IC-ENC Senior Data Validator

Details
Reference number

439364

Salary

£38,173

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

B2

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

UKHO - Data Acquisition

Type of role

Analytical

Digital

Geography

Knowledge and Information Management

Quality

Other

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Taunton

About the job
Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Data Validator to join our International Validation Team – part of the International Centre for Electronic Navigational Charts (IC-ENC).

This role offers the chance to work within a dynamic, globally connected team that collaborates closely with our regional offices in Australia, Brazil, Nigeria, and the United States. The Data Validation team is responsible for the quality assurance of electronic navigational charts (ENCs) (our digital maritime products) produced by 54 organisations worldwide. You'll have the chance to get involved in a variety of activities and contribute to the delivery of training, if this is something you are interested in.

To support growing demand and maintain our capacity, we are expanding our UK-based team with new Data Validation roles. This role is for one of the Senior Data Validators. Please keep an eye out for other roles in IC-ENC.

Want to know what the role is like day-to-day? Check out our blog post where one of our Validators shares their experience blog post.

Hybrid working

This job role can be worked on a hybrid basis, which is an informal, non-contractual and voluntary arrangement, blending a balance between working at the Taunton office with working from home. It is anticipated that the successful candidate would work from the Taunton office 2-3 days a week dependant on business need.

Initial training will be in the office, after which hybrid working will be available. There are some tasks within the team that require the post holder to be in the office, which is managed through a team rota.

The Senior Data Validator role covers training and support to the wider validation team, office working is encouraged for collaboration with team members.

This role is full time but 30 hours per week might be considered.

Job description

The Senior Data Validator role plays a key role in ensuring our global folio of ENCs meets international standards . This is a unique opportunity to work with colleagues across the globe, improve the quality of digital charts, and contribute to the future of maritime data products. Working closely with Data Validators, this role includes additional responsibilities such as co-delivering internal training, supporting the international supporting the international validation team, contributing to continuous improvement initiatives, and acting as a key voice for the validation team.

You'll also have the chance to get involved in a variety of activities, including delivering training if that interests you.

As a Senior Data Validator within the international validation team, your key tasks will be:

Validation Work:

• Carry out data checks as instructed by the Data Manager, following IC-ENC procedures and timelines.
• Help the validation team with more complex checks when needed.

Quality Control:

• Oversee the quality of validation work done across different locations. Review validation results to make sure the service is consistent and on time.
• Work closely with the Data Manager to investigate any issues, find out what caused them, and take steps to stop them from happening again.

Team Leader Duties (when needed):

• Step in for the Data Manager to:
• Organise and manage the daily work of the validation team, making sure goals are met and tasks are prioritised.
• Communicate with IC-ENC member organisations and help solve any problems to keep data flowing smoothly.
• Carry out data release processes.

Additionally, the role will support the Data Manager and wider Management Team in:

Improvement Activities:

• Help improve how the validation team works by working with the Technical Team and the IC-ENC Product Delivery Office (PDO). Act as the link between teams to make sure improvements are delivered.

Training:

• Support internal training for the validation team. Also support external training events, host visits from member organisations, and help with secondments

Documentation:

• Keep IC-ENC policies and procedures up to date to support validation, data release, and production support services.

Quality Certification:

• Help maintain IC-ENC's ISO9001 certification by carrying out audits across the global team.

Person specification

All required training will be provided so what's most important is having an enthusiasm for quality, service delivery and a desire for true connection to Hydrographic Offices around the world.

Essential:

• A detailed understanding of ENC Standards (S-52, S-58, S-57) and their interaction on ENC quality and usability.
• An understanding of ENC quality assurance processes, tools and techniques, in particular working knowledge of the dKart Inspector and ENC Analyzer validation tools.
• An understanding of ECDIS and the appropriate IHO and IMO standards.
• Familiarity with hydrographic charting and navigational practices.
• Excellent analytical skills
• Good planning and organisational skills, able to work well with minimum supervision.
• Excellent written and spoken English, with natural ability for conveying complex technical messages simply and succinctly.
• Ability to get on with external contacts and to communicate with them clearly and diplomatically.

Desirable:

• A detailed understanding of quality management systems, processes, concepts, methodology and implementation, in particularly ISO9001 certification.
• Experience of Customer Relationship Management tools, in particular Microsoft Dynamics
• Understanding of Continual Improvement processes and experience working in an agile environment
• Foreign language skills, particularly Spanish

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Good understanding of data quality assurance requirement and procedures (assessed by presentation)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £38,173, UK Hydrographic Office contributes £11,058 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

At the UK Hydrographic Office, it's very important to us that our people feel valued.

We offer a huge range of benefits such as training and development, well-being support, flexible/ homeworking, a fantastic state of the art building, high spec equipment, and so much more.

See our attached Candidate Information Pack for more details.

Things you need to know
Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply:

You will be asked to attach your anonymised CV along with a 500 words supporting statement on the experience criteria below.

Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Timeline:

• Advert Closes for applications: 4th January 2026
• Shortlisting: w/c 12th January 2026
• Interviews: w/c 26th January 2026

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

Pre-sift Criteria:

• Do you have a qualification or equivalent experience in a geospatial or related discipline (GIS – Geographic Information Systems, Geography, IHO CAT B course completion. This information will be taken from your CV.

Please note if you not hold this qualification, your application will not be taken through to the sift stage as set out below.

Sift/Shortlist Criteria:

All applications are processed anonymously. You will be short-listed against the following criteria:

• Good understanding of Data Quality Assurance requirements (lead criteria)
• Relevant experience in geospatial related disciplines
• Experience and training in geospatial software tools and data.

The above criteria needs to be covered in your 500 word supporting statement.

Interview Criteria:

You will be interviewed against the following criteria:

Technical:

• Good understanding of data quality assurance requirement and procedures (assessed by presentation) (lead criteria).

Civil Service Behaviours (HEO level):

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service

See here for further information: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours )

Process:

• Single Stage MS TEAMS interview. You will be contacted to book a suitable slot if you are shortlisted (see our Candidate Pack for further information)
• Interview will be with a panel of 3 people and will last approximately 60 minutes. You will be required to give a 10 minute presentation. More details will be given in the Invitation to Interview email.

Onboarding Checks:

In the event you are offered a role with us, you will be required to go through Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks which will include Employment and Right to Work Checks. Please see our attached Candidate Pack for further details and Terms.

BPSS – non reserved

This is a Ministry of Defence non-reserved post and is open to UK, British Commonwealth, and European Economic Area nationals. Successful applicants will be required to pass the Basic Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and will therefore need to provide evidence if they have resided outside of the UK for a period of 6 months or longer within the last 3 years. This is not a bar to employment, but a successful applicant will be required to provide sufficient evidence to allow the UKHO to conduct meaningful background checks. Please contact the recruitment team on the email address below if you have any concerns regarding this.

Eligibility

Due to the secure nature of our work, there may be eligibility restrictions if you hold dual nationality or are not a British Citizen. We will consider each application on a case-by-case basis. We will ask you in our application form to confirm your place of birth and details of any dual or previous nationalities.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :

• Name :
• Email :

Recruitment team

• Email :

Further information

Further Information

The Department's recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: or view more details

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