GIS Application Service Lead

Southern Water; Brighton; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Water is seeking an experienced GIS Application Service Lead to oversee the reliablity and continuous improvement of our GIS platforms, combining technical expertise with service leadership. You will manage incident, problem and change processes while acting as a hands-on SME for Esri GIS technologies.

As a senior lead, you will drive delivery across ArcGIS Enterprise, Portal/Server, and related tools, coordinating with stakeholders and suppliers to keep GIS services secure, available,

Qualifications

• Experience supporting and administering enterprise GIS platforms, especially Esri ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online.
• Proficiency with ArcGIS Enterprise components (Portal/Server/Geodatabases) and ArcGIS Pro.
• Experience with ArcGIS Workflow Manager and ArcGIS Field Maps.
• At least one ITIL qualification.
• Experience with Incident, Problem, Change and Service Request Management.
• Leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent communication and prioritisation in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operational support for GIS platforms and related technologies.
• Oversee Incident, Problem, Change and Service Request Management processes.
• Own Problem Management and drive root cause analysis to permanent resolution.
• Serve as primary escalation point for major incidents affecting GIS platforms.
• Monitor performance and identify risks and improvement opportunities.
• Maintain platform documentation, runbooks, and controls.
• Ensure GIS applications comply with security and data protection requirements.
• Provide hands-on administration for GIS apps, databases, and integrations.
• Deliver small changes and automation to improve stability and efficiency.
• Foster relationships with stakeholders, suppliers and external vendors.
• Coach and develop GIS specialists and end users.
• Support business continuity and disaster recovery planning and testing.
• Produce reporting and governance insights to support continual improvement.
• Ensure out-of-hours coverage and contribute to project delivery as needed.

Skills

ArcGIS Enterprise

ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS Pro

ArcGIS Workflow Manager

ArcGIS Field Maps

Incident/Problem/Change Management

Leadership experience

Stakeholder management

Clear communication

Tools

ArcGIS Dashboards

Experience Builder

Web AppBuilder

FME workflows

Job description

Closing Date

2026-09-07

GIS Application Service Lead

Location: Falmer, Brighton - Hybrid working (2 days a week in office)

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: Full Time

Salary: around £65,000 depending on experience

On-Call Requirement: Participation in an out-of-hours support rota

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced GIS Application Service Lead to join our GIS Platform team. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring the operational stability, support, performance, and continuous improvement of our GIS applications and associated technologies.

As a senior member of the team, you'll lead the delivery of high-quality application support services across a portfolio of GIS platforms that underpin wholesale customer journeys, partner integrations, and critical business operations. Combining technical expertise with service leadership, you'll oversee incident, problem, and change management processes while acting as a hands‑on subject matter expert for Esri GIS technologies.

Working closely with technology teams, business stakeholders, and third‑party suppliers, you'll ensure GIS services remain secure, reliable, well‑governed, and optimised to meet operational and customer needs. You'll also play a key role in driving continuous improvement initiatives and supporting the successful delivery of small‑scale projects and service enhancements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead day-to-day operational support for GIS platforms and associated technologies, ensuring service levels and availability targets are consistently achieved.
• Coordinate and oversee Incident, Problem, Change, and Service Request Management processes, ensuring effective prioritisation, communication, and timely resolution.
• Own Problem Management activities, driving root cause analysis and the progression from incident identification through to permanent resolution.
• Act as the primary escalation point for major incidents and service issues affecting GIS platforms and applications.
• Monitor platform and application performance, proactively identifying risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
• Maintain platform documentation, support procedures, runbooks, and audit‑ready controls in line with departmental standards.
• Ensure GIS applications, integrations, and support processes comply with security, regulatory, and data protection requirements.
• Provide hands‑on administration and technical support for GIS applications, databases, integrations, and related technologies.
• Deliver small changes, service improvements, automation initiatives, and integration enhancements to improve stability and efficiency.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders, suppliers, and external vendors.
• Support and develop GIS specialists and end users through coaching, knowledge sharing, and training.
• Participate in business continuity and disaster recovery planning, testing, and execution.
• Produce reporting, documentation, estimates, and service insights to support governance and continual improvement activities.
• Ensure appropriate out-of-hours support coverage and operational readiness across the GIS support function.
• Support project delivery activities and undertake additional responsibilities as required to meet team objectives.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills & Experience

• Strong hands‑on experience supporting and administering enterprise GIS platforms, particularly within the Esri ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online environments, including:
• ArcGIS Enterprise (Portal, Server and Enterprise Geodatabases)
• ArcGIS Pro
• ArcGIS Workflow Manager
• ArcGIS Field Maps
• At least one recognised ITIL qualification.
• Practical experience of Incident, Problem, Change, and Service Request Management processes.
• Leadership experience within a matrix management environment.
• Proven ability to lead, coordinate, and develop high‑performing technical and support teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to communicate complex GIS and technical issues clearly to both technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, particularly in fast‑paced operational environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• A proactive, self‑motivated approach with a focus on service excellence and continuous improvement.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience within the Water and Wastewater sector, particularly in regulated or asset‑intensive environments.
• Experience supporting Esri web and mobile applications, including:
• ArcGIS Field Maps
• ArcGIS Dashboards
• Survey123
• Experience Builder
• Web AppBuilder
• Experience delivering support services for asset management, operational, or enterprise systems integrated with GIS.
• Experience supporting spatial integrations and FME-based data workflows.
• Knowledge of mobile workforce solutions and field-based technologies.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a leading role in the support and development of a critical GIS platform that enables operational decision‑making, asset management, and customer service delivery across the business.

You’ll work with modern GIS technologies, collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders, and have the opportunity to influence how GIS services evolve through operational excellence, continuous improvement, and innovation.

If you’re a technically strong GIS professional with a passion for service delivery, leadership, and continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional Information

In line with Southern Water's security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre‑employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.