Beach Intelligence Team Member – JVB B3/EO
Permanent
Applicants for this role must be current surplus Civil Servants – we are unable to accept
other applications at this stage.
Close: Monday 9th February 2015 at Noon
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) plays a vital role in the UK’s maritime
Defence capability and supporting safe navigation at sea. As an agency of the MOD and a
world-leading supplier of navigational Charts and Publications, we are at the forefront of
hydrographic digital product development and services to the worldwide maritime
community.
THE ROLE
Purpose and objectives of the role:
The Royal Navy (RN) and Royal Marine (RM) customers require professional advice and a
range of products providing information on Beach Intelligence to support planning for
amphibious operations and exercises. To meet this need the Beach Intelligence team
acquires, analyses and integrates information from internal and external sources to produce
Beach Intelligence Country Reports, data and products to support operations, exercises and
responses to ad-hoc requests. The team also maintains the Beach Intelligence and Survey
Database (BISD) and also produces Hydrographic Port Assessments (HPA).
Fundamental Tasks:
Planning 5%
Establish the Customer’s requirements, assess the time needed to complete them and plan
activity to meet deadlines. Deadlines may be either imposed or negotiated and in
consultation with the line manager.
Research 10%
Identify all available and relevant littoral intelligence data of suitable quality. Monitor
developments in shallow water and littoral survey techniques including satellite derived
bathymetry, imagery analysis and 2D/3D visualisation capabilities.
Data analysis and product generation 50%
Analyse source data, using either “off-the shelf” or bespoke software, to create littoral
digital products using imagery, charting, mapping and open source environmental data
within the area of interest. The product outputs are primarily in digital format and are
often delivered at high tempo. Software tools used include standard Microsoft Office
applications, ArcGIS, Exelis ENVI, FME and Adobe Creative Suite.
Written communication 5%
Produce technical reports that record methodology and results of analysis, imagery or
descriptions within Beach Intelligence Country Reports and HPAs. Report on visits,
technical conferences and meetings.
Provision of advice 5%
Support the LM with input to customer groups providing Subject Matter Expert (SME)
advice pertaining to tactical exploitation, collection, processing and presentation of
relevant data. On occasion present to RN/RM customers on the products and services
available from the Beach Intelligence team, DSA(ME) and the UKHO. Provide SME
support to DMGIC section heads.
Database population 10%
Update the master datasets with data from country reports or exercise/operation
products. (Beach intelligence data is issued via Fleet and archived for use in future
products.) Continually manage the BISD ESRI database to mirror the Marine
Environment Data Store (MEDS) database. Continually populate the change
classification project in MEDS.
Development 10%
Keep up to date with developments to methods and software tools used for storage,
analysis and presentation of data to meet changing demands from customers and
implement where appropriate to and to improve products, product visualisation and data
processing.
Quality Assurance 5%
Maintain procedural documentation for Beach Intelligence team processes.
ABOUT YOU
Civil Service Competency Framework - Level 2
Setting Direction
Seeing the Big Picture
Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Engaging People
Leading and Communicating
Collaborating and Partnering
Delivering Results
Delivering at pace
Specific Technical/Functional Skills and Experience
Essential

Wide experience of the products and services provided by the UKHO to customers, in
particular Defence Customers, together with an appreciation of UKHO processes and
activities.

Sound understanding of Hydrographic/Oceanographic information and the associated
processes, principles and standards.

Awareness of digital data analysis and databasing techniques applied to marine
environmental data.

Awareness of the principles of horizontal and vertical datums and tidal theory and their
effect on the collection and use of spatial data.

A good working knowledge of remote sensing principles and of image analysis and
interpretation.

A good working knowledge of ESRI ArcGIS; managing data using ArcCatalog and
creating products using ArcMap
 Good working knowledge of Adobe Packages and Microsoft Office.
 An in depth understanding of data presentation and visualisation techniques and the
ability to apply that to littoral products.
Desirable

Knowledge and understanding of littoral intelligence surveying principles and equipment
to best support RM and RN product requirements.
SALARY
The salary range is £23,680
The salary is paid monthly by credit transfer to an approved bank or building society.
(For established Civil Servants starting pay may be determined under the rules for starting
pay on promotion, other rules will apply for those serving on a casual basis or on a period
appointment.)
HOURS
Normally a 5 day week of 42 hours including lunch intervals. There is also an option to
participate in a flexible working hour’s scheme.
ANNUAL LEAVE
The annual allowance is 26.5 days on entry, rising to 31.5 days after 5 years’ service. In
addition all staff receive 8 days public holidays and 1 privilege day taken at fixed times of the
year.
PENSION
The appointment will be covered by Civil Service Pensions. The CSP provides benefits
within the benefits and contribution limits set out by the Inland Revenue. You may be able to
choose between two pension arrangements: Nuvos or the Partnership Pension Account.
You do not have to join the Civil Service Pension arrangements; you may opt out and be
covered instead by a personal pension or the State Second Pension (S2P). Further
information will be provided to successful candidates.
OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE
Paid and unpaid maternity/paternity leave, paid adoption leave and access to the workplace
nursery.
Access to the workplace gymnasium.
APPLICATION
This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post, for which applicants must be British citizens,
citizens of the Irish Republic, a Commonwealth state or EEA nations. Successful applicants
will require NSV security clearance you will, therefore, need to have resided in the UK for a
minimum of 5 Years.
Completed application forms must reach The HR Recruitment Team (Walker 21), United
Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2DN by Monday 9th
February 2015 at Noon. Earlier receipt would help the Office. The receipt of application
forms will only be acknowledged if a stamped addressed envelope is provided.
SELECTION
Applications will be screened initially by means of a sift board. Those candidates who fulfil
the sift criteria will be invited to interview. It is essential that application forms give a full but
concise description of the nature, extent and level of responsibilities held. The interview will
last about 40/45 minutes and will usually be conducted by 3 interviewers, whose questions
will mainly be on subjects connected with work experience as well as relevant topics of
general interest. The aim will be to gain an insight into candidates’ ability to communicate
their personal and interpersonal skills and intellectual, technical and professional ability.
The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office will carry out enquiries about nationality, health
and other matters, to ensure that successful candidates are qualified for appointment. Only
when enquiries are completed satisfactorily, will the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office
make a formal offer of appointment.
The Agency’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of
selection for appointment on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as
outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Principles, which can be found at
www.civilservicecommissioners.org.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the
Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the
Recruitment Team, United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Admiralty Way,
Taunton, Somerset TA1 2DN in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with
the response you receive from the Agency, you can contact the Office of the
Civil Service Commissioners.
The Civil Service is an equal opportunity employer. It is Government Policy to provide equal
opportunity for employment, career development and promotion in the Civil Service to all
who are eligible, on the basis of ability, qualifications and fitness for work. Applications are
welcome from all suitably qualified individuals irrespective of race, gender or marital status.