GIS Analyst - Natural Resources

Parks & Recreation

Natural Resources GIS Analyst

Posting Expires: November 14, 2024

Salary: $60,000/annually

Summary
The City of Atlanta Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is seeking a highly skilled GIS Analyst to join our dynamic team within the Office of Natural Resources. The successful candidate will play a key role leading GIS projects and activities associated with the City in a Forest: Protecting Atlanta’s Legacy project, which will create Atlanta’s first comprehensive Urban Forest Master Plan. The position is supported by a 5-year Urban and Community Forestry grant funded by the Inflation Reduction Act - USDA Forest Service and is focused on work in disadvantaged areas of Atlanta, as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST).

The successful candidate will have demonstrated geospatial technology expertise, including skill with field data collection, ESRI software, and current ArcGIS mapping applications and tools for creating maps and maintaining GIS records, database design, and spatial analytics; as well as the ability to create and integrate GIS applications that yields accessible information for end-users. Field data collection is a primary responsibility of this position. Field data collection will take place in natural areas throughout the City of Atlanta, including collecting data in parks and natural areas in disadvantaged areas of the city to document natural area boundaries, ecosystem boundaries, forest quality, trail conditions, invasive plant pressure, safety hazards, illegal dumping, and signage.

Essential duties and responsibilities in this position will include compiling available information from City departments and external partners into ESRI ArcGIS Databases. The successful candidate will also support the establishment of a complete street tree inventory, creation of extensive natural area assessments, and greenspace accessibility assessments within disadvantaged areas of the city to characterize Atlanta’s urban forest.

Findings will inform City decision makers about how to best maintain existing natural areas and prioritize forested land acquisitions to meet parks acreage and tree canopy goals. Assessments will also inform maintenance and restoration priorities, preservation of highest value forests, and trail planning and design. The work of the Natural Resources GIS Analyst will also facilitate expansion of high-quality natural areas. Information from the completed assessments will support Atlanta’s comprehensive Urban Forest Master Plan.

Supervision Received
Reports to the Natural Resources GIS Coordinator in the Office of Natural Resources with guidance from other offices in the Department. Will collaborate closely with other City Departments engaged in conducting the Urban Forest Master Plan, including the Department of City Planning. May work independently or with other skilled or semi-skilled workers with responsibility for completion of assigned tasks.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities These are typical responsibilities for this position and should not be construed as exclusive or all inclusive. May perform other duties as assigned.

• Collaborate with another Natural Resources GIS Analyst to collect field data within parks and public natural areas using a tablet or cell phone, GNSS Receiver, and ESRI or other third-party applications.
• Perform data munging and cleaning to convert data into its desired form.
• Analyze spatial data using mapping software to discover patterns and trends.
• Coordinate cross-departmental collaborative meetings and planning sessions related to existing and potential plans and projects.
• Maintain GIS resources to keep DPR inventory data updated and current, including preparing a comprehensive GIS inventory update for annual submittal to the Trust for Public Land and the National Recreation and Parks Association.
• Update street tree inventory, trail, signage, and natural area GIS data as needed.
• Work with Natural Resources GIS Coordinator to compile a list of unnamed streams in public natural areas.
• Map trails in the field in public natural areas, measuring trail width and trail grade using clinometer and one-foot contour data. Record trail surface type, hazards, obstacles, and other related notes.
• Identify unofficial trails with communities and assign trail difficulty level to mapped trails.
• Map natural area boundaries in parks and public natural areas.
• Assess threats to natural areas on public property including, but not limited to, invasive plant pressure, erosion, trash, safety hazards, etc.
• Contribute to a native plant inventory for public natural areas by inputting data into iNaturalist.
• Map signage and assets in public natural areas including, but not limited to benches, picnic tables, boardwalks, etc.
• Research and compile trail design and maintenance standards, natural area monitoring methods, and wayfinding signage standards used by other municipalities, state governments, the U.S. Forest Service, and other entities.
• Assist in developing Urban Forestry guidelines for trail design, trail maintenance, trail difficulty levels, natural area assessments, and natural area signage.
• Assist Parks Arborists and the Department of City Planning on collecting necessary data for developing Tree Activity Reports.

Leadership Provided
Serves as a technical resource to other employees. May lead, instruct, or mentor less experienced workers in high level or technical jobs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities This is a partial listing of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully. It is not an exhaustive list.

• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Experience or knowledge of standards for natural surface trail building and maintenance.
• Attention to detail and good problem-solving skills.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Experience with creating and analyzing data from sources including aerial photography, terrain, topographic, hydrologic, and time-sequenced event data, to provide a concise visual representation of complex ideas or data.
• Experience collecting GIS field data utilizing mapping applications such as Field Maps.
• Self-starter with ability to initiate projects and collaborate with diverse teams.
• Skill in using a range of software tools for GIS map creation, maintenance, and data analysis, including ArcGIS software (ArcGIS Pro and Online)
• Specialized knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency in identifying trees and other plants native and invasive to the Piedmont region of Georgia.
• Demonstrated interest in urban forestry and natural areas.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to independently coordinate and lead multiple projects simultaneously with a focus on quality control and project follow-through.

Minimum Qualifications - Education and Experience

• Associate's degree in Geographic Information Sciences, Computer Science, Geography, Surveying, Engineering, Environmental Science, Ecology, Forestry, or related field. Equivalent professional experience may be considered in place of the required degree on an exception basis.
• 2 years of work experience using GIS-based software and conducting field data collection.
• 1 year of experience in ecosystem assessment, restoration, or monitoring; or soft surface trail design/development/maintenance.

Preferred Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Geographic Information Science, Computer Science, Geography, Surveying, Engineering, Environmental Science, Ecology, Forestry, or related field. Additional professional experience may be considered in place of the required degree on an exception basis.
• 3+ years of work experience using GIS based software and conducting field data collection.
• 2+ years of experience in ecosystem assessment, restoration, or monitoring; or soft surface trail development/maintenance.

Licensures and Certifications
None required.

Essential Capabilities and Work Environment
Required physical, lifting, and sensory capabilities are requirements to perform the job successfully. Typical environmental conditions associated with job.

This job will require walking on uneven terrain both on and off trails within forested natural areas. Need to be able to lift 50 lbs. and must have capacity to conduct visual inspection and assessments of natural areas. Must be willing and able to travel on foot into large, undeveloped forested parcels.

Closing Date/Time: 2024-11-15

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• City of Atlanta

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