IC-ENC Senior Data Validator


Location 

Taunton

Employment Hours 

New Jobs

Employment Type 

Permanent

Salary 

£38,173 a year

Job Highlights
  • This role involves validating geospatial data quality and supporting international customers using advanced geospatial tools and technologies.
  • The ideal candidate will possess technical skills in geospatial practices, exceptional attention to detail, and effective communication abilities.
  • Offering flexible working hours in a full-time or part-time capacity, the position is based in Taunton with a competitive salary and generous pension contributions.
Job Requirements/Description

Details

Reference number

476335

Salary

£38,173
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer
B2

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

UKHO - Data Acquisition

Type of role

Analytical
Education and Training
Geography
Project Delivery
Science

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

3

Contents

  • Location
  • About the job
  • Benefits
  • Things you need to know
  • Apply and further information

Location

Taunton

About the job

Job summary

Are you a skilled geospatial practitioner comfortable with using a range of geospatial tools and technologies? Do you have experience of assuring the quality of geospatial products or data for customers?

We are currently recruiting for 3 Senior Data Validators to join our growing team ? supporting customers and partners worldwide.

We are looking for candidates who have the technical skills for the role, alongside the ability to work with and support colleagues effectively to deliver high quality outcomes at pace.

The roles sit within the International Centre for ENCs (IC-ENC), based in our Taunton HQ, and the team works closely with IC-ENCs 55 members to ensure the quality assurance and distribution of digital maritime products. As a Senior Data Validator, you will work with our global validation team in Australia, Brazil, Nigeria and the United States ? acting as a technical leader within the team and global community.

The Senior Data Validator will also support wider IC-ENC workplan and UKHO organisational wide initiatives to support our Vision. Tasks may include, supporting the delivery of Continual Improvement Projects, and, as a technical lead, supporting external engagements with opportunities for travel to deliver International Training at our regional training centres.

As IC-ENC move to S-100 products, this role presents itself to be at the forefront of S-100 maritime data products, the role will support the validation team through the implementation of S-100 services.

Full training on our systems and processes will be provided.

Hybrid working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, working between the office in Taunton and remotely within the UK.

Office attendance is expected 60% of the time. However, as the Senior Data Validator role covers training and support to the Validation Team there will be times when increased office working is encouraged for collaboration with team members. There is also expectations that the role will include international travel.

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


Job description

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

  • Undertake complex 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.
  • Lead on the quality control of IC-ENC validation services, through validation reviews and internal investigations and root cause analysis
  • Support the IC-ENC Data Manager in the delivery of IC-ENCs validation service


Additionally, the role will support the IC-ENC Data Manager and wider Management Team in:

  • Support the continuous improvement of validation services by providing subject matter expertise in requirements definition, refinement, testing and implementation of service improvements.
  • Support the delivery of IC-ENC Production Support through the delivery of external training events, inbound member visits and secondments.
  • Support the maintenance of appropriate IC-ENC documentation (policies, procedures) which underpin the IC-ENC Validation, Distribution and Support Services.


Person specification

To be successful in the role, you will need to have the technical capability and knowledge to undertake the more complex activity within the team ? effectively applying your expertise and understanding of geospatial data, quality assurance processes, tools and techniques.

You will be able to provide feedback, guidance and coaching in an inclusive and nurturing way to enable others to build their own capability.

Due to the international nature of the IC-ENC Team?s role and purpose, Senior Data Validators need to demonstrate excellent written and spoken English, with the ability to convey complex technical messages simply and succinctly to an international audience.

A positive approach to change and a commitment to continuous improvement in an environment where technology, technical standards and customer needs are all evolving at pace is also key to success in the role.

  • An understanding of ENC Standards (S-52, S-58, S-57, S-101) and their interaction on ENC quality and ECDIS usability.
  • An understanding of geospatial data quality assurance processes, tools and techniques, in particular maritime data products and working knowledge of the dKart Inspector and ENC Analyzer validation tools.
  • Good working knowledge of GIS software packages (such as ArcGIS), and experience with similar software (such as QGIS)
  • Understanding of Continual Improvement processes and experience working in an agile environment
  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Good planning and organisational skills, able to work well with minimum supervision.
  • Excellent written and spoken English, with natural ability for conveying complex technical messages simply and succinctly to an international audience

Behaviours

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

  • Developing Self and Others
  • Changing and Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

  • Developing Self and Others
  • Changing and Improving

Technical skills

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

  • Experience in the quality assurance process of geospatial Data Products (Assessed by Presentation)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,173, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £11,058 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , 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 words supporting statement on the experience criteria below.

Timeline:

  • Advert Closes for applications: 13/09/2026
  • Shortlisting: w/c 14/09/2026
  • Interviews: w/c 28/09/2026

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.

Lead Criteria:

We have identified a lead criterion for this role, which we may use to differentiate between applications in the following scenarios:

  • To conduct an initial-sift in a high volume of applicants (over 20 applications).
  • To establish a merit-order in the event of a tie at interview

The lead criteria are identified below for the sift and interview stages.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

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

Experience:

  • Experience of geospatial data production
  • Experience in the quality assurance process of geospatial data product (lead criteria)

The above criteria needs to be covered in your 500 word supporting statement.

Civil Service Behaviours (HEO level):

  • Developing Self and Others
  • Changing and Improving

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

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Technical:

  • Experience in the quality assurance process of geospatial Data Products (Assessed by Presentation) (lead criteria)

Civil Service Behaviours (HEO 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 60 minutes. You will be required to give a 10 minute presentation. More details will be given in the Invitation to Interview email.

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 basic (or equivalent) 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)
  • 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

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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

Location 

Taunton

Employment Hours 

New Jobs

Employment Type 

Permanent

Salary 

£38,173 a year

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