Forest Resiliency GIS Analyst w/ Washington Dept of Natural Resources

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/3447030/forest-resiliency-gis-analyst-data-consultant-3?department[0]=Dept.%20of%20Natural%20Resources&sort=PostingDate%7CDescending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

Forest Resiliency GIS Analyst, Data Consultant 3
Recruitment #2022-3-7986
This is a Full-time, Permanent, Represented position.
Location: Olympia, WA.

Want to join something GREAT and make a difference?
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has an exciting opportunity within our Forest Resilience Division’s IT and Data Management program.  Are you someone who loves utilizing data, analyses, and information technology tools to inform solutions to natural resource challenges?  If you value Washington’s forests from the mountaintops to our urban centers and you have a passion for data and GIS, then this job is for you!  The DNR’s Forest Resilience Division is seeking a motivated individual to join our IT & Data Management team to support our statewide work on forests across all-land ownerships with a particular focus on urban forestry.

This position serves as a member of the IT and Data Management Team within Forest Resilience Division’s Planning, Science, and Monitoring Section responsible for collecting, stewarding, analyzing, interpreting, and consulting on data, processes, and systems across all-land ownerships in Washington to inform the development, implementation, monitoring, and revision of strategies including the Forest Action Plan, 20-Year Forest Health Strategic Plan: Eastern Washington, and Washington Wildland Fire Protection Strategic Plan, as well as legislative requirements.

This position will primarily provide GIS data stewardship, analysis, and technical assistance for the Urban and Community Forestry Program. This highly collaborative role includes serving as a lead consultant to program staff and project teams in urban forestry data stewardship and analysis to provide empirically grounded and feasible recommendations. In collaboration with program staff, this position will identify priorities for delivery of UCF Program services through review of datasets on tree canopy analysis, environmental health disparities, salmon and orca recovery, DNR forest health strategic plans, and other data as needed. The position will conduct research and analyze the needs and opportunities related to urban forestry data in Washington by assessing tree canopy cover and urban forestry inventory data, while leading project teams to utilize existing recent tree canopy study and inventory data when available. The position will make recommendations on when to add additional canopy analysis and inventories in regions where adequate data is not available. Finally, in collaboration with program staff and local governments the position will identify spatial priorities for implementation of urban forestry programs determined through the use and review of analyses and tools including canopy analysis and inventory, environmental health disparities mapping tools identifying highly impacted communities, salmon and orca recovery data, DNR forest health strategic plans, and other data as needed.

This position will contribute to program specific communications products through tools such as ArcGIS story maps and web applications and facilitate field data collection to contribute towards planning and monitoring of forest resiliency investments. The position will integrate urban forestry GIS data into the Forest Health Tracking System and investment reporting tools and support other Forest Resiliency programs with data collection, maintenance, and reporting.

This position will provide innovative ideas to meet the growing needs of the new Forest Resilience Division’s business and information technology operations including support for planning, science, monitoring, and implementation of forest health and resiliency actions that DNR leads, contributes to, or promotes. This position may supervise contracts for IT and business improvement services.

Duties
Responsibilities:

• Serves as lead data analyst for all Urban and Community Forestry Program GIS data within the broader Forest Resilience data management system.
• Collects and stewards all Urban Forestry relevant ecological, social, cultural, and operational data sets within the Forest Resilience data management system provided in multiple formats including tabular, spatial, feature services and other repositories, and field collected data.
• Maintains storage and organization of all data created end products including but not limited to maps, data syntheses, and tree inventories for reference.
• Tracks statewide urban forestry data including coordination internally and with local governments to collect, develop, and maintain updated urban forestry data sets for municipalities including statewide urban canopy analysis and tree inventory as required by House Bill 1216. Conduct research and analyze the needs and opportunities related to urban forestry data in Washington by assessing tree canopy cover and urban forestry inventory data, while leading project teams to utilize existing recent tree canopy study and inventory data when available. Make recommendations on when to add additional canopy analysis and inventories in regions where adequate data is outdated or lacking.
• Uploads Urban Forestry forest health projects into DNR’s Forest Health Tracker, integrating spatial and project information with financial datasets.
• In collaboration and support with program staff and local governments, identify spatial priorities for implementation of urban forestry programs determined through the use and review of analyses and tools including canopy analysis and inventory, environmental health disparities mapping tools identifying highly impacted communities, salmon and orca recovery data, DNR forest health strategic plans, and other data as needed.
• Develops map and communication products for UCF program including static maps (PDF, image, etc.), ArcGIS StoryMaps, web applications, and others as requested.
• Provides technical advice, assistance, and analysis of Urban Forestry data.
• Supports Forest Resilience Division GIS and data analytical needs.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications: 

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program including college level courses in organizational administration, statistics, GIS, data analytics, and natural resources management, forestry, or biology.
• At least 2 years of experience with GIS applications, ArcGIS Online, and related field data collection mobile applications (i.e. Field Maps, Survey123, Collector, and Explorer).
• Experience writing custom ESRI ArcGIS-based Python scripts.
• Experience with remote sensing and advanced technologies such as LiDAR, etc.
• Strong working knowledge of forest health and resiliency principles, including major natural disturbances (i.e. wildfire, insect and disease) and Urban Forestry best practices.
• Demonstrated abilities of effective communication:
  • History of effective oral and written communications and can convey messages clearly and persuasively.
  • Skill in presenting data and analyses, writing objective reports requiring a minimum of reviewing and editing.
  • Write effective technical reports and scientific papers, including a record of publishing peer-reviewed research papers and reports as well as presentations of research at scientific meetings.
• Proficient with computers, Microsoft Office applications, and SharePoint.
• Organizational management - has a strong understanding and ability to organize efficiently and the ability to develop or use systems for tracking implementation and accomplishments of several complex projects.
• Highly motivated toward accomplishing set goals.
• Works well and has acceptance, cooperation, and mutual regard with colleagues, public, external stakeholders, other governmental agencies, and other service providers.
• Strong knowledge and experience with ArcGIS (ArcPro) and related software to map and analyze natural resources.
• Work will primarily be in an office setting, with semi-frequent work in the field conducting forest health monitoring and trainings.
• The incumbent in this position is required to travel.
• DNR Core Competencies: 
  • Personal Accountability 
  • Value Others 
  • Compassionate Communication 
  • Inspire Others 
  • Commitment to Excellence 
• Employees of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. This position is based in an office/fieldwork and requires in-person attendance/interactions with no option for full-time telework. Please note that any offer of employment is contingent upon you providing verification of your vaccine status. No start date will be approved until you verify your status.

Our ideal candidate will also have the qualifications listed below:

• Experience in forest health and resiliency data collection and consultation.
• Basic IT skills, including web application development, and willingness to learn.
• Two years of urban forestry experience resulting in highly developed urban forestry technical knowledge and skills in tree identification, diagnostics, tree inventory, natural area management, and industry-accepted best practices.
• Two years of direct experience working with Forest Inventory Analysis (FIA) or Urban Forest Inventory Analysis (UFIA) data collection protocols.
• Highly developed understanding of ecosystem services and how ecosystem services are measured, analyzed, and reported.
• Experience working with underserved or historically marginalized residents, neighborhoods or communities; firm understanding of social and environmental justice issues.
• Working knowledge of datasets showing environmental health disparities that can help to identify highly impacted communities.
• Experience overseeing contracts and managing project teams.