Specialist Technician (Demographic Data) WR)

Opportunity: Specialist Technician - Population Data & Geospatial Analysis

Embark on a rewarding career path with the world-renowned WorldPop Group at the University of Southampton, a globally recognized institution consistently ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide (QS World Rankings 2021). WorldPop is an award-winning, multi-disciplinary team of researchers, technicians, and project specialists dedicated to producing high-resolution data on population distributions and characteristics. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful global research.

We are seeking a highly motivated Specialist Technician to play a pivotal role in sourcing, processing, organizing, and analyzing subnational demographic data and their associated digital boundaries. Your work will directly support WorldPop's production of global gridded population datasets, achieved through the spatial disaggregation of data from diverse sources. With new 2015-2030 gridded estimates now produced, WorldPop is evolving towards more frequent dataset updates. This exciting transition requires an individual with a strong grasp of demographic data, exceptional data management skills, and ideally, experience with administrative boundary data in GIS. This role presents an excellent chance to lead critical data assembly, harmonization, and organization efforts.

Key Advantages for Your Career:

• Impactful Global Research: Contribute to projects that inform UN agencies, governments, and researchers worldwide, impacting global development and understanding.
• Professional Development: As a signatory of the Technician Commitment, the University of Southampton is deeply invested in supporting technical staff. You will benefit from extensive opportunities including networking, mentoring, training, professional registration, and dedicated career development pathways.
• Collaborative Environment: Become part of a vibrant technical community within the University of Southampton, offering strong support and guidance.
• Research Contribution: Opportunities exist to contribute to high-quality publications and present your findings at national and international conferences, enhancing your visibility and academic profile.
• Diverse Project Exposure: Work across various WorldPop projects, providing a broad range of experiences and exposure to different research methodologies and partnerships.
• Attractive Benefits Package: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous annual leave (30 days plus 6 university closure days and public holidays), flexible working arrangements, a valuable pension scheme (USS), subsidized health and fitness facilities, and employee discounts.

Key Considerations for Candidates:

• Data Expertise: A solid understanding of demographic data and its nuances is crucial. Experience in data cleaning, validation, and harmonization will be highly valued.
• Technical Skills: Strong data management skills are essential. Proficiency in GIS software and experience working with administrative boundary data will be a significant advantage.
• Analytical Mindset: The ability to analyze spatial and demographic data to produce meaningful insights is key to success in this role.
• Commitment to Accuracy: Given the global nature and importance of the data produced, meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to data accuracy are paramount.
• Project Leadership: This role offers leadership opportunities in managing specific data workflows and contributing to project direction.

This fixed-term position offers a significant opportunity to advance your career in a dynamic and globally respected research environment. For a comprehensive understanding of the role's specific tasks and responsibilities, please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification.