GIS/Spatial Analyst

Main Purpose of Job
The postholder will contribute to research proposals, methodological development, data analysis, interpretation and visualisation of results, and to writing of papers and reports.
Key activities include:
Writing code (preferably in R) to carry out spatial and statistical analysis, and to build complex workflows integrating a range of data sets, including remote sensing and ground-based data to characterise the state of ecosystems, and to model benefits flowing from them, with focus on land use change, woodland expansion and water quality.
Running and interpreting a number of existing spatial models and maintaining and further developing Rshiny apps will also be part of the daily tasks.
To act as technical specialist to a range of work areas within the Geoinformatics Sub-Group of ICS. The work involves the research and development of new geospatial methods, setting up of complex workflows, advanced spatial statistical analysis using R and geographic information software, manipulation of large spatial data sets, including satellite data, modelling and visualization of results. Supervision and mentoring will be provided for overall direction of work, but a good degree of autonomy is required especially regarding how specific deliverables are accomplished.
Initially, this post will be primarily involved with Scottish Government-funded work on land use change modelling, woodland expansion, and ecosystem services modelling and mapping. However, the postholder will be encouraged to explore their own research interests.
Main Duties of Postholder

• Working with the Geoinformatics team to ensure high quality of research outputs.
• Identifying and implementing solutions to research challenges within wider projects.
• Developing and implementing solutions to create complex workflows and to manipulate and prepare large geographic datasets.
• Developing and implementing automated workflows including spatial models, and developing meta-models for analysis of run outputs.
• Maintaining, modifying and improving existing R-shiny apps.
• Parametrizing and validating models and identifying models to be used to tackle specific research challenges.
• Developing reports, papers and datasets for peer-review and stakeholder-relevant publication.

• Preparing presentation-standard maps, and on-line story maps to communicate results.

Person Specification
Education/Experience/Skills
Essential

• M.Sc. in geoinformatics, computational geography or equivalent experience
• Demonstrable ability to develop and run complex workflows
• Up-to-date familiarity with commercial and open-source GIS and related software
• Advanced knowledge of manipulation and visualization of spatial data
• Substantial experience of GIS-based tools, systems and analyses; 2 years of experience with using GRASS GIS
• Ability to work in a Linux environment
• Advanced knowledge of R
• Advanced knowledge of data requirements for spatial statistics. Ability to write scripts and run and interpret spatial statistical analyses in R
• Sound technical skills in data manipulation and visualization/cartography
• Demonstrable ability to prepare presentation-quality maps and web story maps
• Experience of working in teams and contributing to a range of projects
• Experience in contributing to research papers and reports
• Evidence of flexible and adaptable working style
• Good interpersonal skills

Desirable

• PhD with a strong spatial analysis component
• Use and interpretation of the output of Random Forest and mgcv packages in R
• Experience of working in an interdisciplinary environment
• Effective communication across disciplinary boundaries
• Ability to use skills flexibly and apply them to a range of project areas
• Ability to adapt deliverables to feedback from stakeholders

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Benefits offered*
Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) - A confidential service available to support employees and their families with work or personal problems. Providing access to professional counsellors, psychologists, and work-life consultants available to help and support individuals in tackling all types of problems.
Annual Leave – Generous entitlement up to 40.5 days a year, with carry over possible and guaranteed time-off for Christmas.
Pension - Employer Contribution of 15% in a Personal Pension Plan and employee contribution flexibility.
Self-managed hours and Flexible Working – option to manage and spread your working time in line with organisational needs to create a healthy work life balance.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £33,595.00-£40,769.00 per year