Coastal & Marine GIS Analyst w/ Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy

Position Title: Coastal and Marine GIS Analyst
JOB TITLE: CONSERVATION INFORMATION MANAGER II
JOB FAMILY: Conservation
JOB NUMBER: 200002
SALARY GRADE: 4
FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• BA/BS or Associates degree in related field and 2 years related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience managing, maintaining and populating databases and manual files.
• Experience with producing maps and/or other graphic products and reports.
• Experience in analyzing data and producing data reports.
• Experience building, populating and producing reports from databases.
• Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Web browsers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Coastal and Marine Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst is a short-term, full time hire to support spatial analysis needs for The Nature Conservancy’s Texas Chapter. GIS skills in spatial analysis, cartography, and data management as applied to marine planning and associated conservation strategies are essential. The Coastal and Marine GIS Analyst gathers, creates, updates, manages and develops conservation databases and provides technical support in GIS or other relational database technologies to the Coastal and Marine Program Associate Director and staff to meet coastal and marine spatial planning, analysis and synthesis goals. 

Specific tasks include:
1.Evaluate and incorporate spatial information on ecological and biological features, sea level rise, storm surge, community vulnerability and risk assessments into a marine database for various geographies along the Gulf of Mexico coast, as part of our Coastal Resilience Initiative;
2.Use several different spatial decision support tools to assemble alternative future scenarios for meeting conservation and coastal hazard mitigation management objectives;
3.Help support and maintain online mapping applications with data development and web mapping services for our ecosystem-based adaptation, restoration and coastal and marine spatial planning strategies; and
4.Provide limited GIS support the Gulf of Mexico Decision Support System project including GIS analyses on issues including climate change, ecosystem recovery and restoration, and response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.


REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
• BA/BS or Associates degree in related field and 2-3 years related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. This requirement may include working knowledge of legal real estate documents.
• Ability to manipulate, analyze and interpret data
• Managing time and diverse activities under deadlines while delivering quality results
• Demonstrated experience operating GIS software and creating maps and/or managing other relational databases and creating other graphic products.
• Demonstrated database and computer-based management experience including managing, maintaining and populating databases and manual files.
• Building, populating and producing reports from databases
• Managing and prioritizing tasks from multiple sources
• Working knowledge of common software applications (e.g.; Word, Access, Excel, Web browsers).
• Communicating clearly via written, spoken and graphical means in English and other relevant languages

DESIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
• Master’s degree in geography, ecology, natural resource management or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least two years GIS experience, including data development, map production, and spatial analysis. This includes experience with ArcGIS conducting both vector and raster analyses.
• Database design experience a plus.
• Understanding of metadata needs. Good practices of metadata creation and maintenance.
• Experience with statistical modeling is a plus.
• Ability to design spatial database(s) fitting theme-specific models (e.g. cadastral, marine, scale-dependent)
• Ability to write and speak effectively about technical information.
• Experience designing effective maps and other data presentations.
• Conduct research through the web, phone conversations, and other means.
• Planning skills
• A solid understanding of marine conservation and related issues
• Ability to communicate effectively related to the projects above
• Ability to identify what data is most helpful for fulfilling
conservation objectives. (e.g., issues of scale, etc)

COMPLEXITY/PROBLEM SOLVING:
• Ability to design multifaceted reports in order to meet a variety of program needs, resolving discrepancies in data and interpret report results
• Ability to coordinate multiple projects with several variables, setting realistic deadlines and managing timeframes
• Resolves complex issues within program area independently
• Interprets guidelines, evaluates information and modifies processes to adapt to changing circumstances

DISCRETION/LATITUDE/DECISION-MAKING:
• Makes independent decisions based on analysis, experience and judgment
• Performs tasks with minimal supervision
• Consults supervisor on unusual or complex issues

RESPONSIBILITY/OVERSIGHT – FINANCIAL AND SUPERVISORY:
• May help develop work plans and project budgets
• Is able to meet independently with data owners to gather data in different places in the Gulf of Mexico
• Ensures integrity of both data collection and management relating to conservation projects and project statistics
• Is able to travel to help organize and facilitate stakeholder workshops in different places in the Gulf of Mexico

COMMUNICATIONS/INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:
• Ability to work cooperatively with a number of staff and external parties, sometimes under pressure, in order to complete project work and goals in a timely manner
• Formulate ideas and communicate clearly with others, both orally and in written form
• Provide a variety of information to staff and others, contributing to conservation projects and assisting workflow throughout the organization.
• Work and communicate effectively with a diverse group of people, including scientists, preserve staff and others, providing and obtaining needed information

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL EFFORT:
• Work requires only minor physical exertion and/or physical strain.
• Work environment involves only infrequent exposure to disagreeable elements.

The Nature Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

THIS IS A TEMPORARY JOB POSSITION WITH THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

POSSITION WILL BE BASED IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS

HOW TO APPLY?

To view this Job Opening, visit:
http://careers.nature.org
Posting Title:        Coastal and Marine GIS Analyst
Job Opening ID:  13144

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jorge Brenner, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Marine Science
The Nature Conservancy of Texas
Office (361) 882-3584
[email protected]