Principal Geospatial Data Analyst

Are you passionate about using geospatial data to drive innovation and improve outcomes across Scotland.

The Geographic Information Science and Analysis Team (GI‑SAT) sits within the Data Division of the Digital Directorate. Our vision is a planning system that uses data insights and analytics to learn from the past and models the future to support evidence‑based policy development and outcomes ensuring that the planning system becomes an enabler of sustainable development supporting our net zero interests and bringing people together to deliver great places.

GI‑SAT forms part of the corporate GIS specialism within the Scottish Government providing a dedicated geospatial information support service and robust analytical evidence to support all policy areas within the Scottish Government and the wider Scottish public sector. The team also manages the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement (PSGA) on behalf of all Scottish public sector organisations and drives the use of corporate geospatial data analysis and software ensuring it effectively supports collaboration and strategic decision‑making across the organisation and its partners in the wider Scottish public sector.

This role is specifically tasked with providing analytical support to the Planning Architecture and Regeneration Division.

• Leads the design and delivery of high‑profile geospatial analysis to support planning policy working closely with senior officials and providing direct analytical advice to ministers.
• Acts as the principal geospatial advisor for planning policy translating complex spatial data into actionable insights and ensuring alignment with strategic policy objectives and key data processes within the Scottish planning system.
• Leads strategic‑level meetings and workshops related to data analysis matters.
• Produces written and verbal thought leadership output on data analysis matters.
• Represents the data analysis function in management meetings with technical and non‑technical colleagues.
• Is actively involved in the wider data community within the organisation and influences/works with their peers to co‑develop best practice.
• Leads data quality management, data linkage, data visualisation and a portfolio of data analysis projects and allocates and develops resources as necessary.
• Applies their IT and mathematical expertise to ideate and advise on new data analysis methodologies and tooling.
• Can foresee areas that can generate data issues and proactively develops problem‑solving capabilities.

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of experience skills and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.

• Lead Criteria 1: You have represented the strategic data and analytics perspective in challenging meetings with senior stakeholders and decision makers (e.g. Ministers) enabling holistic decision‑making incorporating data and analytics impacts within a Scottish planning context.
• Lead Criteria 2: You have led geospatial planning data related projects according to agreed requirements and standards for the delivery of quality digital services using both specialist geospatial software such as ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro as well as programming languages like R or Python.
• You have expertise in the broader field of geospatial data management in order to be able to set up a function delivering data & analytics services to the organisation.
• You have active involvement in the wider geospatial planning data community influencing and developing others in order to co‑develop best practice.

Experience is assessed at sift along with a more in‑depth assessment at interview.

This role is aligned to the Data Analyst job role within the Data job family.

You can find out more about the skills required here:
Data analyst - Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework.

These skills are assessed by technical assessment designed to represent the role. Candidates reaching this stage will receive a Technical Assessment Candidate Pack which outlines the specific skills to be assessed plus the method of assessment.

• Delivering at Pace (Level
  4)
• Making Effective Decisions…