GIS Lab Manager/Spatial Ecology and Conservation Specialist
Agency: Smithsonian Institution
Salary Range: 63,722/year & benefits
Grade: IS-11
Position Information: Full-time, one-year with the potential to renew, Trust Fund
JOB SUMMARY:
This
position is located at the Conservation GIS Lab of the Smithsonian
Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) in Front Royal, Virginia. We are
seeking a skilled, dynamic analyst that enjoys working with people on
different conservation projects and likes teaching. The employee
provides technical expertise, support, and training in GIS and remote
sensing analysis to Lab scientists, postdocs, and students working on
species conservation projects. The employee also manages the lab’s
formal and informal training program in GIS and RS, and day-to-day
operations (e.g. basic hardware and software administration).
The
position requires some national and international travel (5-20% of the
time) to assist with conservation projects, offer training and capacity
building workshops, and visit field sites for data collection. This may
include travel to remote areas involving hiking and carrying of
light-medium weight loads and other moderate physical activities.
Fieldwork frequently requires longer than 8-hour days.
KEY REQUIREMENTS:
Pass Pre-employment Background Investigation
May need to complete a Probationary Period
Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer
DUTIES:
1.
Provides technical assistance in GIS and remote sensing to lab members
working on conservation issues. This may include but is not limited to:
o Acquiring, managing, and maintaining geospatial data;
o
Using satellite and time series data to document land cover changes and
habitat decline for endangered species;
o
Integrating field survey and expedition data on species distribution
with broad scale satellite mapping efforts to better understand the
spatial ecology and conservation geography of habitat-species
relationships;
o Conservation mapping and priority setting exercises for critically endangered species;
o Mapping animal movement trajectories.
2. Manages the lab’s formal and informal training program in GIS and RS
o Coordinates logistics, planning, and computer lab preparation for formal training courses;
o
Translates lessons-learned from existing conservation GIS/RS projects
into hands-on training materials for formal classroom training;
o Provides instruction and assists participants in training courses.
3.
Supervises and manages day-to-day Lab operation in Front Royal,
including supervision of 2-4 undergraduate interns.
4. Conducts capacity needs assessment at SCBI field sites.
QUALIFICTIONS:
1.
Advanced knowledge of GIS and remote sensing, preferably also some
experience with R, Python, and open source software.
2. Strong background in integrating environmental data with species information from surveys, tracking, etc.
3.
Knowledge of geospatial analysis for conservation/ecology, such as
species distribution modeling, species-habitat models, habitat
fragmentation, change detection, etc.
4. Experience in working with students and/or capacity building.
5. International conservation experience is not required but is advantageous in competing for this position.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send letter of interest explaining your qualifications, a CV, and three references to SCBIGIS@gmail.com by 19 June 2015.
