Geospatial Coordinator at MapAction

Job Title:            Geospatial Coordinator

Job Purpose:      Support the delivery of GIS projects and programmes, internally and with global partners

Salary:                £34,048 per annum

Hours:                Up to 37.5 hrs/week – full time 

Location:            Team members work remotely but contracts will be issued from Chinnor and team members will be expected to attend                              office meetings in person in Oxfordshire as required. 

Contract:            This is a full time, substantive position  

Responsible to:  Head of Geospatial Services

Contract:            18 month contract, start ASAP

Responsible to:  Head of Geospatial Services

The Opportunity 

MapAction has a unique opportunity for a Geospatial Coordinator looking for their next challenge in a fast-paced and dynamic humanitarian response organisation. We’re looking for someone to work within our Geospatial Services team helping on the delivery of GIS projects and programs while working alongside multiple global partners. You will work with a diverse group of expert volunteers, colleagues and support four main areas of MapAction’s work: emergency response, preparedness, anticipatory action and training. All of this is at the core of what MapAction does and we need you to be part of this!  You will also play a vital supporting element to the planning, delivery and evaluation of operational activities, training and volunteer recruitment.

Why MapAction?

MapAction is a leading humanitarian mapping charity delivering information services and products to enhance decision making in disasters and conflicts. In collaboration with our partners, this mapped information helps responders understand vulnerabilities and target their response effectively, contributing to saving lives and minimising suffering. We work through a team of technical expert volunteers and a small paid staff team. 
 

We have built a strong reputation in the humanitarian sector and are a technical partner of the United Nations, Non-Government Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, the Red Cross, Red Crescent Movement, regional entities and national authorities. 
  

The humanitarian sector is evolving, and technical expertise such as GIS, mapping, information management, data processing and visualisation are becoming increasingly utilised for improving decision making in complex humanitarian response. MapAction and our partners are uniquely positioned to provide technical expertise in support of this. 

We have an exciting and ambitious new strategy which will see us help reduce vulnerability in emergencies for those at greatest risk through supporting local technical and emergency leadership and promoting the exchange of well analysed data.  A particular area of focus will be on the use of Anticipatory Action prior to an emergency.

About you

You are an experienced GIS specialist, confident in your ability to use your geospatial skills and knowledge to contribute to the development, design and delivery of projects and training activities internally and with external partners. You are calm under pressure and share the MapAction ‘can-do’ attitude, rooted in our volunteer values. You relish a challenge and like us, feel excited about the future and what we can achieve together. You want to work in a diverse organisation that is concerned about minimising its environmental impact, and cares about everyone in the team. Be assured, you will be supported in your role as you grow. 

Main Responsibilities

• Provide geospatial support to a wide variety of partner projects
• Take the lead on some projects and grant deliverables
• Share responsibility for GIS support to deployed teams at the onset of and during emergency responses.
• Fulfil, requests for mapping and other geospatial support from partners
• Contribute to ongoing data preparedness activities      
• Contribute to keeping documentation such as standard operating procedures up to date
• Support internal and external training activities, including the coordination and leading of sessions
• Actively contribute to developing new ideas and innovation
• Provide support to volunteer recruitment, and operational record keeping

Key Competencies

Essentials 

• GIS professional with substantial experience using GIS to prepare data and undertake spatial analysis
• High level of proficiency with ArcGIS Pro and QGIS
• Excellent cartographic skills
• Good knowledge of spatial data structures and formats and understanding of data quality
• Clear and confident written and verbal communicator
• Experience of collaborative working with a wide range of people, with a positive, supportive attitude, and showing sensitivity to the needs of colleagues (staff, trustees, volunteers, donor partners).
• Demonstrable ability to use initiative and prioritise a diverse workload effectively under pressure
• Able to grasp concepts and needs quickly and use initiative
• Strong demonstrable organisational skills
• Committed to working with volunteers
• Able and willing to travel oversees for projects and training missions as required

Desirable

• Ability to work and create geospatial data pipelines programmatically (Python, R)
• Knowledge of WebGIS technologies
• Experience of managing projects
• Experience working with web mapping applications and creating dashboards
• Experience and knowledge of humanitarian or related fields.
• Have a full UK driving licence and access to a car at short notice
• Language skills, especially French

Additional Information

• Flexibility and willingness to work outside office hours including evenings and weekends as required, including being on a roster for emergency cover.
• Possible opportunities for international travel if desired but not essential.
• Required to attend monthly weekend training events (camping at various venues around the UK). Travel expenses are paid and reasonable time off in lieu provided. 
• Required to work remotely and to attend team days near the MapAction office in Oxfordshire (6-7 days per year) at own travel expense.
• 30 days holiday with a workplace pension and also paid training opportunities to help further your career.
• Must have the right to live and work in the UK, MapAction is unable to consider candidates who do not already hold appropriate permissions or you must live within easy travel to the UK to attend team days under own expense. 
• Note: this is an operational role in a small, highly specialised charity and an appreciation of, and affinity with the humanitarian purpose of the charity is essential, as well as a willingness to take up additional tasks outside of the normal role when needed.

Equal Opportunities Policy

MapAction is an Equal Opportunities employer.  All employees have a personal responsibility to promote and support measures designed to create a working environment which is free from harassment or discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, age, race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, membership of the Travelers community or HIV&AIDS status.

How to apply: Please apply by gohire with a CV and covering letter to be considered for the role.  The closing date for applications is 12.11.2023. We will review applications on a rolling basis and will close the process if we secure someone at an early stage so we urge you to apply early so as not to miss out. For further discussion regarding the content of this role, please email info@mapaction.org. Please no agencies.