Government Geography Profession - Professional Benefits
The profession offers up-to-date information on what's going on, opportunities for professional growth and ways of linking with wider networks of geographers.
The Government Geography Profession was formed in 2018 and is growing quickly. There are plenty of benefits to joining the profession, varying from annual awards and conferences to the chance to support professional outreach with schools and universities. Our profession provides the opportunity to connect with other geography professionals within government and share skills, experiences and expertise.
This platform serves to help shape and guide a career in geography, providing an ever-expanding network of geography professionals. Joining us means being part of a respected and recognised profession within the public sector and an inclusive and welcoming community of professionals with the opportunity to get involved and shape the future direction of our discipline.
Having a network of like-minded individuals working within the public and private sector provides the chance to increase awareness of the value of geographic thinking in the design and delivery of the policies across the public sector.
Updates and Opportunities
Monthly Newsletter
The profession sends an email newsletter to disseminate content that members and external organisations have asked to circulate. This includes information on upcoming events hosted by the profession or supporting organisations (the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), Association for Geographic Information, the Geographical Association). After joining the profession and providing your email details, you’ll receive the monthly newsletter.
Online Slack Community
The profession’s online Slack channel is a useful place to interact with other geography professionals and keep up-to-date with the latest news and events. Please note that new members will have to create an account using their departmental or organisational email.
Careers
Job Opportunities
The Geography Profession provides members with the latest information about job postings related to geographical roles. Current postings can be found within the Slack channel and in the monthly newsletter. For information on Government analytical jobs, please review the resources available.
Professional Framework
The profession has worked with the Government Analysis Function to recognise geography job roles within the function’s career framework: Geographic Analyst; Geographic Advisor and Geographic Information Specialist in addition to the two wider roles which reflect the diversity of what we do as a profession, multi-disciplinary geographers and affiliate geographers.
Geographers in the public sector undertake a wider range of roles than those captured in Government Analysis Function’s career framework and the profession will continue to recognise and support members across the full breadth of roles that we undertake.
Events & Recognition
The profession organises a number of events to support our members from monthly webinars to an annual conference (see our events page). The profession also runs prestigious annual awards in collaboration with the Royal Geographical Society to recognise and celebrate the contribution of geographers across the public sector.
Outreach
External Outreach and Supporting Organisations
There are different schemes to undertake outreach activities to inspire the next generation of geographers, like the RGS Ambassadors programme or Esri’s GeoMentor scheme. The profession has worked with the RGS to support our members by providing material to use at outreach events. This provides our members with the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise to young and aspiring students, some of whom will go on to forge interesting and rewarding careers in the public sector.
We are also supported by other professional organisations such as the Association for Geographical Information and the Geographical Association. Through them, we receive invitations to member only events and access to exclusive network opportunities.
Future Benefits
We are working within the profession, as well as with the Analysis Function, the Geospatial Commission and professional partners, on building our offer for our members, which includes a mentoring scheme, support with professional certifications and cross-departmental development opportunities.
Join us
If you are a civil, crown or public servant, and a geographer, find out more about our benefits and how to join us.
If you’re not a civil, crown or public servant, but would be interested in a role within one of our organisations and becoming part of the Government Geography Profession, please see our Jobs in Government page for more information.
Contact us
For more information please contact us on GovHeadGeog@defra.gov.uk