Spatial Data Scientist

Posting date:	06 February 2026
Salary:	£42,665 to £50,495 per year
Additional salary information:	National: £42,665 - £46,765 London: £46,060 - £50,495 This post currently attracts a Specialist Pay Lead of £3000 per year. For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’.
Hours:	Full time
Closing date:	17 February 2026
Location:	Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Job type:	Permanent
Job reference:	447172/3

Summary

This role is in the core spatial data science team, part of the Environment Science and Analysis division. The division provides cross-cutting analytical support to a wide range of Defra’s environmental policy areas, and the spatial data science team uses innovative approaches to provide insight into complex spatial problems across Defra. As a team, our work feeds into critical environmental policy areas, including but not limited to developing modelling and analysis to understand the implications of new policy on land use, developing new geographical indicators, such as the access to green and blue space statistics, providing ad hoc spatial analysis, and working with external partners on research.

Working with both Defra and cross-government policy teams, our work is often fast-paced and provides opportunities to engage with a range of teams and disciplines. We are always looking for opportunities to improve the impact of our analysis. We champion the use of geography and spatial data science across government, promoting good practice and developing innovative ways of working with large and complex spatial data.

The SEO spatial data scientist role will work closely with policy and other evidence teams to help understand their evidence needs and formulate appropriate analytical approaches. The main focus of the role will be to develop data products to support a range of emerging policy areas, helping to better understand and communicate the potential impact of future policies on the environment and economy. We are looking for someone who will bring strong data science and analytical skills and be able to apply spatial analysis and modelling approaches to complex environmental problems. If you are a data scientist with experience of working with spatial data, dealing with fast-paced and emerging requirements and working across multi-disciplinary teams, then we are keen to hear from you.

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