Geospatial Data Manager

Brave; Cirencester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 extra days holiday during December 0

Job summary

Brave in the United Kingdom is seeking a Geospatial Data Manager to own and govern the datasets that power our land data platform. You will lead the data team, ensure data accuracy, freshness and coverage for local plans, land availability and planning layers, and shape how we source, structure and maintain data.

You will work with GIS tools (QGIS/ArcGIS), SQL and Python to process, validate and integrate large geospatial datasets, while communicating data caveats to colleagues and clients.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading data teams in geospatial or land data projects.
• Strong GIS skills with QGIS and/or ArcGIS.
• Proficient SQL for large datasets and data validation.
• Proficient Python (pandas/geopandas) for data processing.
• Knowledge of data licensing (OS, Land Registry) and licensing issues.
• Excellent communication and ownership mindset.

Responsibilities

• Own the data the company provides to clients, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Lead the data team, assign work and maintain standards.
• Develop and maintain datasets (local plans, land availability, planning layers).
• Define validation checks, investigate anomalies and reconcile discrepancies.
• Process, clean, transform geospatial data, handle projections and topology.
• Maintain records of datasets: source, coverage, refresh cadence, last update.
• Manage data pipelines/ETL processes and data licensing considerations.
• Collaborate with software platform development and stakeholders.
• Explain data caveats and methodology to colleagues and clients.

Skills

Geospatial data management

GIS / geospatial concepts

SQL

Python

Data quality assurance

Data pipelines / ETL

AI tools usage (Claude)

Leadership & mentoring

Tools

QGIS

ArcGIS

Job description

• Additional 3 days holiday during company shut down in December between Christmas and the New Year.

The Company:

Our client’s mission is to simplify everything land. With deep roots in land development and a family-run legacy, their expert land development consultants combine generations of expertise with the most reliable and comprehensive land data in the industry that is trusted and used by market leaders. Backed by a dedicated customer success team, they provide innovative tools, trusted insights, and unparalleled service to help achieve their clients land goals.

The role:

The Geospatial Data Manager owns our clients data and leads the data team. The role has one main responsibility.

To develop, maintain and take ownership of the datasets that the company uses to provide its services, and to manage the data team that delivers them. This includes but is not limited to local plan data (allocations), land availability assessments, planning applications and other data the platform needs to supply. You'll be accountable for the day-to-day health of these datasets, knowing what we hold, where it comes from, when it last refreshed and whether it's right and for setting the standard for how that data is sourced, structured and kept current.

Key responsibilities:

• Own the data the company provides to its clients, making sure it is accurate, current and reflected in the platform on schedule as source datasets update.
• Be responsible for adding to current datasets and bringing new datasets into the company's database, and for deciding how they're structured and maintained.
• Define and run validation and quality checks across datasets, investigate anomalies, reconcile discrepancies between sources, and resolve issues, catching problems before customers do.
• Process, clean, transform and join geospatial data (boundaries, parcels, designations, planning layers), handling projections, topology and geometry so layers line up and queries return the right answers.
• Maintain a clear, authoritative record of the datasets we hold - source, coverage, refresh cadence, last update and known limitations, and track where coverage is thin or missing, helping prioritise what to add next.
• Lead and manage the data team - assigning and prioritising work, supporting development and performance, and setting the bar for data standards across the team.
• Help develop the software platform
• Strong GIS / geospatial skills - confident with QGIS and/or ArcGIS and comfortable manipulating spatial data.
• Solid SQL and the ability to query, join and validate large datasets.
• A genuinely meticulous, ownership-minded approach to data quality - you notice when something doesn't add up and you take responsibility for fixing it.
• Good understanding of geospatial concepts: coordinate systems, projections, topology, spatial joins.
• Clear, organised working style; able to set and maintain standards, records and documentation.
• Experience leading or managing others, or a clear readiness to — able to assign work, develop team members and hold a standard.
• Strong communication - able to explain data caveats and methodology to colleagues and clients.
• Use AI tools such as Claude.
• Knowledge of the UK planning and property sector (planning applications, local plans, allocations, SHLAA/HELAA, Land Registry data).
• Scripting for data work - Python (pandas, geopandas) or similar.
• Experience building or maintaining data pipelines / ETL processes.
• Familiarity with data licensing considerations (e.g. OS, Land Registry, public sector data).

Company Behaviours:

• Take Ownership of tasks and do what you say you will do
• Operate with integrity and honesty, being proud of what you do
• Communicate regularly on progress of projects and tasks
• Strive to innovate, learn and develop, both personally and professionally
• Have Fun, creating a positive environment and being a motivating influence
• Respect others, treating them as they would like to be treated