Geospatial Analyst w/ Chesapeake Conservancy

https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/340290

Geospatial Analyst
Temporary WFH due to COVID-19 • Annapolis, MD

Description
Chesapeake Conservancy is seeking a full-time Geospatial Analyst to support conservation and restoration projects. This position will begin remotely but the candidate will ultimately be expected to report to our office in Annapolis, MD.

ABOUT THE CONSERVANCY
Chesapeake Conservancy is a nonprofit organization based in Annapolis, Maryland, dedicated to ensuring a healthier Chesapeake Bay watershed where fish and wildlife thrive, with healthy waters and abundant forests, wetlands, shorelines, and open spaces. With the human population in the Chesapeake Bay watershed approaching 18 million and growing, and with tens of thousands of acres of open space vanishing each year, the Conservancy works to connect people with the Chesapeake’s wildlife and history; conserve landscapes and rivers; and restore the region’s natural resources. The Conservancy works in close partnership with the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as other federal, state, and local agencies, private foundations, and corporations to advance conservation.

Within the Conservancy, the Conservation Innovation Center (CIC) is redefining information systems for conservation, both within the Bay watershed and beyond. In the past few years, the CIC has become a globally recognized leader in producing data, analyses, and web applications to advance precision conservation and restoration. We have partnered with governmental groups like the Chesapeake Bay Program and industry-leading organizations like Microsoft and Esri to deliver more precise data for achieving conservation outcomes, and our work is helping to define the next generation of environmental information.

POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Geospatial Analyst will be responsible for supporting a wide range of conservation and restoration projects. Types of projects include producing land cover and stream channels in high resolution, researching advances in academic and professional literature, prioritizing restoration efforts of stakeholder groups, producing compelling visuals such as maps and tables, and developing map based web tools. 

Essential functions include:
1. Engaging with partners to deliver solutions. While project managers will oversee the large details of contracts, the analyst will be accountable for specific deliverables. As such, the individual must interact with clients to understand issues and customize solutions. 

2. Working independently to learn new skills and to solve problems and errors. Much of the Conservancy’s work involves finding unique, customized solutions to partners’ challenges. Errors and unknowns will be encountered, and the successful analyst will take initiative to innovate new techniques as well as more effective solutions to repetitive problems.

3. Adhering to deadlines. Candidates must be able to self-monitor workflow, prioritize assigned tasks, and identify as well as address risks to his/her projected timeline.

4. Collaborating with team members and project managers. Candidates must be able to gracefully and tactfully navigate team dynamics. This includes engaging peers and supervisors in problem-solving and constructive feedback. Additionally, the Conservancy’s GIS team is a highly collaborative and innovative group. Ideal candidates will be expected to participate in brainstorming and discussions. 

5. Obtaining, organizing, and processing component datasets. The analyst will work with a variety of spatial data, including satellite and aerial imagery; LiDAR; and national, state, and local vector data. Organization and attention to detail are crucial to success in working with high volumes of data across projects.

6. Automating large, complex, as well as repetitive processes. Efficiency is extremely important to the Conservancy. We maintain a high volume of ongoing projects with limited staff, and to do so, we emphasize automation. Typical strategies include python scripting and ModelBuilder.

7. Providing training and technical assistance to other analysts and non-GIS Conservancy staff. On a continuing basis, other analysts and Conservancy staff require technical and mapping assistance. The analyst will be expected to maintain flexibility for addressing urgent, unplanned needs and demonstrate an openness to teaching others.


KEY QUALIFICATIONS
• Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree, ideally with a concentration in Environmental Studies, Geography, or other relevant field, and two or more years of work experience
• Strong geospatial analysis and remote sensing skills, with proficiency in geospatial analysis software (Esri ArcGIS Pro and/or ArcGIS Desktop 10.x)
• Ability to challenge conventions, to thrive independently as well as on a team in a relaxed, dynamic office culture, and to think creatively
• Adaptability, independence in problem solving, strong oral and written communication, and an ability to relate complicated technical material to others
• Organized, dependable, and goal-driven, with a passion for the mission of the Chesapeake Conservancy – public access, conservation, education, and stewardship of the Bay and its resources
• Experience with analysis of raster datasets, remote sensing software, and python scripting strongly preferred. 
• Skills using R, open source geospatial tools, Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services for cloud computing, GitHub, or Google Earth Engine are a plus. Any necessary training on project workflows will be provided.

LOCATION
Annapolis, Maryland. This position will begin remotely, but the candidate will ultimately be expected to report to Chesapeake Conservancy’s office.

TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to explain how your skills and background fit this position. Applicants will be evaluated on a rolling basis, with the goal of hiring as soon as an appropriate candidate is identified. 

The salary range for this position is $50,000-$55,000 annually.  
The Conservancy offers a competitive employee benefits package that includes health and dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and participation in a retirement savings plan. Opportunities for advancement and professional development are available.  This position will not support relocation assistance.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A DIVERSE & WELCOMING WORKPLACE:
Chesapeake Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, color, age, sex, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, refusal to submit to a genetic test or to make available genetic test results, or any other legally protected characteristic.  

Chesapeake Conservancy understands that protecting and restoring the natural and cultural resources of the Chesapeake Bay watershed requires intentional commitment to inclusive practices and narratives within the conservation movement. Through our work we celebrate and elevate the people, places, and cultures of the region, especially by engaging underrepresented communities. Committing to the values of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice is critical to achieve our vision of a Chesapeake that is healthy, accessible to everyone, and a place where people and wildlife thrive. To that end, we commit ourselves to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice both in our programmatic priorities and our internal organizational development through inclusive recruitment of staff and board members, and fostering a diverse and inclusive culture.