INTRODUCTION:
The Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia (GCC) is seeking an ambitious energetic and organized individual to work as part of a team to organize and integrate complex information from diverse disciplines in support of conservation science, planning, stewardship, and education projects.
The GIS Technician will contribute to the short and long-term goals of the GCC conservation and stewardship programs by applying his or her information management, GIS, and cartographic skills to projects encompassed by these programs.
Other responsibilities include providing support to other GCC program areas (e.g., Education and Outreach) and representing the GCC at working groups, workshops, conferences, joint ventures, and technical teams.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:
The GIS Technician will work closely with the GIS Analyst, Conservation Planner, and the Stewardship Planner, under the supervision of the Executive Director, and additionally will provide GIS/cartographic support to other GCC staff and partner organizations.
PRIMARY DUTIES (60%)
GIS and technical support for Conservation and Stewardship Programs (60%)
- Collect and compile GIS data and related datasets.
- Develop GIS layers using collected and compiled data.
- Manage GIS and related data: this includes quality control on GIS layers, databases, and mapping products; maintenance, organization and upkeep of file and data structure, and creation of metadata.
- Create maps according to cartographic principles for a variety of projects
- Conduct summary analyses of GIS layers (summary statistics, e.g, sum/mean/max/min; e.g., how many hectares in area “B”).
- Prepare/pre-process data for GIS analysis: this will involve geoprocessing of GIS layers, e.g., union/intersects/clipping/buffering, on-screen digitization of expert input and other data collected from partners, defining and projecting point and polygon datasets to appropriate map projections, editing attribute tables, etc.
SECONDARY DUTIES (30%)
- Write and/or edit interim and final reports and funding proposals.
- Provide input into project proposals and budgets.
- Liaise with clients, data providers and co-workers.
- Plan and conduct case-specific assignments outside of core program areas.
- Ensure that the GCC Executive Director is informed and briefed on GIS activities, particularly key issues.
- Assist with GCC program and administrative duties, where appropriate.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Technical
- A diploma in GIS or equivalent experience.
- Experience using ESRI products including v9.x of ArcMap and ArcCatalog, and Spatial Analyst extension.
- Ability to learn ArcInfo workstation, including ArcMacro language (AML).
- Intermediate database capabilities (in MS Access).
- Experience using spreadsheets including built-in functions.
- Demonstrated ability to self-learn new software and new tools or methods within existing software.
- A course or equivalent experience in cartography.
Interpersonal
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
- Ability to work under pressure, overcome challenges, prioritize work and manage several tasks with multiple deadlines.
- Ability to work as a team member and independently (with attention to detail).
- Excellent interpersonal skills, diplomatic, cheerful and dynamic.
ASSETS
- 2+ years of GIS experience.
- Experience with ArcInfo workstation.
- Experience with other ArcMap extensions (beyond Spatial Analyst ).
- Advanced database skills.
- Programming skills: VBA, Python, other to automate repetitive tasks and/or modify existing code to perform various tasks.
- Experience with ESRI ArcMap model builder
- Knowledge of or experience with resource inventory datasets (e.g., Vegetation Resource Inventory – VRI), provincially standardized mapping methods (e.g., Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM), Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM), and Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI)), and regional/municipal planning methods and tools (e.g., zoning, bylaws, etc.).
Location: Kamloops, BC
Full-time term position: Term position to March 31, 2009, with possible extension, subject to funding.
Start Date: September 29, 2008 or ASAP
Annual Salary: Commensurate with experience
Apply in confidence with resume and covering letter by 4:30 pm, Friday, August 8th, 2008 to:
Bruno Delesalle, Executive Director
Grasslands Conservation Council of British Columbia
954 A Laval Crescent
Kamloops, BC V2C 5P5
Or Fax to: 250-374-6287
No phone calls or email please!