Friday, November 24, 2017

Job Posting: GIS Data Manager VIP

Organization: Denali National Park and Preserve
Position Type: Volunteer
Duration: January through April 2018
Location: Denali National Park and Preserve
Closing Date: Until filled

Online Announcement

Summary
Denali National Park and Preserve is almost entirely comprised of eligible and designated wilderness (5.9 million acres of 6 million total). Temporary and permanent physical installations in wilderness, as well as research uses and management activities impact the underlying character of the wild places in the park; these installations and proposed activities need to be presenting in a holistic, spatial, quantitative analysis to better assist park managers in objectively making management decisions related to uses in wilderness.

Currently, a Geographic Information System (GIS) dataset tracks all of the existing physical installations within and around parks in the Alaska Region, but there is no mechanism to spatially assess the cumulative impacts to an area for proposed administrative and research projects in park wilderness. This project will create a way for park project leaders and research liaisons to submit spatial data for proposed projects, as well as create geodatabases and online products for housing this data. The final product will include an NPS-internal online map application driven by GIS data to assist managers in assessing how proposed uses will cumulatively impact the wilderness character.

Tasks/Duties
The GIS Data Manager Volunteer (Wilderness) will work under the direction of the park GIS Specialist to:
  • Work with regional and park Wilderness Coordinators and the park Research Permit Coordinator to establish project data and product needs;
  • Design a sustainable workflow for housing cumulative effects of the four main use groups (i.e. administrative, commercial, scientific, and vistors);
  • Create a mechanism for park researchers, or park liaisons for research permit applicants, to submit geospatial data regarding the location and time of their proposed study areas (e.g., ArcGIS Online Geoform);
  • Create geodatabase, with appropriate relationship classes, attachments, and datasets;
  • Create a desktop map for GIS users to assess the cumulative impacts of the temporary and permanent installations on the landscape, including time enabled data at appropriate spatial extent;
  • Create non-GIS user-friendly map with interactive interface (e.g., ability of user to turn on/off layers, change basemaps, zoom in/out, time animation) through the NPS ArcGIS Online Portal;
  • Attend Wilderness Working Group meetings each month
Time and interest allowing, the volunteer may also have the opportunity to assist with various winter park operations/activities/events such as:
  • Assisting with Winterfest in February, which is a weekend-long event celebrating Alaska's longest season (see link);
  • Assisting with wildlife/visitor monitoring/road ecology projects along the park road during day trips;
  • Assisting other work groups with cartographic support.

Duty Station / Living Accommodation Information
  • The primary work place would be in the Resources building at park headquarters (mile three on the Denali Park Road). The office has full office facilities (phones, electricity, heat, Internet access, bathroom, break/lunch area, etc.)
  • Housing is located in C-Camp, the seasonal housing area. C-Camp cabins generally have two bedrooms, a shared living area, and a cold water kitchen (however, water to the cabins is turned off in the winter)
  • C-Camp residents share a cabin with one other person. All efforts are made to place same gender residents in each cabin, but it is not always feasible
  • Restrooms, showers, laundry and dish washing facilities are located in the common shower house.
  • C-Camp is located at approximately mile three on the Denali Park Road, near park headquarters. The closest urban area is Fairbanks, AK, approximately 120 miles north.
  • This is primarily an office position; however, the candidate may have the opportunity to conduct field work if interested and properly trained;
  • Accommodations for those with physical limitations are available;
  • Work schedule is a minimum of 32 hours/week;
  • Tour of duty is generally January 2018 through April 2018; however, start and end dates are negotiable.

Skills and Requirements:
  • Intermediate to advanced GIS skills are required, whether acquired through experience or education.
    • Intermediate skills are defined as: understanding projections and datums; editing vector feature class geometry and attributes; building query expressions; symbolizing and labeling features; and the ability to run spatial analysis density tools to create raster datasets.
    • Advanced skills are defined as: the ability to manipulate time/date data as string or date fields in attribute tables, feature class properties, with map toolbars and geoprocessing tools as intervals and durations; experience with publishing feature and map services to an online Arc Server; XSL, KML, or other language experience for customizing HTML pop-up windows; knowledge of relationship classes, domains, and database attachments; understanding of 3D data analysis with geoprocessing tools and visualization through ArcScene/ArcGlobe; or experience publishing map and feature services to a server.
  • Ability to communicate orally and in writing.
  • Volunteer in this position must be age 18 or older.
  • Volunteer for this position is subject to a background investigation in order to have access to federal computer networks.
  • Volunteer must possess a valid state driver's license, s/he will be required to drive a government vehicle.
In addition, the ideal candidate will have: an understanding of the legislation relating to wilderness; an appreciation for the complexity of management issues surrounding wilderness; a passion for wild places, with the desire to instill such awe in others; and the ability to think both critically and creatively

Benefits:
  • Gain GIS skills in data management, database design, web mapping;
  • Access to online trainings and webinars through Esri provided to NPS employees free of cost;
  • Gain experience with a new method of analysis with room to apply these methods as the analysis expands to other parks;
  • Free in-park NPS housing;
  • Reimbursement for some travel expenses may be available;
  • The opportunity to experience the wilderness and backcountry of Denali National Park and Preserve as few others do.

To apply for this position, please complete and submit an application from the Online Job Announcement link above. For more information, contact Britta Schroeder at 907-683-6243 or via email at britta_schroeder@nps.gov or Dave Schirokauer at 907-683-9605 or via email at dave_schirokauer@nps.gov with questions about the position.

For more information about the park itself, please visit nps.gov/dena.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Job Posting: GIS Programmer Analyst

Organization: Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Position Type: Regular Full-Time
Location: Palmer, AK
Closing Date: November 19, 2017 at 5:00 PM Alaska Time

Online Job Announcement

This position is responsible for the performance, integrity, security, stability, availability, repair, and recovery of enterprise GIS data, geo databases, and GIS applications.

