Head of Geospatial Intelligence (GI)

The Challenge:

Would you like to be at the heart of developing innovative and transformative ideas? Are you interested in being part of a team that identifies how space technology can address UK and global societal challenges? Do you want an Engineering Team Manager position which will make a real difference? If so, you may be who we’re looking for!

We are currently seeking a Head of Geospatial Intelligence to work with our expert staff, delivery managers and business development leads. Working collaboratively, you will manage a team of specialists helping to grow the UK’s use of Earth Observation / space-based remote sensing.

The GI Team supports our matrix-based delivery of programmes and projects. It will:

• Drive new, ambitious ideas for sector growth (“thought leadership”)

• Provide delivery support to clients, helping them to achieve their goals

• Help bring new capabilities to market, for commercial success

 Reporting into our Director of Technical Services, this is a highly networked role that requires an ability to work under pressure and to challenging deadlines. It requires knowledge / skills in team management, leadership and collaboration, and space-related geo-information services. Prior experience of bidding for and shaping relevant projects and services is essential. A commercial mind-set is important.

Location is flexible but regular attendance at our principal offices in Harwell, Oxfordshire, is required. The role may require travel to other offices in the UK, and to international meetings / events.

 Key Responsibilities:

As the Head of the Geospatial Intelligence team, you will …

• Manage & Lead - Create a strong engineering team with accountability, forward planning, clear subject matter expertise and strategy, positive values, professional behaviour and collaborative ways of working.

• Make a difference - Drive growth of the team’s impact for the UK, through ambitious thought-leadership, collaboration, and creating opportunities.

• Meet needs - Ensure availability of staff is well-matched to demand from Catapult projects, bids and other foreseeable activities

• Coordinate – Ensure that SAC is more than the sum of its parts. Support and draw on every function of the Catapult, to achieve best possible impact.

 Skills & Experience required:

•  You will have experience working in remote sensing and/or Geospatial Intelligence.

• Your ideal next role will be to build a skilled team of engineers and have a major impact on the future of the UK space sector

• Know how to build and manage a team of engineering staff, and how to collaboratively interact with other business functions 

• Familiarity with space systems is a strong advantage.

• Communicate well with non-engineers

• The ideal candidate will have a good balance of technical, management and communication skills – and bring practical creativity to the role.

 Behaviours expected:

• Self-starter

• Curiosity

• Continuous Improvement

• Decisive Thinking

• Skilled Influencer

• Collaborative

• Driven to deliver

• Attention to detail

• Flexibility and adaptability

• Courage to challenge

• Passion

• Customer focused with a strong track record of placing customer needs at the heart of decision making

• Strong analysis and problem-solving skills

 Qualifications:

• Relevant to the role

• Do not have to be academic

  You know you have been successful when…

•  You have a busy team of engineers with a strong and growing pipeline of future work

• Your team is recognised as setting the agenda for the future of space-enabled geo-information in the UK and beyond

• Your team is in high demand from other parts of the Catapult

  The purpose of your new team is to support growth and deliverable innovation in the UK space sector. The GI team will work for and with private, public and institutional stakeholders. Its focus is driving the future of Earth Observation.

  How we work:

We strive to create a high trust environment that enables team members to bring their whole selves to work – this helps to create the foundations of an innovation culture. Our shared values are critical to this:

• We care - for our people, our partners, and our planet.

• We connect - and engage with people and ideas.

• We learn - and grow, as people and as an industry

Underpinning this is our belief in great teams, our combined efforts will always deliver outcomes beyond that of any individual providing we are honest through debate, experiment and reflect, and create shared resolutions in support of our purpose. Live these values, work to our principles, take ownership to deliver, and we are certain you will thrive with us.

 Important notice for applicants: We use tools to detect plagiarism and the use of AI or chatbots for applicant answers. If plagiarism, AI use (such as ChatGPT) or similar software are found to have been used in your application you will not be considered for this or future roles within the Satellite Applications Catapult

At Satellite Applications Catapult, we're committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce. We welcome candidates from all corners of the globe, but due to legal and logistical considerations, we want to be transparent about the potential visa-related challenges that could arise. Our ability to offer sponsorship will depend on the level of interest for our roles and salary level.