Data, analysis, digital & policy advisor

This is a new role in a new team set up to implement the recently published Land Use Framework. You will play a critical role in the development of the Defra Land Use Unit including working on spatial data and products and land use policy.

The Land Use Unit will enable Government to make more coherent, strategic decisions about how Englands finite land resource supports nature recovery, climate resilience, food production, water quality and economic growth. At present, land use decisions are often fragmented, with competing objectives pursued in isolation, inconsistent evidence, and no shared spatial framework for understanding trade‑offs or aligning priorities.

The Unit will address these barriers by acting as Governments spatial operating system for land use. By improving the consistency, accessibility and use of spatial evidence, and linking policy with real-world delivery insights, the Unit will strengthen confidence in decision-making. Ultimately, it will help ensure land is used more effectively and sustainably, enabling Government to deliver the Outcomes Framework in a coordinated way.

You will support projects in a new team focused on making land digital, improving access to data and transforming the way decisions are taken about land use in England. You will support management of new research projects focused on the evidence gaps identified in the Land Use Framework.

You will work across Defra Group to collate and enable relevant data and digital reform activity; with external partners to open up access and test data sharing initiatives, and; cross-Government to ensure spatial planning tools are integrated and develop solutions to address gaps in decision tools.

Key responsibilities

• You will support the development to improve access, usability, and interpretation of spatial data and products

• Contribute to identifying evidence gaps in land use and land use change, supporting the development of research priorities

• Work across Defra to collate data inputs and support delivery of data and digital reform activity

• Engage with external partners to support data sharing initiatives, improve access to datasets, and the need for decision support tools

• Support the commissioning and coordination of research activity, ensuring it aligns with policy and evidence needs

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with policy, analytical, and data teams to support delivery

Essential Criteria

• Ability to support delivery of strategic priorities for data access and spatial evidence use, coordinating activity across Government

• Ability to contribute to an overview of analysis, evidence, and policy, bringing together inputs to support work on land use change (including spatial targeting)

• Ability to interpret and apply spatial evidence to support policy development and practical decision-making

• Experience supporting data and digital improvement or reform activity, helping deliver changes to processes or tools

• Experience supporting data-sharing initiatives or cross-government collaboration, building relationships and coordinating inputs