GIS Ecological Data Specialist

GIS Ecological Data Specialist

Summary: The American Conservation Experience, a nationwide Non-Profit Conservation Corps based in Flagstaff, AZ, and Salt Lake City, UT in partnership with the BLM New Mexico State Office is seeking One GIS Ecological Data Specialist to dedicate approximately 70 weeks manage and analyze ecological data collected throughout the state. This specifically works with Assessment Inventory Monitoring (AIM) data. A methodology used to assess the condition of our public lands.

Start Date: January 2022

End Date: May 2023

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico. There is a possibility for this position to start remotely, but the applicant will have to physically live in the area by March 2022

Salary Details: $25 per hour for the first 10 weeks of this position. After a successful demonstration to perform all duties expected of them, wage will be raised to $30 per hour for the following 60 weeks.

Benefits: We provide insurance, sick leave, and personal paid leave.

Housing: We do not provide housing. The applicant will be responsible for finding housing in the Santa Fe area.

Project Websites:

For more information about AIM program: Please visit https://www.blm.gov/about/how-we-manage/assessment-inventory-and-monitoring-strategy as well as here https://landscape.blm.gov/geoportal/catalog/AIM/AIM.page

For more information about New Mexico State Office: Please visit https://www.blm.gov/office/new-mexico-state-office

For more information regarding the ACE EPIC Program: Please visit: www.usaconservation.org

Position Description: The Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) program is used the BLM to assess the conditions of our public lands. It employs the use of field crews to generate ecological data and submit it to a centralized state database. This is primarily an office based position, responsible for the organization, analysis, and reporting of the Statewide AIM data, and prepare it for a national repository. Additionally, this position will require some travel around the state to remote sites to assist with Quality Assurance of the data, and provide training on data expectations. Below is a detailed list of duties.

Duties:

• Conduct weekly quality control checks on data from (8) AIM terrestrial field crews, manage state AIM project designs and data, and prepare data for submission to BLM National Operation Center (NOC) for ingestion into TerrADat.
• Retrieve, prepare and summarize AIM and LMF data for requested reports
• Serve as a primary contact for AIM data access, use, and analysis questions for New Mexico BLM
• Train incoming field crews on AIM methods and use of Collector for ArcGIS and Survey123 for field data collection
• Complete analysis tasks from local and state office BLM staff which may involve aggregating data from multiple databases, conducting literature reviews, and reviewing related policy
• Create map products and analyze geospatial data using various ESRI tools
• Collaborate with NOC and other BLM staff on development of analysis tools and techniques
• Support year-round AIM crew leaders with data collection, data management, and local reporting
• Schedule and host regular meetings with AIM project and crew leads
• Participate in state and national AIM meetings on data analysis, coordination, and training.
• Manage and communicate AIM equipment needs with field offices

Required Qualifications:

• Experience with managing large datasets and conducting quality control of field collected data
• Experience in a leadership role managing or overseeing field crews
• Proficient in descriptive and predictive statistical analyses of vegetation, soils, and natural resource monitoring data
• Proficient in writing, troubleshooting, and running scripts for geospatial and statistical analyses using multiple programming languages (R, Python, or SQL, etc.)
• Experience using ESRI products including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Collector for ArcGIS/Field Maps.
• Proficient in manipulation of spatial data using ArcGIS including the use of spatial analyst tools, editing large batches of data, and managing hosted feature services.
• Ability and willingness to travel to train and support field crews
• College degree in ecology, botany, natural resource management, or related field that involved the use of GIS, or equivalent work experience.
• Members must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts.
• Ability and willingness to undergo a federal criminal background check is required.
• Must have a valid driver's license and clean driving record with ability to provide required documentation; driving record checks will be completed during the on-boarding process.
• Ability to drive an Agency vehicle is required for this position. ACE will conduct a driving record check upon on-boarding and the member must be cleared by ACE to drive.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in ecology, botany, natural resource management, or related field that involved the use of GIS, or equivalent work experience.
• Experience implementing and training others on AIM core methods (line-point intercept, canopy gap intercept, species richness, soil description, etc.)
• Experience working with federal land management agencies and policy relating to Land Health Standards, Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and natural resource management
• Possess understanding of plant identification, plant ecology, natural resource management, and/or soil description and identification.

COVID-19:

• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 by the time they start their term or request a medical or religious exemption.
• Responsibility to act in the best interest of the communities in which we work: We travel and work in many rural communities that should feel confident we are not bringing Covid-19 with us. We do not intend to increase the burden on rural healthcare providers, emergency services and search and rescue personnel and believe that ensuring the safety of our members and staff extends to the communities we work for, and interact with.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/.

Note: We are looking to fill this position asap. We will be reviewing applications as they arrive. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Josh Haussler at jhaussler@usaconservation.org

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

Current Openings for GIS Ecological Data Specialist Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC