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Geographical Names and Boundaries Lead

Job details
Posting date: 21 July 2025
Salary: £36,530 per year, pro rata
Hours: Full time
Closing date: 20 August 2025
Location: PE28 2EA, TW13 7AH
Remote working: Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week
Company: Ministry of Defence
Job type: Permanent
Job reference: 411983

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Summary

Main Responsibilities:

Geonames Research:

Organise team resources to provide geonames advice required to support DGC map and data production. Keep a watching brief on geopolitical developments and anticipate future production requirements. Task research when needed to identify appropriate sources that will meet the policy for the areas covered, providing guidance on their use. Where no suitable source is readily available that meets the policy, investigate the feasibility of generating a suitable source. Produce country research papers (Geonames Research Files) to record the results of research into how to implement policy using the sources available. Liaise with PCGN over policy and assist them with sources or technical support, when required, to develop policy. Requires well developed source discovery, research and analysis skills. Requires experience of using GIS, particularly Esri ArcGIS software and other tools, and online search and discovery techniques.

MOD Gazetteer:

Maintenance of the MOD Gazetteer is the responsibility of GNBS Lead, providing an exciting opportunity to develop it for use within Defence. This requires large dataset management skills and solid knowledge of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques, particularly Esri ArcGIS Pro and ideally QGIS. Good collaboration with technical experts in NGCI is required to make the data available through geospatial interfaces.

Boundaries Research:

Organise team resources to provide boundaries advice required to support DGC map and data production. Keep a watching brief on geopolitical developments and task boundary studies as necessary, to understand the nature of a dispute. Liaise with FCDO and US colleagues over policy and sources. Where improved sources allow a more accurate boundary alignment to be determined, task the production of a revised boundary vector.

Global International Boundaries Dataset

Organise the annual production of the Global International Boundaries Dataset to collate all the most up to date boundary vectors, polygons and documents into one product for use across Defence. Ensure the schema meets data standards, data attributes are checked and updated, and all geonames are correctly depicted in accordance with policy.

Develop Geo Research Expertise:

Coordinate research, production and metadata preparation tasks to ensure skills and subject matter expertise are developed and maintained. Plan, design and provide geonames and boundaries research training to wider DGC/NCGI as required. Engage with PCGN and US colleagues in NGA to develop skills and contribute to the regular US/UK geonames conference.

This post has line management responsibilities for 3 staff.

Travel to MOD Feltham will be required.

For external candidates this role will be based at RAF Wyton.

For candidates who are currently employed at MOD Feltham, the role could be located temporarily at Feltham before permanently relocating to RAF Wyton in line with the scheduled site closure. MOD Feltham based staff may be eligible for a relocation package when the post relocates to RAF Wyton subject to MOD policy. This role will be permanently based at RAF Wyton from Autumn 2025. Should the successful candidate take up at the appointment at RAF Wyton, there will also be a requirement for detached duty between sites until the permanent closure of MOD Feltham.

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.


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