348465

SO, YOU WANT TO BE A …

GIS OFFICER?

Image: ArcGIS (2017)

But what is a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Officer? Salaries and Working Hours:

A GIS Officer uses computerised systems in order to collect, store, Graduate Prospects (2019) has offered
analyse and present spatial data. This data can come in a range of a guide as to how much you may earn
formats that include: cartographic, photographic, digital, remote within this type of role. However, you
sensing and spreadsheets. The expertise of this role can be can expect these figures to vary
applicable to a range of sectors such as: government departments, depending on the employer, location
uniformed and emergency services, utility companies and and level of experience.
environmental consultancies (Graduate Prospects, 2019).
Starting salaries often range between
£18,000 - £25,000. With more
experience these figures can increase
towards the region of £30,000.
Working up to more senior roles within
this career such as Team Leaders and
Project Managers could see you earn a
Image: Esri (no date) salary in excess of £40,000.

The responsibilities you might have as a GIS Officer could include: Starting out in this role you should be
expected to take it desk-based work
• The use of GPS tools to capture the location of assets such as with typical 9-5 working hours.
bridges or flood defences However, if you are required to collect
• Develop structures to store, load and transfer GIS data between data you may be working irregular
different systems hours away from home.
• The manipulation, analysis and presentation of data in order to
convert it into different formats

Recommended Skills:

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Knowledge of specialised software such as ArcGIS
• Ability to analyse data and statistics and complex databases
• Work effectively within a team and independently Image: Frame:
GIS (no date)

The most common route into this career pathway is through an undergraduate/postgraduate degree in a
relevant subject, such as: computer sciences, GIS, geography and software engineering. However, it is important
to note that entry requirements could vary widely depending on the employer and the sector the operate in.

Introductory courses are a great way for students with no knowledge of GIS to catch up, and they are run by a
number of organisations such as the Association for Geographic Information (AGI): see
www.agi.org.uk/events/calendar. Alternatively, you could also enquire at your local council or environmental
agency about shadowing a GIS Officer.
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Potential Employers

Image: ArcGIS (2017)

Image:
Image: Commons Environmental
Wikimedia (2017) Agency (no date)

Atkins is an engineering and design company that
employed over 300 graduates per year for the last five
years – this has been extended to an extra 500 due to
the schemes increasing success. The graduate scheme
offered is over a three-year period and covers the
various sectors of the company such as transportation,
infrastructure, energy and aerospace, defences and
security and technology.
The roles of interest within the graduate scheme include
the Geomatics (Bristol) and Geospatial Analysis
(Birmingham) positions, which are well suited to an
aspiring GIS Officer. Graduates could begin working on
projects as soon as they have completed their training.
The minimum requirements for these positions include a
predicted/achieved 2:1 classification in a degree/masters
course related to geography or more GIS specific course
such as Aerial Survey. LiDAR and Geomatics. Deadlines
for Atkins’ Graduate Scheme are early January.
Benefits and Rewards:
• £2,500 settling in payment within the first month
• Support towards achieving a chosen chartered status
• 25 days annual leave
• 2 volunteer days per year for a chosen cause
• Robust career development plan
(Atkins, 2018)
The Environment Agency offers a selection of
entry level programmes that range from graduate
programmes, foundation degrees, apprenticeships
and placements.
In terms of a GIS role in the Environment Agency,
they offer a year-long Geomatics placement to
students in their penultimate year of their
undergraduate degree. This take takes place in
their Bath Office; however, they do require that
your degree includes content on remote sensing
and/or GIS (Environment Agency, no date).
Therefore, it is obviously important to carefully
consider your modules options in the coming years
of your degree if you have a pathway like this in
mind. Modules such as Investigating Earth
Environments in your first year, and
Geotechnologies for Society and Environment in
your second year are some helpful suggestions to
consider.
Useful Links:
Association for Geographic Information
Atkins
Environment Agency
Graduate Prospects
Royal Geographical Society

References:
ArcGIS (2017) [Image] Available at: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=bd5ea503f6e54b6db13a220cfdaf000b (Accessed: 26/01/19)
Atkins (2018) Aerospace, Defence, Security and Technology – Geomatics and Geospatial Graduate Scheme (2019). Available at:
https://careers.atkinsglobal.com/aerospace-defence-security-technology-geomatics-geospatial-graduate-scheme-2019 (Accessed: 26/01/19)
Commons Wikimedia (2017) [image] Available at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Atkins-snc-lavalin-logo.svg (Accessed: 26/01/19)
Environment Agency (no date) Working for the EA. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about/recruitment
(Accessed: 26/01/19)
Environment Agency (no date) [image] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/environment-agency/about/recruitment
Esri (no date) [Image] Available at: https://www.esriuk.com/en-gb/what-is-gis/overview (Accessed: 26/01/19)
Frame: GIS (no date) [image] Available at: https://fra.me/gis (Accessed: 26/01/19)
Graduate Prospects (2019) Geographic information systems officer. Available at: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/geographical-information-
systems-officer (Accessed: 26/01/19)