GIS Specialist
Job Description
About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: GIS Specialist opportunity
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
The IT team at the Canal & River Trust delivers key digital solutions that keep our charity running smoothly. We look after our core systems and devices, support colleagues across the organisation, and help us adopt secure, modern technology to improve how we work.
The IT Solutions team at Canal & River Trust supports the charity’s mission to keep 2,000 miles of waterways open and working by delivering reliable, secure, and user focused technology. They design, build, and maintain the Trust’s digital systems and applications, helping colleagues manage assets, plan and deliver maintenance, analyse data, and work efficiently across a geographically dispersed network. From core business systems and data platforms to mobile tools used in the field, the team plays a key role in improving decision making, enabling modern ways of working, and ensuring technology supports both day‑to‑day operations and long‑term transformation of the waterways.
As a GIS Specialist, and you will be working closely with members of our IT team to provide end users with spatial and location-based information that is relevant, accurate and up to date; vital to strategic IT aims of stability, resilience, and performance at the Trust.
Working Hours & Location
This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. This role is based working from home, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces from time to time for team working and collaborative meetings.
It is important that you can reasonably commute to one of our main hubs below. The regularity & flexibility of travel will be discussed further at interview stage.
Relevant Hubs: Leeds, Newark, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Birmingham, Gloucester.
Role Overview
This role combines the day-to-day management of our cloud based GIS systems with shaping their future direction. You’ll ensure the stability, resilience and performance of existing GIS services while leading innovation and helping deliver the Trust’s GIS solutions roadmap. Using the latest Esri platform, you’ll develop integrations with core IT systems (including CRM, ERP and Microsoft tools), apply creative problem‑solving to spatial challenges, and work collaboratively across teams in a varied and fast‑moving environment; where no two weeks are the same.
Key Responsibilities
- To manage the Trusts spatial data holdings. Ensuring it is up to date, relevant, has accurate metadata and is covered by the correct copyright and be the point of contact for internal and external enquiries.
- To proactively research, identify and implement improvements in spatial data management. Provide advice on data sources and suitability of use.
- To manage and develop the Trust’s instance of ArcGIS Online, ensuring standards and processes are adhered to.
- To work with the IT Operations team to maintain systems and their performance.
- To manage the resolution of helpdesk incidents and assist with recognising patterns and correlations of issues to increase the utilisation, knowledge and skills for GIS.
- To work collaboratively to scope and define the required solutions, present various options for consideration, and work with the business to agree the most appropriate option.
- To develop solutions as appropriate, which are aligned to the Trust’s strategic priorities and to strive for innovation and continuous improvement and document these in line with agreed ways of working and best practice.
- To proactively research and progress future GIS opportunities for consideration and inclusion on the roadmap.
- Promote the use and development of spatial information throughout the Trust.
- Develop integrations with other business solutions as necessary, undertaking quality assurance and facilitating data creation/editing in line with standards/procedures.
About You
Skills & Qualifications
Qualifications (Desirable):
- Degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
- Postgraduate qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. MSc GIS).
- Chartered or professionally qualified status.
Technical Skills:
- Broad experience applying GIS principles across multiple disciplines within a business environment.
- Proven experience with ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise, and ArcGIS Field Apps.
- Strong knowledge and practical experience of Python scripting, including use within the Esri environment.
- Experience using data extraction and manipulation tools (e.g. FME) and working with geospatial database systems.
- Knowledge and experience in applying complex spatial and analytical techniques.
- Ability to clearly communicate technical findings to non‑technical audiences.
General Skills:
- Proven experience of working on projects, with a sound understanding of project methodologies and techniques.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, supporting workflow and process development.
- Good general ICT awareness and computer literacy, including experience of business systems and applications such as SAP and the Microsoft Office suite.
- Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Evidence of continuous professional development (CPD).
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of c.£35,000, we also offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
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Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us