Program: Environmental Informatics (Geographic Information Systems)
Reports to: GIS Manager
Requisition Number: EI 22-1
Posted: 3/11/2022

 

 

About the Position

SFEI is seeking a GIS/Environmental Analyst to join the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) team. This position will be a full-time position (40 hrs per week), under the supervision of the GIS Manager. A successful candidate will be enthusiastic, self-motivated, and passionate about applying technical skills to address environmental problems. You will collaborate with your colleagues to ensure an optimal relationship between science and policy through innovative approaches to information collection, display, and analysis. Although a strong foundation of GIS skills is required, an environmental science background to enable effective landscape interpretation, change analysis, and mapping is ideal.

GIS Focus Area Description

The GIS Focus Area is responsible for serving the Institute and external user community’s spatial information needs through collaborative and innovative projects. Its success has provided the Institute with a strong history of GIS expertise, including spatial dataset creation, spatial tools and analysis, and evocative cartography. The GIS Analyst will work with both technology and science teams to develop and implement GIS methods, tools, and web delivery applications to support local and statewide environmental management. GIS staff work closely with SFEI’s Clean Water program on aquatic contaminant distribution and analysis and the Resilient Landscapes program on wetlands mapping, resource inventories, and landscape analyses. GIS is one of five “focus areas” in the Environmental Informatics Program which provides clients and partners with the most current technology tools available to meet their missions.

Role Responsibilities

Duties are likely to be diverse and will require an enthusiastic, team-oriented individual. Typical duties will include:

  • Remote sensing, automated mapping, and digitizing to support the Institute’s aquatic resource mapping initiative tool development — team-oriented code development of GIS-specific landscape analysis tools
  • Science-driven methods development—collaboration with SFEI and partner scientists to answer environmental management questions with GIS
  • Data acquisition—sleuthing out GIS datasets and/or GIS contacts from various agencies, counties, cities and special districts
  • Data management—organizing and maintaining GIS data in accordance with SFEI’s on-line data management protocols
  • Cartography—production of high-quality maps
  • Project management—tracking project progress and time management

 

Qualifications
Required Skills

Demonstrated knowledge of GIS theory and core methods including relational database design

  • Minimum of 3 years experience with ESRI's ArcGIS Desktop / ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcServer, spatial data manipulation and formats including Arcpy, data management, and analysis toolboxes
  • Strong technical capabilities in multiple GIS areas such as spatial analysis, data acquisition, management, display/visualization, spatial statistics, remote sensing, raster analysis, and imagefication
  • Experience using GIS for natural resource management
  • Exceptional attention to detail and problem-solving skills
  • Motivation to gain and develop new technical skills
  • Ability to manage time effectively on multiple projects
  • Capability to works productively in a collaborative team setting Ability to work independently and follow through with tasks under general guidance from supervising staff
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills—ability to communicate technical information to non-technical clients

 

Preferred Skills
  • Training and experience in the environmental sciences (e.g., coastal and wetland science, biology, geology, landscape architecture, and aquatic ecology)
  • Experience with automation of GIS workflows Experience with automated mapping work flows including segmentation and machine learning model training
  • Experience with and interest in keeping up with advancing and emerging technologies, e.g., object detection, machine learning, lidar, multispectral imagery, Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS)/drones, GPS surveying, etc.
  • Experience with GIS scripting/tool development with ArcPy, GDAL/OGR, PostGIS, R, QGIS, or Google Earth Engine programming language(s) Experience with the complete project lifecycle from conceptualization through requirements definition, design, development, testing implementation, maintenance, and user training as it applies to GIS related technology
  • Experience in photo interpretation of wetlands, flood infrastructure, and/or vegetation

 

About SFEI

SFEI Mission: We deliver visionary science that empowers people to revitalize nature in our communities.

San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which has a 27-year track record of serving local, state, and federal agencies by developing and translating science to measurably improve the health and resiliency of Bay-Delta ecosystems. SFEI is a boundary organization at the interface between science and policy, recognized nationally for our ability to build consensus to support effective environmental decision-making and policy. Over the next five years, SFEI will be implementing our Strategic Plan that will focus on advancing visionary science, harnessing innovative technology and big data, and communicating science to inform, inspire, and empower stakeholders in an effort to fulfill our vision and mission for the Bay-Delta and beyond.

SFEI is committed to building a culturally diverse staff, and we strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, and other groups commonly under-represented in environmental science.

 

SFEI has 70 staff who represent numerous scientific and technological fields including chemistry, modeling, ecology, wildlife biology, landscape planning, historical ecology, geomorphology, geospatial modeling and analysis, and web development. We are seeking a talented scientist to join a dynamic, supportive, team-oriented work culture that is driven by our vision and mission. We have many long-tenured staff who have built and expanded the foundation of the organization and are looking for a key person to grow with us.

SFEI has three major programs: Clean Water, Environmental Informatics, and Resilient Landscapes. These programs have multiple focus areas including the Regional Monitoring Program for Water Quality in San Francisco Bay, the Nutrient Management Strategy, contaminants of emerging concern, the Regional Data Center, aerial drone research, geomorphology, multi-benefit urban greening and design, ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation, urban biodiversity and resilience, and green stormwater infrastructure.

Application Information

San Francisco Estuary Institute is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We are committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity, and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, physical or mental disability, family or parental status, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact us at 510-746-7355 or admin@sfei.org.

Please note that SFEI cannot sponsor an employment visa (e.g., H-1B) to fill this position.

No phone calls please.

This position has been filled.