JOB DESCRIPTION

About GDS
The Government Digital Service (GDS) is the digital centre of the UK government and part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Its primary role is to set, lead, and deliver the Blueprint for a Modern Digital Government.
Key responsibilities and priorities of GDS:
• Setting the digital strategy for the government.
• Measuring and managing digital performance across government departments.
• Driving efficiency in digital public services.
• Making the citizen experience better by through its ownership and delivery of government products and services
• Maintaining guidance and tools to support best practices
About the GDS Geospatial Team
Geospatial data policy is at the heart of the Government Digital Service (GDS)
The GDS Geospatial Team’s aim is to kick-start economic growth and deliver better outcomes for citizens through wider use and adoption of location data and technologies. This means we:
• Provide strategic oversight of the geospatial ecosystem in the UK, setting geospatial strategy, policy and standards.
• Manage collective purchase agreements worth over £1bn for public sector access to geospatial data.
• Make targeted investments in data projects that accelerate innovation and adoption of geospatial data applications.
We have a dynamic, exciting and cutting-edge policy portfolio, with enthusiastic and energetic team members.
The Geospatial Analysis teams

The Analysis team works at pace across a range of exciting projects that underpin the Geospatial Team’s policy and investment decisions, working on projects such as:

• Analysis to support the roll out of the National Underground Asset Register – a digital map of underground pipes and cables that will revolutionise the way we install, maintain, operate and repair our buried infrastructure.
• Appraisal of the public sectors largest investment in location data, the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement, which provides key data to over 6,000 public sector organisations across the country.
• Evaluation of a pilot to Earth Observation data to the public sector, transforming analysis in key policy areas including land use, environmental monitoring and emergency response.

You will join the team at a critical time for the Geospatial Team as we evaluate the effectiveness of these high-profile projects.
About the role
We are looking for a highly motivated and driven SEO-level analyst to deliver the Geospatial Team’s analytical work programme, supporting the use of geographic data to deliver better outcomes for citizens, and boost the UK economy.
The Analysis team is a multi-profession team made up of: 1x G6, 2x G7s and a mix of 4 HEOs and SEOs. Colleagues in the team have a range of analytical backgrounds and the team currently includes Economists, Statisticians and Social Researchers.
This role sits within the branch of the Analysis Team that is primarily responsible for monitoring and evaluating the Geospatial Team’s range of high profile and complex programmes. The role offers opportunities to work on a variety of programmes and with a diverse range of policy colleagues and stakeholders. Experience of geospatial data is not essential.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

We are looking for individuals with the following attributes, skills and experience:
• In-depth knowledge of monitoring and evaluation principles as per the Magenta Book, including ability to design and conduct impact, process, and value for money evaluations, comprehensive monitoring plans, and develop robust Theories of Change.
• Proven experience using a range of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, and ability to synthesise complex data and findings into actionable insights and evidence-based recommendations.•
Proven experience leading collaborative project, programmes or groups, effectively managing others’ inputs to enhance overall team performance and achieve strategic objectives.•
Ability to work autonomously, with a proactive approach to managing multiple priorities in a fast paced and dynamic environment.
• Ability to distil and communicate analytical concepts and arguments for a wide variety of audiences, particularly non-analysts and non-technical stakeholders.
• Has a flexible, proactive and collaborative approach to team working, adapting to changing priorities and workloads. Ability to work in synergy and inclusively across a diverse team environment that spans professions, grades, locations and backgrounds, respecting different working styles.
• Ability to develop effective relationships, including within the Geospatial Team and DSIT, cross-Whitehall and with all other external stakeholders, including at senior levels.
• Solution orientated problem solver with ability to proactively look for opportunities to overcome problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

You must be a full member of one of the following analytical professions: Government Social Research Service (GSR), Government Statistician Group (GSG), Government Economics Service (GES) or Government Operational Research Service (GORS).
OR
You must be able to demonstrate that a) you satisfy the eligibility criteria and b) have the competence, at the required grade for one of the analytical professions.
Eligibility requirements of the analytical professions can be found here:

TECHNICAL SKILLS

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

• Analysis of data (GES), Data analysis (GSG), Technical skills (GSR), Knowledge and application (GORS)

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)
• 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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitoring and evaluation: Establishing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks for our programmes and projects. This will include monitoring and evaluation of the collective purchase agreements that the Geospatial Team hold on behalf of the public sector, such as the Aerial Photography Great Britain Contract, which provides aerial imagery to over 2000 public sector organisations free at the point of access. This, and other evaluations will shape policy in this area, building the evidence base to support future contracts to be designed to best meet public sector needs. Your monitoring and evaluation work will directly inform significant future investment and you will have first-hand opportunities to shape policy.
• Championing the value of monitoring and evaluation across the Geospatial Team and wider DSIT: building understanding within the analysis, policy and commercial teams of the importance of effective monitoring and evaluation to influence implementation, drive value for money decisions and build an effective evidence base.
• Scoping new analytical projects: Working closely with analytical and policy colleagues to steer the scope of development for new projects, including identifying and promoting appropriate methodologies.
• Providing analytical advice to support strategy and policy delivery: You will work in lockstep with policy and delivery colleagues to shape and develop the Team’s work priorities, delivering robust and convincing analytical evidence to shape the Team’s work.
• Managing input of junior staff members in analytical projects and programmes: Coordinate and oversee junior staff’s contributions in some projects, ensuring their input is effectively integrated into project deliverables.
• Stakeholder engagement and management: You will identify and engage with cross-government and external stakeholders on collaborative projects, while also building strong working relationships internally with multiple policy teams within the Geospatial Team.
• Briefing decision makers: You will have opportunities to present analytical pieces of work to senior stakeholders, as well as to participate in cross-DSIT and Whitehall forums.
• Supporting the delivery of business cases and impact assessments across the Geospatial Team’s investment portfolio: Working with other team members to ensure that projects are appropriately scoped, planned and cost justified from the outset.