Work is performed and duties are carried out in accordance with established policies, procedures, and Borough core values: Accountability, Customer Focus, Dedication, Integrity, Responsiveness and Teamwork.

Minimum Requirements
  • Baccalaureate degree in a course of study related to the occupational field. Post-secondary education or experience which provides the expertise required to perform effectively the functions of the position may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.
  • Three years of experience in the occupational field, sufficient to understand the major duties of the position.
  • Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver's license issued by the State of Alaska for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
  • Completion of required Incident Command System (ICS) course in accordance with established Borough Policy.

Duties and Responsibilities
  • Develops, configures, publishes and manages ArcGIS Server image, map and data services.
  • Monitors and gathers performance related information for enterprise GIS architecture; prepares reports regarding performance data, performs analyzes, optimizes and implements solutions.
  • Administers and maintains enterprise geographic information systems.
  • Creates, designs, and manages file geo databases.
  • Designs, configures, maintains, administers, modifies and troubleshoots the Borough's web mapping presence.
  • Designs, installs, configures, maintains, administers, and troubleshoots enterprise GIS architecture.
  • Designs, develops, maintains, administers, modifies and troubleshoots the enterprise geo database architecture for Borough mapping services.
  • Provides oversight and functional direction of assigned contractor daily activities.
  • Provides customer support.
  • Manages assigned projects.
  • Develops processes and procedures.
  • Develops a variety of regular and special reports.
  • Provides user training.
  • Provides IT support for the Emergency Operations Center during emergency events or training exercises.
  • Performs related duties.
  • Knowledge of GIS database administration principles.
  • Knowledge computerized cartographic principles and practices.
  • Knowledge of enterprise management principles.
  • Knowledge of computer programming techniques and languages.
  • Knowledge of information technology testing procedures.
  • Knowledge of Project Management Principles.
  • Knowledge of report design and business analysis principles.
  • Skill in decision making and problem solving.
  • Skill in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals.
  • Skill in interpersonal relations and in dealing with the public.
  • Skill in oral and written communication.

To apply for this position, please complete and submit an application from the Online Job Announcement link above. For more information, contact Human Resources at 907-861-8404.

Training Announcement: GINA January 2018

Organization: UAF-GINA
Location: GINA Remote Sensing/GIS Lab, West Ridge Research Bldg Room 004, Fairbanks
Dates: January 9 & 10 / January 11 & 12, 2018

Announcing GINA's next round of introductory GIS training on the UAF campus coming up in January 2018. Two extremely high quality instructor led courses are being offered:

1) Navigating GIS Concepts on Monday and Tuesday January 9-10, followed by
2) Mastering GIS Concepts on Wednesday and Thursday January 11-12, 2018.

Each course is $1,070.00 per person and each consists of two full days of training (8:30am to 5pm). You may register and/or learn more about these courses from our online registration page located at the link below: https://epay.alaska.edu/C21563_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1525

A map to WRRB 004 is available here. Please pass this announcement along to whomever you feel may also be interested. For more information, please visit the web link above or contact Pete Hickman at pete@gina.alaska.edu.

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Job Posting: GIS Analyst II

Organization: Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Position Type: Full-Time Permanent
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Closing Date: November 13, 2017 at 5:00 PM Alaska Time

This position is open to Alaska residents only.

Online Job Announcement

The Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Division of Community and Regional Affairs is recruiting for GIS Analyst II to join our team.

The Division of Community and Regional Affairs (DCRA) is looking for a self-reliant, energetic and detail-oriented individual who is willing to independently provide advanced-level technical GIS and cartographic design expertise and training to facilitate publication of maps, graphics, reports, visual presentations, and digital data products resulting from analysis and synthesis of original field data collected by division.

Fulfilling this mission will involve acquiring, analyzing, and managing digital geospatial data, ultimately helping to create a comprehensive enterprise geodatabase; providing training and support to the division's GIS users; functioning as a liaison between DCRA and other entities' GIS users and data; managing and quality controlling data going into and out of the division's geodatabase.

At DCRA, we recruit employees who demonstrate a high level of initiative, excellent interpersonal skills, ability to adapt to a changing environment, and an interest in assisting local governments.

The key responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Independently designing, producing, and updating complex base maps and thematic data, using ArcGIS software as necessary;
  • Training other users in developing geodatabases and high quality maps that meet the programmatic and divisional needs;
  • Accessing and organizing data from external sources to ensure currency of spatial data library;
  • Automating workflows and improving process efficiencies by creating models and/or scripts;
  • Applying ArcGIS and AutoCAD software to independently gather data and for analyzing, managing and converting formats of digital data into interoperable formats;
  • Serving as the administrator of the divisional enterprise server and geodatabase.
  • Serving as the liaison between DCCED IT and the division in all issues related to the ArcGIS server architecture;
  • Hosting data in the enterprise geodatabase in accordance with data standards and serving them out using apps or other effective medium;
  • Reviewing metes and bounds descriptions as proposed by municipalities;
  • Developing specific mapping and land suitability decisions for ANCSA planning using technical knowledge of land use and suitability;
  • Managing land information system that geographically displays the title acquisition and land tenure of statewide Municipal Trust Land holdings;
  • Preliminary scoping, contract review, quality control, storage, and distribution of digital mapping produced in DCRA's community profile mapping partnerships; and
  • Responding to public information requests regarding the division´s programs and resources.

For complete details, please see the job announcement link above. For specific information in reference to the position contact the hiring manager:
Name: Manjula Boyina
Phone: (907) 269-7959
Fax: (907) 269-4563
Email: manjula.boyina@alaska.gov