Geospatial Production Manager and Technical Coordinator

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO, UN, EU, and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services, specialised aerospace and defence sales, delivery, and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting 

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATO's member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services, including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATO's communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATO's military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATO's mission to detect, deny, and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATO's information technology infrastructure, including its databases, applications, and servers.

Overall, the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATO's communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATO’s principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides, maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV, and, when required, stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services, in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorise's: NATO International Civilians (NIC)'s, Military (Mil), and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)'s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

Role Background

The JISR Centre’s Vision is to assure information superiority for NATO. Our Mission is to deliver, support and protect valued Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, expertise and services, to maximise operational effectiveness for NATO.

The GeoMetOc Services Branch within the JISR Centre is responsible for the full lifecycle support of the GeoMetOc Application Services and requires a GIS Subject Matter Expert to provide leadership and technical advice for the execution of geospatial production tasks in support of NATO operations.

The role includes the implementation of rapid mapping techniques as well as custom geospatial solutions using advanced programming languages. With a focus on Quality Assurance (QA)/Quality Control (QC) and data management they will ensure the delivery of high-quality GIS products that align with the NATO`s geospatial standards.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of this project is to provide the relevant services for the management and execution of geospatial production tasks consisting of:

• Project coordination and resource management of GIS/cartographic production teams;
• Design and deployment of tailored geospatial solutions utilizing programming languages Perl and C, alongside object-oriented languages such as Python and C++. This also involves the use of OpenCV, GDAL, PDF, libjpeg, zlib libraries, and the suite of libraries available within the SDK ESRI SW environment;
• Development of Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) procedures for GIS and mapping projects;
• Technical leadership for the production/update of Multinational Geospatial Co-Production Program Topographic Maps (MTMs);
• Development and implementation of rapid mapping techniques for the update of NATO Standard mapping series;
• Configuration and customisation of ESRI SW product suite;
• Design, development and implementation of imagery processing workflows;
• Development of add-ins for ArcGIS desktop and geoprocessing tools;
• Quality control of photointerpretation and feature classification upon aerial imagery and ancillary military mapping;
• Quality control of GIS products to agreed standards;
• Documenting GIS workflow at technical level;
• Investigating improvements of quality and procedure;
• Managing data holdings as per guidance;
• Investigating in automation processes;
• Advising supervisor on technical aspects and trends;
• Performing ad-hoc geospatial production support tasks;
• The list of activities may expand as urgent operational requests emerge and qualification of the candidate allows. 

Essential Skills and Experience

• Minimum 5 years’ of proved experience in project coordination and resources management of GIS production teams.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in hands-on configuration and customisation experience of ESRI product suite through relevant projects.
• Minimum 5 years’ professional experience of real world mapping production according to NATO standard series including Joint Operations Ground (JOG) maps, Topographic Line Maps (TLM) and MGCP Topographic Maps (MTMs).
• In-depth technical knowledge of the product specifications for Topographic Line Maps (TLMs) and MGCP Topographic Maps (MTMs).
• Minimum 5 years’ experience on the design and deployment of tailored geospatial solutions utilizing programming languages as Perl and C, alongside object-oriented languages such as Python and C++. This also involves the use of OpenCV, GDAL, PDF, libjpeg, zlib libraries, and the suite of libraries available within the SDK ESRI SW environment.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the design, development and implementation of imagery processing workflows. This includes an in-depth familiarity with commercial satellite imagery formats and specifications.
• Proven experience in the development and implementation of QA/QC for ESRI Data Driven Pages functionality, enhanced with Python scripting, for the creation of complex map books with consistent styling, symbology, grids and graticules as well as layout/legend elements throughout the series, in alignment with the standards adopted by NATO for geospatial production and interoperability.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in the development and implementation of Quality Assurance (QA) as well as Quality Control (QC) procedures applied to the area of GIS map production projects.
• Formal training on MTM production by a recognized geographic mapping agency.
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in the usage of the following ESRI extensions in the context of MTM production and others projects based on MGCP data:
  • Data Reviewer
  • Defense Mapping
  • Production Mapping
  • Spatial Analyst
  • Task Assistant Manager
• Minimum of 2 years’ professional experience in the full implementation of MTM production workflow and QA/QC. The candidate must proof that he/she was responsible for the hands-on implementation/maintenance/troubleshooting of the MTM production workflow and final QC for the produced maps.
• We require proof by a recognized geographic mapping agency that MTMs produced by the candidate were 100% compliant with MTM Data Product Specification
• Proven experience in the development and implementation of QA/QC for colour management systems applied to GIS mapping projects, ensuring consistent colour palettes, ICC profile application and accuracy across digital (RGB) and print formats (CMYK), aligned with the data standards for geospatial data production.
• Proved experience on the development/implementation of "rapid mapping production methodologies" for the update of NATO mapping standard series.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in manipulation and edition of vectorial data using Arc GIS 10 (x) Tools/ArcGIS Pro.
• Minimum 3 years' experience on GIS projects performing photointerpretation and feature classification upon aerial/satellite imagery and ancillary mapping.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience using ArcGIS Server/ArcGIS Image Server for data optimisation, publishing and caching of OGC web services such as WMS and WMTS.
• Proven experience in development of tools using ArcGIS Toolbox and ArcPy.
• Proven experience in understanding of assessing accuracy of High-Resolution geospatial products.
• Proven experience in understanding of raster tile creation based on tiling schemas including the ArcGIS/Google/Bing tiling schema.
• Proven experience in GIS (raster and vector) data handling and versioning.
• Proven experience in GIS database management.
• Proven ability to integrate and work in a multinational team.

Education

• MSc degree in Geospatial or Computer Sciences complemented with a solid career on the Geographic Information Systems field.
• Or exceptionally, the lack of a university degree may be compensated by the demonstration of a candidate’s particular abilities or experience that is/are of interest to NCI Agency, that is, at least 6 years’ extensive and progressive expertise in duties related to the function of the post.

Language Proficiency

• Business English

Working Policy

• Remote

Travel

• Some travel to other NATO sites may be required

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Secret personal security clearance