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GIS SUPPORT OFFICER
£19,827 - £21,636 with pay award pending

This is a temporary post until end of March 2003 based with Forth Valley GIS in Stirling, Scotland, complementing the existing Team to provide a high level of customer support to GIS users within the Forth Valley GIS customer base.  The GIS SUPPORT OFFICER will provide support and training of existing GIS applications including the desktop mapping system as well as respond to a wide range of ad-hoc mapping and analysis projects.

This post will require a high level of understanding of geographic data and how it can be used to support service delivery and decision-making.  Customer care and 'closeness to the customer' will be fundamental both from a support and training perspective.  The person hired for this post must have extensive experience in the use of GIS with software development skills in Microsoft Access or equivalent and extensive graphic design skills desirable.

Forth Valley GIS (FVGIS) is a joint Unit that provides corporate GIS services to three neighbouring authorities; Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Councils.  The Unit is based in Stirling Council headquarters at Viewforth, Stirling and also delivers GIS services to a wide range of external customers such as Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Interim Committee, Environment and Heritage Service (Northern Ireland) and others.

Because of the extensive use of GIS and the wealth of GIS data now available, Forth Valley GIS requires a GIS SUPPORT OFFICER to assist with the support and training of the large volume of GIS work for the external customers.  The nature of the work will vary encompassing GIS analysis activities, production of high-quality maps, as well as support and training of the FVGIS customer base.  The GIS SUPPORT OFFICER will also be asked to provide backup support for GIS activities within the three councils served by FVGIS. 

This post is on a fixed-term basis for two years with a likelihood for extension.    The post will be based in Stirling with travel required to customer sites in Central Scotland, Northern Ireland and potentially other locations.  The work programme will be project-driven, focusing on customer needs and priority GIS activities.

Within the Forth Valley GIS customer base, ArcView GIS is the standard software with the recently introduced ArcIMS used for IntranetGIS purposes.  There are now more than 100 ArcView GIS licences and 400 core users at various locations within the entire customer base.

The person hired for this post will be provided with a high-spec PC.  Other hardware currently in use includes a combination of Windows NT servers, workstations, and personal computers.  Peripherals include a scanner and a variety of output devices ranging from A3/A4 laser printers to an A0 HP DesignJet 2500CP plotter.

Forth Valley GIS is a dynamic team with a history of success in past years and has become a "centre of excellence" for GIS service delivery in Scotland and beyond.  The GIS SUPPORT OFFICER will become a vital part of this team and will be asked to contribute to the existing high standard of GIS services. This is a new post and will be one of fifteen members of Forth Valley GIS.  Other members of the team include a GIS Manager, Principal Analyst, five Senior GIS Analysts, three GIS Analysts, GIS Support Officer, a System Administrator, Office Administrator and an Administrative Assistant.  
 
This post will require a high level of understanding of geographic data and how it can be used to support service delivery and decision-making within a public sector environment.  As there is a large demand for ad-hoc mapping and analysis projects, well-developed cartographic skills are essential, with experience in graphic design packages preferable.  Furthermore, customer care and 'closeness to the customer' will be fundamental both from a support and training perspective.  

A GIS-related qualification or equivalent experience in GIS use and analysis is essential.  Applicants should be innovative and possess a willingness to contribute to the successes of GIS and digital mapping for customers served by Forth Valley GIS.  Strong oral and written communication skills are required.  He/She should be willing to work as a member of a team, be approachable, flexible, have a customer orientation and be productive.

For an informal discussion on the above post, please contact Gavin Keith, GIS Manager on 01786 442785. Recruitment packs are available from and returnable to Linda Workman, Forth Valley GIS, Viewforth, Stirling, 
tel: 01786 443438.  Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 2 February 2001