Project Specialist

Location

The role can be based in Northern Research Station, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY or Alice Holt, Farnham, Surrey GU10 LH. Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas.

About the Job

ant to work at the cutting edge of environmental science?  Passionate about making a difference and playing your part in tackling the climate and nature crisis?  Forest Research (FR) is all about giving top quality evidence and advice to policymakers and practitioners to make a positive impact on the ground. Internationally recognised, we need people who have the skills and passion to work on excellent science and provide practical solutions for nature.

We’re small enough that your voice is heard, yet large enough, as part of the Forestry Commission, that we have everything on hand to get the job done, as well as a variety of career pathways.  Our staff are dedicated to their work and sharing it with others to bring positive change for our planet.  You will find us a flexible and inclusive employer, so you can have a work life balance that is tailor-made to your circumstances. So, whether it’s climate or carbon, pests or pathogens, behaviour or biodiversity that interests you, you can be assured of a warm welcome to the team. To find out more, visit www.forestresearch.gov.uk

The GIS and Data Services team sit within the Centre for Inventory Forecasting & Operational Support (IFOS), an expert, customer focused provider of forestry information, software, and service. The team manage and deliver an integrated spatial platform for forest and land management comprising ‘Forester’ web-based applications and ‘Geostore’ containing detailed GB-wide spatial data. Esri Enterprise, ArcGIS Online and open-source technology are used to deliver services from the platform to 1600 users within the forestry and land management sector. Increasingly, mobile and remote sensing technologies, coupled with data science, are being used to produce derived data and information products for our customers. We also support a growing demand from our internal and external customers for focussed GIS solutions to meet specific needs.

The successful applicant will provide business analysis, project management and financial analysis to support project delivery. Specialising in understanding business requirements within the Forestry sector you will help define programmes of work and provide project and financial management to ensure successful delivery. Reporting to the GIS Project Delivery Lead, you will work across the wider team with significant stakeholder engagement.

Job Description

Reporting to the GIS Project Delivery Lead, the successful applicant will:

• Manage delegated budgets and provide forecasting and reporting
• Engage with our Forestry customers and partners to translate business requirements into deliverable projects, managing resources effectively to deliver successful outcomes.
• Provide project and financial management support across our programmes of work
• Ensure appropriate project governance, assurance and management of risk
• Utilise appropriate systems and tools to enable effective planning, scheduling and monitoring of activities

Key Work Areas

Project Management – manage the full project lifecycle from concept to delivery, including day to day management of project delivery teams, resources and finances. Lead virtual project teams comprising internal staff, customers and suppliers, ensuring delivery on time and to budget
Business Analysis – engage with Forestry customers to identify and encapsulate geospatial requirements aligned to projects and the wider programme of work. Effectively communicate to ensure alignment with customer expectation, technical feasibility and geospatial strategy.
Stakeholder Management Support – at the project level, identify and manage collaborative stakeholder relationships, actively engaging and bringing in senior level support when required.  Ensure realisation of benefits for customers through effective planning and design while ensuring project outputs meet programme requirements.
Manage Project Risk – identify, monitor and manage project risks and issues, develop mitigating strategies and escalating when appropriate.
Project Governance and Assurance – assist with the establishment and updating of appropriate project governance and assurance including KPIs.
Financial management – manage project finances and delegated budgets and ensure effective project financial monitoring through proactive communications with customers, external partners and internal finance teams. Agree budgets for projects and forecast actual costs against them.

Person Specification

Essential:

A qualification in a relevant subject or equivalent experience e.g. GIS, business or project management 
Proven experience in the design, management and delivery of projects from conception to completion
Strong practical experience with project management tools and methodologies
Extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and effective requirements gathering
Outstanding interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to articulate solutions in a business context
Skilled in managing project finances with precision and accountability
Advanced problem solving and decision-making skills in fast paced and dynamic environments

Desirable:

•    Experience of forestry/GIS sector
•    Experience of Esri GIS products or similar
•    Knowledge of and/or experience in Agile project management methodologies

For full job details and how to apply please click here.