as required by the relevant nature recovery programmes, including coordinating relevant data sharing and licensing, where necessary.

4. Contribute as required to Forestry Commission official statistics and management information (KPIs) relating to nature recovery programmes, and to Defra environmental monitoring

5. Update and improve the provision of data, maps and statistics to support national and area staff to engage effectively with nature recovery programmes. Improve the quality or content of key datasets where appropriate.

6. Support FS colleagues by attending meetings to provide technical advice on data for nature recovery programmes.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

1. Ability to compute, collate, quality assure, manage, analyse, document and present geospatial and statistical data and metadata to meet customers’ requirements to professional standards.

2. Experience in the use of desktop GIS software (e.g., ESRI ArcGIS Pro, Storymaps), 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 for nature recovery, including management of these projects.

4. A degree in Geographical Information Systems or a related field, and/or equivalent relevant experience.

Please clearly demonstrate how the above applies to you throughout your application. Failure to do so will mean that your application is automatically sifted out.

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:

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

Technical skills

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

• You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

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.

• 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 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, Experience and Technical skills.

This is a Fixed Term Appointment until 31st March 2027 with possibility of extension or permanency, but no guarantee.

As part of the application process, you will complete the following:

1. A tailored CV setting out your career history with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.

2. A personal statement – in no more than 750 words showing how you meet the criteria of the person specification.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Interview Stage

For candidates successful for interview, we will be assessing you on Technical skills, Experience, Behaviours and Strengths.

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

Applications are planned to be sifted for the week commencing 25th May and interviews planned for week commencing 15th June. Dates subject to change.

We will be conducting face to face interviews at our Bristol office - Forestry Commission, 620 Bristol Business Park, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1EJ.

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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

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.

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.

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

Security

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.

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.

Attachments

06020000355 Spatial Analyst (Nature Recovery) (2) Opens in new window (pdf, 595kB)