The Conservation GIS Specialist is a full-time position in the Conservancy’s Harrisburg, Pennsylvania office. The position maintains spatial databases and produces engaging maps in support of all Conservancy staff in Pennsylvania, including land protection, stewardship, freshwater, and urban conservation teams.
The Conservation GIS Specialist provides technical support to Conservancy staff in Pennsylvania and develops and maintains databases and maps related to land protection, ecological management, monitoring, freshwater conservation, and urban conservation. S/he performs data analysis, responds to map and data requests, builds web maps, manages and regularly updates conservation datasets and associated metadata, provides hardware and software support, trains staff, and supports field data collection.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Manages, produces, and populates conservation databases.
- Creates engaging maps for a variety of audiences in both traditional and emerging formats, including web map applications.
- Communicates effectively with a diverse group of people, including land stewards, freshwater scientists, urban and community-based conservation staff, and others with varying knowledge of GIS, to obtain and provide needed information in response to map and data requests.
- Assists staff with design and implementation of practical GIS solutions.
- Ensures integrity of data collection and creates metadata and documentation.
- May supervise a small staff of interns and/or volunteers on a project basis.
- May work in variable weather conditions, at remote locations, on difficult and hazardous terrain and under physically demanding circumstances.
- 2 years of related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience maintaining and populating databases and producing reports from databases.
- Experience operating GIS software and producing maps and/or other graphic products and reports.
- Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and web browsers.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 2-3 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Proven aptitude in Esri ArcGIS Desktop 10.x and/or ArcGIS Pro.
- Excellent cartography skills.
- Experience building web maps and publishing data using ArcGIS Online.
- Strong skills in managing and populating databases.
- Ability to manipulate, analyze, and interpret data.
- Experience with field data collection.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Aptitude for managing and prioritizing tasks from multiple sources under deadlines while delivering quality results.
- Excellent communication skills via written, spoken, and graphical means in English.
- Background or interest in information technology and/or cloud-based computing.
- Knowledge of landscape ecology and/or freshwater systems and/or urban conservation.
- Multi-cultural or cross-cultural experiences appreciated.
The Nature Conservancy offers competitive compensation, 401k or savings-plan matching for eligible employees, excellent benefits, flexible work policies and a collaborative work environment. We also provide professional development opportunities and promote from within. As a result, you will find a culture that supports and inspires conservation achievement and personal development, both within the workplace and beyond.