GIS Specialist w/Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority (CA)

Closing date: 2022-05-23
Position: GIS Specialist
Organization: Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority
Country: United States
State: California
Contact: Elizabeth Loretto
Contact Email: eloretto@openspaceauthority.org

Description
The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority seeks a GIS Specialist to facilitate all aspects of the agency’s GIS program to support the agency’s mission and strategic objectives through the completion of analysis and mapping to meet the needs of departments and programs across the agency.

The Ideal Candidate

As a member of the Planning Department, the GIS Specialist will support a variety of Authority projects and programs by providing GIS system maintenance and program administration, data development and curation for internal and external partners, integration across the agency, and mapping services to create clear and compelling maps. As a cross-departmental and adaptable team player, you will excel in this position using your general knowledge of open space planning and environmental issues, and advanced skills with ArcGIS applications, data management, spatial analysis, and cartography in support of the Authority’s broad mission.

Your attention to detail will be critical when developing and managing spatial databases, applications, protocols, and models at the Authority. You are driven by knowledge and understanding and will proactively seek to ensure that the Authority is effectively leveraging GIS to achieve its mission. The Authority will support your participation in local and regional groups that further GIS data collection and development through innovative approaches and collaboration.

You are a team player and will thrive when providing excellent GIS support to key Authority programs such as real property, conservation initiatives, capital improvement planning, field operations, natural resources, communications, and administration. Your flexibility and proactive thinking will be essential when working on dynamic projects in our fast-paced and mission driven environment.

Please review the complete position classification here: https://bit.ly/3vI09gx

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

- Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in GIS, Computer Science, Geography, Natural Resource Management, Urban Planning, or related field; and
- Four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in the management and administration of a Geographic Information System.
- Advanced knowledge of ArcGIS software products (especially ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online).
- Demonstrated experience with spatial analysis, database management and cartography.
- Applied knowledge of python, SQL, Arcade, or Java programming languages is desirable.
- GIS Certificate is desirable.
- Additional experience with the Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Suite.
- This position is required to take and pass a pre-employment background check.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this full-time, non-exempt position is $45.79 to $55.65 hourly, depending on experience and qualifications. To complement this salary, we offer a robust benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their dependents – we cover 100% of the cost for these premiums. We participate in CalPERS retirement programs as well as offering a separate 457 Plan for tax deferred retirement savings. A basic life insurance policy is provided to all eligible employees with the option to purchase additional personal insurance benefits.

Application and Selection

All application materials must be received prior to May 23, 2022, at 5:00 PM. To be considered for this opportunity, submit your application materials including cover letter and a self-prepared resume at the application link provided below. The Open Space Authority utilizes a robust process that will ask qualified candidates to engage in multiple steps leading up to a final panel interview. We encourage applicants to closely monitor email communication from the Authority’s hiring team. Final panel interviews are tentatively set for June 14, 2022.


About Organization
Our mission is to conserve the natural environment, support agriculture and connect people to nature by protecting open spaces, natural areas, and working farms and ranches for future generations. We have protected 28,000 acres of natural and agricultural lands in Santa Clara County. Our agency operates a network of open space lands to manage and conserve natural resources and provide compatible opportunities for hiking, biking, and equestrian uses, with a focus on increasing equity of access to the outdoors for all our constituents.

We know our continued success depends on our employees and the work they do. We are committed to providing a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages growth and development; and acknowledges individual and team achievements.

Workplace Culture Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority

The staff of the Open Space Authority are passionate about conservation and driven to make an impact in the community through their work. Everyone brings a unique skillset to their role and the creative collaboration of all staff maximizes talent to realize the Authority's mission. We have established values and defined supporting behaviors that are shared and demonstrated by every employee at the Authority. Together all of these reflect the culture that makes the Authority the high performing agency that it is. We are Intentional, Respectful, Accountable, Empowering, Innovative, Collaborative, and Inclusive. You can learn more about the staff of the Authority and how everyone works together on our website here.

The Open Space Authority envisions the Santa Clara Valley as a region dense with beautiful natural areas, where a vibrant network of interconnected open spaces, trails, wildlife habitats, and thriving agricultural lands enrich our communities. Learn more about how the Authority tackles these goals.

The Authority values Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Access in our work to preserve the natural environment, support agriculture, and connect people to nature:

- We have Accessible, Collaborative, and Accountable processes to engage the diverse communities we serve in our programs, projects, careers, and governance opportunities.
- We have Respect for the land and all people in our community.
- We are Inclusive and acknowledge current and historic land stewards.
- We Empower future generations of conservation leaders.
- We invite everyone to join and connect to nature with us.